CBS Sports update Ed Orgeron's hot seat ranking

It’s October, meaning the hot seat discussion is heating up, and the coaching carousel is just beginning to turn. 

CBS writer Dennis Dodd updated his 2021 hot seat rankings, and LSU head coach Ed Orgeron is firmly in the “start improving now” category, which matches his preseason situation. 

Following a loss to Auburn, a team that has been very hot and cold all season, LSU is 3-2 with another opening season loss at UCLA. Their three victories are over Mississippi State (who is showing life after toppling Texas A&M last week), Central Michigan and FCS McNeese State. 

Dodd opened the year saying LSU would need to start 3-1, and to their credit, they did. However, the schedule certainly doesn’t get any easier from here. The Tigers next five games are against Kentucky, Florida, Ole Miss, Alabama and Arkansas. All five teams are ranked. It appears a Nov. 20 game against Louisiana-Monroe is the only surefire win remaining for Coach O, as their closer against Texas A&M will not be a cakewalk with the Aggies’ defense matched with a struggling LSU offense.

Additionally, LSU is still stuck in a world of legal trouble, and their head coach is heavily involved. Orgeron is a defendant in a $50 million Title IX lawsuit claiming the head coach knew about and failed to report the alleged rape of a former LSU student by then-running back Derrius Guice.

A program that is 8-7 since winning a national championship in 2019 combined with the cultural and legal turmoil surrounding the team is a recipe for a firing, especially at a place with the tradition, history and fanbase LSU has.

Orgeron will need to dazzle in the coming weeks to keep his job. There is no shortage of opportunities to do so.

Run game nonexistent in Baton Rouge

One of the core issues at LSU right now is the complete lack of a run game. The Tigers are averaging just 66.2 yards per game on the ground, which is 128th in the country and 2.58 yards per rush, 126th in the nation. Through five games, LSU has two rushing touchdowns. On Saturday against Auburn, LSU had 11 rushing yards.

The 2019 national title team was known for its passing attack led by Joe Burrow and one of the best receiving corps in history, but the run game did its job as well, posting 166.8 yards per contest.

Orgeron took responsibility for the loss last weekend, saying the offense is too complicated. He just needs to let his very talented team play. 

“I talked to the offense, and I’ll continue to talk to them on the things that we have to get fixed,” Orgeron added Tuesday. “There are some things that are very fixable. We just need to settle down, mostly just call the play and let it go and not try to change the play.”