What are the chances that LSU can get in the playoff with a 9-3 record?
This is actually a reasonable question. Through two years, it hasn’t happened. In fact, 10-2s from power leagues have been held out. Vanderbilt, Utah and Notre Dame were left out at 10-2 last year. In 2024, Miami and BYU were left out at 10-2.
I can paint a picture of a 9-3 LSU team with wins over ACC Champion Clemson (work with me), Texas A&M, Alabama and at Tennessee. That would involve likely losses at Ole Miss, versus Texas and either at Auburn.
It’s a pretty good resume. You would need the ACC and Big 12 Conference to be one-bid leagues that cannibalize each other, and we obviously don’t expect two Group of Five schools this year because they changed that rule. Maybe an injury derails Notre Dame’s season, though that’s unlikely because they’re playing St. Thomas More and Alexandria Senior High School this year instead of a representative schedule. But that’s a story for another day.
Ultimately, it’s possible. There’s more room in this CFP. I find it unlikely, though.
Will Brysten Martinez get to rotate on OL at any time?
I can tell you this staff absolutely loves Martinez. I would wager that he’s the Week 1 starter at left tackle this time next year. That said, I’m not sure I see him playing serious snaps this year unless a rash of injuries hit.
Sean Thompkins has left tackle experience at Baylor and is three years older than Martinez. Devin Harper can also play tackle. I think this is purely a developmental year for the East Ascension product (I don’t think EA is on Notre Dame’s schedule, but I’ll check). That doesn’t mean he’s not making moves. He is.
What do you think LSU does during the NFLSU segment when Jayden Daniels’s turn arrives? Will they troll him or actually show his graphic?
I’m nervous about this one. I guess I shouldn’t be.
A cease and desist is not legally binding. So, LSU won’t face any trouble flashing Jayden’s picture during the segment. His attorneys could then take further action to stop it moving forward. That would be remarkably dumb.
He’s going to get booed on Saturday night, and I hate that. He’s one of the greatest players in the school’s history, and he should be celebrated in that stadium.
So many Tiger fans have such fond memories of his play. I’d like to leave it at that instead of a ridiculous spat over a jersey number. Time will heal that wound eventually, but not on Saturday. Boos will rain down, and I’ll be bummed about it.
If you could have one defensive player from the 2019 team on this LSU roster, which would it be?
The answer is Derek Stingley Jr.
Let me provide a second answer for the sake of discussion. I think I could make a strong argument for Tyler Shelvin. That sounds crazy because Stingley became an All-Pro, Grant Delpit won the Thorpe, Patrick queen has become an NFL star. K’Lavon Chaisson went in the first round.
Shelvin was a massively underrated part of that 2019 team, and his presence in the middle of this defensive line would be huge. Think of the tackling potential of Whit Weeks and TJ Dottery with 350-plus pounds of Shelvin moving bodies on opposing offensive lines.
I have some concerns about defensive tackle on this team. Corner, safety and linebacker feel strong. I love the Shelvin picks.
But, give me Stingley.
