Why LSU vs. Florida State is such a pivotal game in Week 1

For most college football fans, September 2nd can’t get here soon enough as the official start of the season. With that said, On3’s JD PicKell actually has his eyes on September 3rd when LSU and Florida State play the weekend’s biggest game because of what will be at stake for both sides.

PicKell explained why he’s so interested in the Tiger’s matchup with the Seminoles inside Camping World Stadium on an episode of ‘The Hard Count’. He said part of it is because last year’s contest was so good but that the other part is that it could end up costing both teams their season considering their respective expectations and schedules.

“The game of the entire weekend is Sunday in Orlando. You got the LSU Tigers and the Florida State Seminoles,” started PicKell. “This one lived up to expectations in every sense of the phrase last year with Florida State blocking a PAT to win the game in walk-off fashion.”

“This is a playoff game. We’ve talked about this before on this show. Without a doubt, no way around it. This is a playoff football game,” PicKell said. “Week one? I know. But look at the slate for both of these teams. If you’re to drop the first game, you lose your mulligan. You put your fate in somebody else’s hands. It’s not how you want to live, especially after week one.”

PicKell went on to discuss how both teams are viewing this year’s matchup in Orlando. In the Tiger’s case, he says they see it as a revenge game considering how last season’s game went. For the Seminoles, though, he thinks that they want this to use this opener as a launching pad for their season, much like they did with the 24-23 victory in New Orleans in 2022.

“For LSU, they felt like they weren’t even in their final form last year,” PicKell continued. “Like, it was Brian Kelly’s first game as the head coach at LSU. Jayden Daniels? His first time suiting up. They weren’t who they thought they were as a team yet in week one last year.”

“(Florida State) has got the most returning production in college football, they just extended Mike Norvell, the ACC feels wide open,” said PicKell. “Like, they feel like this is the year. And it all starts week one.”

Both of these squads reached 10 wins last season and competed both in their conference and on a national level. Still, their two records were separated by one game as LSU finished with one more loss which, in some eyes, is seen as their defeat versus FSU.

With both teams in similar positions again, PicKell expects there to be a lot on the line when the Tigers and Seminoles run it back in ’23.

“Playoff-atmosphere, neutral-site,” PicKell stated. “This one’s gonna be a lot of fun to watch. I’m excited for this one.”