Paul Finebaum: "LSU's in really good shape" to make College Football Playoff
Despite a season-opening loss to USC, LSU is firmly in the mix for a College Football Playoff berth, thanks to a six-game winning streak that includes key SEC victories over Ole Miss, Arkansas, and South Carolina. Now, the No. 8 Tigers (6-1) are set for a primetime showdown with No. 14 Texas A&M, as both teams remain undefeated in SEC play. With the winner poised to take control of the conference, the stakes couldn’t be higher for LSU’s path to the postseason.
Football analyst Paul Finebaum shared his thoughts on the upcoming matchup during his Sunday appearance on The Matt Barrie Show, acknowledging the importance of LSU’s season and their chances of making the playoffs, even if they stumble against Texas A&M in College Station.
“I think LSU‘s in really good shape, even if they lost to Texas A&M, they still have a path probably just beating Alabama,” Finebaum said. “I say that because Alabama and LSU both have games against Oklahoma, but those are no longer games that we talk about. Those are automatic after what we saw (Saturday).”
Finebaum admitted that he didn’t expect LSU vs. Texas A&M to be a defining game this season but acknowledged the Tigers’ resilience. “I’m pretty high on LSU. I deal with Brian Kelly every week on our show, he’s a regular guest. He has had to navigate a lot and I like that about this program,” Finebaum said. “I’ll state the obvious: they should have about three losses right now. They dropped the USC game, which they probably should have won. They won the South Carolina game, which they probably should have lost. I still haven’t figured out how they won the Ole Miss game.”
The ESPN analyst also praised the team’s growing confidence, noting LSU’s ability to win close games, even when it seems unlikely. “This stretch has always been dicey, but I like the momentum. Nussmeier’s playing really well. They’ve lost a couple of key players but what’s interesting is they lost Harold Perkins, the All-American linebacker, but the defense has played freer without him being there.”
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In his final thoughts, Finebaum emphasized that LSU remains in a strong position. “I still believe Brian Kelly is one of the elite coaches in the country. If LSU does win the game, they’re within striking distance of the playoffs. The winner of this game is in incredible shape.”
And for those LSU fans looking ahead, Finebaum had this to say about the Crimson Tide: “Alabama is an absolute trainwreck. There’s no sugar coating it.”
With so much on the line, LSU’s showdown against Texas A&M could be the defining moment of the Tigers’ 2024 season.
