LSU’s path to the College Football Playoff is becoming clearer, but the challenge facing the Tigers over the next three weeks is significant.
The College Football Playoff selection committee has LSU ranked 14th in its first rankings of the season, which were released on Tuesday night. The Tigers are currently outside the 12-team playoff field, but they’ll have opportunities to improve their standing against some of the nation’s best teams.
LSU’s next three opponents are ranked ahead of the Tigers.
LSU hosts fifth-ranked Alabama this Saturday, welcomes seventh-ranked Texas to Tiger Stadium on November 14th, then travels to face 13th-ranked Tennessee on November 21st.
The biggest surprise in the initial rankings might be Alabama’s position. The Crimson Tide is the highest-ranked two-loss team in the country, sitting eight spots ahead of Tennessee, which defeated Alabama by 16 points on October 17th.
LSU coach Lane Kiffin said Monday he doesn’t want his players worrying about the rankings because there’s still plenty of football to be played.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt agrees there’s little reason to pay attention to the rankings right now.
“I really don’t care,” Leavitt said. “We got to go win games. Hearing the rankings right now doesn’t matter. We could be No. 1 or 50. If we go lose or win the next four, then that ranking doesn’t even apply.”
Leavitt will get his first taste of the LSU-Alabama rivalry Saturday. The Oregon native says he’s already hearing from Tiger fans about the importance of the matchup.
“I hear all the time if I am going to the store to grab something, getting food or whatever, they’re saying, ‘Hey, go beat Bama."”
The Crimson Tide is allowing 21 points and 330 total yards per game. Alabama has also intercepted 12 passes, returning three of them for touchdowns.
Leavitt expects the matchup to be his toughest test yet.
“Yeah, I think it’s going to be the best defense we’ve played. There’s not really many holes, and their DC does a great job. They play really hard. They go after the ball. So it’s going to be a very emotional and high-stakes game. And I’m really excited to go play against them.”
There was also some encouraging news regarding Leavitt’s health. He told reporters Tuesday that his hamstring is feeling much better and he’s now running at 100 percent.