On3 Roundtable: LSU’s preseason SEC ranking not surprising

Despite winning the SEC West this past season and returning several players from that team, LSU was not picked to win the division in 2023, ranking second behind Alabama in the preseason media poll. Although Tigers fans might take issue with that after defeating the Crimson Tide a year ago, The Bengal Tiger‘s Shea Dixon doesn’t find it surprising.

In an On3 Roundtable interview with JD PicKell, Dixon pointed to the fact that Alabama has dominated the series over the past decade as playing a factor in where the teams ranked. The Crimson Tide are 10-2 against LSU since 2012, including a 21-0 loss in the 2012 national championship.

“Not overly surprised,” Dixon said. “I think it is probably going to take more than beating Alabama once in the span of the past — well, the 2019 season, not including that unbelievable game with NFL talent all over the place — in every other year it’s been Alabama who’s had LSU’s number. So certainly big for them to win last year in OT and go on to win the West, but I thought it would be a close vote. I thought Alabama would have the edge. They did.”

Its past success speaks for itself, but Alabama clearly enters 2023 with more questions than LSU. Not only are Crimson Tide are coming off of an 11-2 season that saw them miss the College Football Playoff for just the second time, but they must replace 2021 Heisman winner Bryce Young at quarterback. The competition between Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson and Tyler Buchner is still ongoing.

Alabama also loses key pieces such as edge rusher Will Anderson, safety Brian Branch and running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Still, the Crimson Tide won’t lack for talent after bringing in top five recruiting classes each of the past four years.

LSU, on the other hand, ranks top 10 in returning offensive production according to ESPN. The Tigers bring back quarterback Jayden Daniels, receiver Malik Nabers and running back Josh Williams. They also look solid defensively with key players such as linebacker Harold Perkins, defensive lineman Maason Smith and safety Greg Brooks Jr. returning.

“I thought the one thing that could tip this in LSU’s favor would not be LSU-related as much as ‘Bama,” Dixon continued. “Who’s the starting quarterback? What do a lot of these position groups look like where they lost a number of guys? They again lose a number of players to the NFL Draft, including the No. 1 overall pick. I thought that uncertainty might push ‘Bama to (No. 2).

“But if everyone’s really paying attention, if Alabama and LSU are neck-and-neck, maybe the thing that really differentiates it and got them more votes is that game is in Tuscaloosa this year, which certainly makes a difference.”

That game, set to take place on Nov. 4, could ultimately be the deciding factor in who wins the SEC West. If it’s anything like 2022, where the Tigers escaped 32-31 in overtime after a touchdown run and two-point conversion from Daniels, fans are in for a treat.

Last year’s win and returning production should give LSU confidence it can prove the preseason ranking wrong and make a statement with a win in Tuscaloosa. However, given the history of that series and with the Crimson Tide and Tigers seemingly so even this season, their order in the early rankings makes sense.