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College Football Rankings 2016: Projected AP Top 25 After National Championship

By Zach Bigalke

Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) scores a touchdown on an 8 yard run past against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) scores a touchdown on an 8 yard run past against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the second quarter in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 31, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Derrius Guice (5) is tackled by Louisville Cardinals defensive lineman Chris Williams (44) during the first quarter of an NCAA football game in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Derrius Guice (5) is tackled by Louisville Cardinals defensive lineman Chris Williams (44) during the first quarter of an NCAA football game in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

LSU closed out its year with a 29-9 demolition of Heisman winner Lamar Jackson and Louisville in the Citrus Bowl. While Leonard Fournette sat out the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft, his Tigers teammates were pummeling a Cardinals team that had looked like a College Football Playoff contender for much of the regular season. Jackson was held to just 186 total yards of offense by the LSU defense. Meanwhile Fournette’s backup Derrius Guice piled up 138 rushing yards and scored touchdowns on the ground as well as receiving.

After an early swoon that led to the ouster of longtime head coach Les Miles, LSU won six of their last eight games under new coach Ed Orgeron. The Tigers opened the year ranked fifth in the AP’s preseason Top 25, but they immediately lost to Wisconsin at Lambeau Field and cost Miles his job in an 18-13 loss against Auburn. Under Orgeron, though, LSU’s only losses came against SEC division champions Alabama and Florida.

Orgeron was supposed to be an interim stopgap, but after righting the ship he was rewarded with the full-time position after missing out on Tom Herman. It remains to be seen whether the new coach can maintain this momentum into 2017, but he did enough to place the Bayou Bengals in a mid-poll position in the final AP Top 25.

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