In 2024, LSU finished the season with a 43-23 overall record and a 13-17 mark in SEC play, falling short of a return trip to Omaha. With the 2025 season approaching, the focus shifts to what needs to change to make another deep postseason run.
The Tigers have the talent, depth, and experience to compete at the highest level, but execution and consistency determine whether they can return to the sport’s biggest stage.
Here’s what LSU must do to punch its ticket to Omaha once again:
Dominate in SEC play: Winning in the nation’s toughest conference
If there’s one thing last season made clear, it’s that success in the regular is the key to a deep postseason run.
The 2023 LSU team that won it all went 19-10 in conference play, securing a top national seed and home-field advantage for the regional and super regional rounds.
By contrast, the 2024 team finished 13-17 in SEC play, was swept multiple times and never seemed to end up on the winning side of close games.
“We are not that far away, but we’re far enough away that we need to play better,” Tigers head coach Jay Johnson said.
For LSU to return to the College World Series, they must win as many SEC games as possible, avoid losing streaks and secure one of the conference’s top seeds heading into the postseason.
Consistency on the mound: LSU’s pitching staff must deliver
A dominant pitching staff has always been key for teams that win in Omaha.
The 2023 Tigers leaned on one of the most dominant pitchers in college baseball history, Paul Skenes, and had other highly talented arms like Ty Floyd. In 2024, LSU didn’t have stability in their starting rotation, with multiple names taking the mound on various Sundays.
When Johnson raided the portal this offseason, he addressed the problem and pulled in seven pitchers from the portal.
To find their way back to Omaha, the Tigers’ pitching staff will have to pitch better for more extended periods of play. If the staff can manage that, they can effectively rotate their lineup and give starters plenty of time to rest and recover.
The pitchers on the 2025 roster have all the potential in the world; they need to command the ball, win matchups and stay ahead of the count early.
Balanced offensive production: Power and situational hitting
LSU will always have someone in the lineup who can crack a timely home run, but power alone isn’t enough to win in Omaha.
In 2023, the Tigers had an elite mix of power and clutch hitting. They didn’t rely on home runs: they executed in tight games, moved runners and found ways to score against elite pitching.
In 2024, the offense was inconsistent, particularly against top-tier SEC arms. Johnson knew that fixing these offensive struggles was critical to success in 2025 and addressed those needs in the portal: the incoming purple and gold transfers combined for 80 home runs last season.
If this power shows up and the team capitalizes with runners in scoring position, offense will not be a concern.
Defensive excellence: Cleaning up the fielding issues
LSU struggled defensively in 2024, ranking in the bottom half of the SEC in fielding percentage. Errors and missed opportunities cost them in close games.
It can’t happen again in 2025. Winning in the regular season matters, and losing one weekend series can be the difference between playing baseball in June or not.
“I want teams to hate to play us. I want them to feel what it’s like playing the Tigers where we’re constantly pressing on them and creating pressure on them.” Johnson said during his opening press conference as the LSU head coach in 2021.
Whether that pressure is by clean catching, athletic fielding, or just being in the right place at the right time, the Tigers need to be purposeful, driven, and precise when they put their spikes in the dirt.
To return to Omaha, Johnson’s squad must be more disciplined in the field and execute defensively at a higher level.
Peaking at the right time: Postseason mindset matters
The biggest key to Omaha? LSU must be playing its best baseball in May and June.
In 2023, the Tigers got hot at the perfect time, running through the regionals and super regionals, and it helped them tremendously in the College World Series.
In 2024, the team struggled late in the season, and their postseason run was short-lived.
A weird thing to think about is that the teams that win in Omaha aren’t always the most talented; they’re the ones that play their best baseball when it matters most.
“A program’s foundation starts with fundamentals, which we define as doing common things in an uncommon way, which really comes down to competitiveness,” Johnson said.
LSU’s issue isn’t talent; they are seething with it, but the Tigers must have a more competitive mindset than their opponent every time they step onto the field.
If LSU can do that, their talent will care for the rest.
Omaha isn’t just a goal at the Powerhouse; it’s the standard.
With elite pitching, a balanced lineup and a championship mindset, the Tigers are built for this fight.
We’ll see chapter one unfold this Friday when LSU hosts Purdue Fort Wayne on opening day.
