Chairman Boo Corrigan explains No. 10 CFP ranking for LSU Tigers

The first release of the College Football Playoff rankings for the 2022 season arrived on Tuesday night, along with plenty of controversy. One team that drew immediate attention over its spot in the CFP rankings was LSU.

The Tigers checked in ranked No. 10, the highest of any two-loss team, ahead of one-loss Ole Miss, even.

“I think in large part, the win over Mississippi, the win over Mississippi State, they did lose to Florida State earlier in the season,” said CFP rankings chair Boo Corrigan on a post-release conference call. “But they seem to be getting better and better as coach (Brian) Kelly and the quarterback are starting to mesh a little bit, if you will.”

LSU, of course, will immediately get a chance to validate its lofty position in the initial CFP rankings. Up this weekend is a home date with No. 6 Alabama.

The Tigers have won just one of the last 11 meetings with the Crimson Tide.

For now, though, Corrigan and the College Football Playoff selection committee believe LSU’s head-to-head win over Ole Miss just a week and a half ago justifies its spot.

“We saw them coming off that Mississippi win as being worthy of the top 10,” Corrigan explained.

Lofty CFP ranking for LSU comes with immediate test

There are no two ways around it. Saturday’s game against Alabama is a gigantic matchup.

Alabama, LSU and Ole Miss all sit tied atop the SEC West standings with identical 4-1 conference marks. While the CFP ranking for LSU certainly drew scrutiny on Tuesday night, it’ll look justified in a hurry if Kelly and his squad can take down the Tide just two weeks after downing the Rebels.

LSU would be firmly in the driver’s seat in the SEC West, even with two losses this season.

Kelly is relishing the opportunity for the Tigers to further prove themselves.

“That’s why you come to LSU. It’s not pressure. It’s a privilege to play in games like this. That’s certainly why I came to LSU…To play in games like this,” Kelly said. “All of the noise and all of the other things are just distractions. This is about preparation. This is about focusing on our process this week and preparing to play our very best.”