LSU Football: Realistic expectations for Tigers in 2023

LSU football had a stellar season in the first year under Brian Kelly but what’s realistic for the Tigers heading into the 2023 season? 

When Brian Kelly left Notre Dame to be the head coach at LSU football, a number of college football fans wondered why.

People even mocked him. They wondered how he would handle the SEC West and when he did some dances with recruits, it became a bit of a running joke.

However, by the end of last season, Kelly was the one laughing after the Tigers won the SEC West title and beat Alabama in his first season on the job.

Nobody expected Kelly to take down Nick Saban in year one and even though the Tigers lost to Texas A&M in the last game of the regular season and then to Georgia in the SEC title game, it dominated Purdue in the bowl game and has tons of momentum heading into 2023.

Jayden Daniels will return as the starting quarterback and he’s a guy that shouldn’t be overlooked when it comes to the 2023 Heisman Trophy race.

Beyond that, LSU football was a big-time winner in the transfer portal. The Tigers added a number of talented defensive backs and four-star defenders to upgrade their defense. Beyond that, Harold Perkins is going to be among the best defenders in the SEC next season and Kelly also signed an elite recruiting class.

According to 247 sports, LSU football is tied for having the third-most “lethal” roster heading into the 2023 season. So what are realistic expectations for 2023?

LSU football’s realistic expectations for 2023

The schedule is difficult once again for the Tigers and playing against Florida State in the first game is a major challenge because the Seminoles are loaded too.

On top of that, LSU football has road trips to Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Alabama. The toughest home games are going to be Texas A&M, Florida, Auburn, and Arkansas.

While the Tigers might be even better than last season, winning at Alabama is going to be tough. I’m going to guess the Tigers get double-digit wins though and are in the hunt for the SEC West title again, however, I see Nick Saban taking it back in 2023.

LSU football will have to settle for a New Year’s Six Bowl game, which I think is the most realistic outcome for the 2023 season and still a step in the right direction in year two under Brian Kelly.