College Football Playoff Rankings: Why LSU should be No. 1

The LSU Tigers are 7-0 and have the leading Heisman candidate in Leonard Fournette and should be the No. 1 team in the first College Football Playoff rankings.

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The AP and Coaches polls place Les Miles’ LSU Tigers at No. 4, but the Tigers have a strong case for being No. 1 in Tuesday night’s first College Football Playoff rankings of the season.

LSU should top the College Football Playoff rankings because the team has won against some impressive opponents. The signature win came against Florida, whose only loss was the loss to LSU and rank No. 11 in the recent AP Top 25.

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Mississippi State and Auburn have been other quality SEC wins.

While other teams have cases for being number one, TCU and Baylor haven’t played nearly as many tough games (although their toughest games are near the end of the season), and LSU edges Clemson’s strength of schedule.

Of course strength of schedule isn’t the only reason, but the College Football Playoff Committee has stated that it is one of the more important criteria, which gives good reason alone to put LSU at number one ahead of Ohio State, the likely top pick of the committee.

LSU’s strength of record, game control and average win probability are all within the top three nationwide. The Tigers aren’t just Fournette as they rank fifth nationwide in rushing with Derrius Guice and Darrell Williams complementing the Heisman front-runner.

The offense has become more balanced in recent weeks with the continued development of sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris who brings the threat of a passing offense. With receivers Malachi Dupre and Travin Dural capable of spectacular plays on the perimeter and down the field and take the pressure off Fournette.

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Of course, Fournette is a legitimate reason for the Tigers 7-0 start and why they should be No. 1 in the first playoff rankings. He’s a threat to break the SEC single-game rushing record every game and you never know when he’s going to do something you think you’ve never seen happen on a football field before.

He’s aided by arguably the greatest offensive line in the nation who have been the unsung heroes all year as they pave the way for Fournette and give Harris the time necessary to maneuver throughout the pocket.

LSU has a very challenging game at Alabama on Saturday which could be enough to make sure the Bayou Bengals get the top spot next week, but they have a better case than the defending champions, Baylor, Clemson and TCU.