Ed Orgeron details relationship, communication with Scott Woodward

The end of Ed Orgeron’s six-year tenure at LSU could be in sight, according to analysts across the country, though in the end it’ll be up to athletic director Scott Woodward.

Six years, one perfect season and one national championship later, there seems to be nothing left that Orgeron can do to save his job at LSU, as the Tigers free fall from their 2019 national title to the tune of a .500 record ever since. After Orgeron’s latest loss — a 42-21 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington — he was asked about whether he’s been communicative with Woodward, and whether Woodward has been supportive of his approach to date.

“He’s been great. [I meet with him] every Sunday,” Orgeron said of his relationship with Woodward. “He’s been very positive. He’s been very encouraging every time I’ve met with him.”

Orgeron had the LSU Tigers slowly on the rise since his arrival in 2016, when he was hired by Woodward and led the Tigers to an 8-4 record and a Citrus Bowl title. They improved to 9-4 the next season; albeit with a loss in the Citrus Bowl, and Orgeron took yet another leap at LSU in 2018, finishing 10-3 and winning the Fiesta Bowl. It wasn’t until 2019, however, when he solidified the Tigers’ spot atop the college football world with an emphatic season: LSU went 15-0 with the likes of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrow, winning both the Peach Bowl and College Football Playoff national championship. Most people seem to believe that Woodward will look past his perfect season when making a decision on LSU’s future.

After that one season, the wheels fell off, prompting the question to Orgeron about his relationship with Woodward. LSU lost tons of talent to the NFL Draft after its national championship and went 5-5 in the 2020 season. This year, things are only getting worse, and LSU is 3-3 with losses to UCLA, Auburn and Kentucky. It seems like a matter of when — not if — LSU will make the decision to fire Orgeron in his sixth season.

Not only is Orgeron just .500 — and not only does his team have one of the nation’s worst rushing attacks, coupled with a defense that allowed 330 yards of total rushing to the Kentucky Wildcats last week — but he also has a near-impossible schedule ahead of him, one that should drop LSU’s record well below .500. Next up, the Tigers have four-straight ranked opponents on their schedule: No. 20 LSU, No. 13 Ole Miss, No. 5 Alabama and No. 17 Arkansas. Their only break is the penultimate game of the season, a nonconference matchup with UL-Monroe, before they head back to ranked teams, finishing off at home against No. 21 Texas A&M.

Things might get worse before they get better for the LSU Tigers. If Woodward does in fact make the call to dismiss Orgeron this season, it may not take long for LSU to climb back to national relevancy with its history of success.