LSU Football: 5 Takeaways from 2019 spring football

5. LSU is a serious threat to make the College Football Playoff

With a ton of returning production, a loaded defense, and an offense that could take a big step forward, LSU should be considered among the favorites to make the College Football Playoff in 2019.

I’m sure that statement will be met with some laughter and scorn, but there aren’t many teams in the country more talented than LSU will be next season, and the schedule sets up nicely to potentially push the Tigers toward the playoff, maybe even without winning their own division.

All the talk in recent seasons has been about finally getting over the Alabama mountain, but LSU might actually be able to afford a loss to the Crimson Tide next season and still be right in the thick of the playoff race. Going to Tuscaloosa and knocking off Alabama will be difficult, but even with a loss Orgeron’s crew could still make the playoff if they win all their other games.

A big reason for that is LSU’s date with Texas in Austin on the second weekend of the season. If the Tigers can go on the road and win that game, it will be one of, if not the very most, impressive out-of-conference win of the season.

Running the table outside of Alabama would also include wins over Florida, Mississippi State, Auburn, and Texas A&M. Their strength-of-schedule should also be boosted by two other quality programs from the group-of-five in Georgia Southern and Utah State.

In that scenario, LSU would almost certainly have the best one-loss resume in the country, and might even have the opportunity to get revenge on Alabama in the College Football Playoff in a role-reversal from the 2011 season.

Orgeron’s full-time hiring in Baton Rouge was largely mocked and derided, but Coach O has the Tigers on the right track, which could lead toward the playoff in 2019.