Paul Finebaum: LSU loss to Auburn puts Ed Orgeron on the hot seat

SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum believes LSU coach Ed Orgeron could soon be on the hot seat. Finebaum said in ESPN’s College Football podcast Sunday that LSU’s loss to Auburn on Saturday may be the beginning a long losing streak.

“It puts Ed Orgeron right in the middle of a (hot seat) conversation,” Finebaum said. “Ed has been living week to week ever since we started five weeks ago and they lost to UCLA. He escaped Mississippi State, but he’s got serious problems. He picked a really bad time to lose a game he should have won. Now he has to get on a plane and go to Lexington, which is a surprising team. If you think it gets easier after that, it doesn’t. He has Florida after that. He still has Alabama, Arkansas and Ole Miss. He’s got a realistic chance at having a disastrous season. In Baton Rouge, that spells one thing.”

The Tigers sit at 3-2 and 1-1 in SEC play. For Orgeron to stay out of hot seat discussions, they should aim to win at least two of their next three games against ranked opponents.

LSU jumped out to a 13-0 lead Saturday, but Auburn would soon find the momentum it needed. Quarterback Bo Nix miraculously evaded pressure on 4th-and-2, finding tight end Tyler Fromm for a score.

That gave the team a boost as it clawed its way back for a 24-19 victory.

Oregeron has been the head coach at LSU since 2016. He has compiled a 48-16 record over that span. After leading the Tigers to a Fiesta Bowl win during the 2018 season, he directed them to a national championship the following year. This past season marked the first time in his six years with the team that they did not finish with a winning record.

Although the coach has past success on his side, LSU fans aren’t likely to be patient if he slips more this season. As Paul Finebaum said, Ed Orgeron could find himself on the hot seat with just a few more losses.

LSU faces undefeated Kentucky at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in Lexington.