LSU students have finally gotten the opportunity to celebrate a Week 1 victory after LSU football snapped its five-year opening loss streak on Saturday against Clemson. The Tigers can now set their sights on a possibly historic season after getting a confidence booster against an experienced and rock-solid Clemson team.
Two other top-10 matchups took place in Week 1 besides No. 9 LSU and No. 4 Clemson, all ending in one-score games that went down to the wire. While these giants clashed, the majority of the other Power Four teams played average pay-to-play games against smaller programs, with most getting the job done and receiving an easy 1-0 start.
Even after five years of tough losses, LSU decided to schedule one of its hardest games of the season in Week 1, when it could’ve settled for an easy win like other teams.
LSU’s gamble paid off and is a perfect example of how starting the season off with a top-ranked game can be great for a team to find confidence in its roster early on. The Tigers were able to see how the new pieces of their team meshed in-game, which is good for the season ahead.
For programs built on strong winning cultures, Week 1 presents an opportunity to gain momentum early and show how the team should be recognized as one of the best going into the season. Winning a ranked game so early also boosts confidence and excitement for football around the whole school. As more students realize that their team is worth watching and can win against top teams, more people start to support the team and get involved in the game day culture.
Though getting a statement win in Week 1 can boost a program’s morale, there’s also a major risk in receiving a Week 1 loss with consequences that follow.
One major aspect of why teams pass on solid opponents to start the year is because of the pressure it puts on the higher ranked team. Mid-ranked teams don’t look to play low-caliber opponents because their ranking could either be lowered for not playing a tough team or they wouldn’t receive much boost if they end up winning like expected.
On the other hand, there’s about a 50/50 split chance for a ranked team to finish ranked after losing its opener to another ranked opponent. This is also why so many pay-to play games take place now, as teams at the top are worried about slipping up.
Although the data may warn teams about challenging themselves with tough games so early, it really just depends on the program’s culture and end goal for the season. For a top-ranked powerhouse, going into the season with a ranked matchup is a great way to test the team and solidify playoff chances early on.
That wasn’t always the case, though. In 2022, No. 5 Notre Dame opened its season against No. 2 Ohio State and ended up losing the game 21-10. Ohio State went on to make the playoffs, and Notre Dame did not.
Yes, Notre Dame’s playoff chances would’ve increased with a win, but today, a loss to a high-ranked team early in the season also contributes to playoff chances.
Now with the 12-team playoff structure, one loss is no longer enough to deny a team from the playoffs, which is more reason to risk it for the reward. An early season loss to a top team is technically seen as better than a loss to a ranked team later in the season and closer to playoffs.
I applaud teams like LSU for continuing to not shy away from a challenge early in the year and think more powerhouse teams should play each other early on too. Playing in a high-stakes game teaches a team so much more than a throw away game and also allows a team to reevaluate themselves to prepare for a playoff push and the rest of the season ahead.
