LSU football won a national championship in 2019, but defending it will be a tough task. How can the Tigers remain at the top of the nation this year?
On the surface, it may seem a bit preposterous to be suggesting how LSU can get better, given that they just finished an undefeated season that was capped off by a dominant performance over the prior year’s champion.
However, as LSU taught Clemson firsthand, defending the title is just as hard as winning it. In fact, it’s probably even tougher.
The path for LSU to get back is going to be much more difficult than Clemson’s was, though. Obviously, the ACC is at an all-time low in terms of football depth, while Ed Orgeron’s Tigers will have to go through a murderer’s row at the top of the SEC.
Additionally, Clemson kept most of the key pieces in place. Sure, they lost some huge defensive pieces, but head coach, quarterback, and both coordinators remained in place. LSU, on the other hand, saw several key departures after their victory in the National Championship.
2020 will be the ultimate test for Orgeron. Can he, like Nick Saban in his division, survive the endless coaching turnover and increased rate of players leaving early for the NFL? These are the biggest keys to LSU staying on top of the mountain.