LSU Football: Only a few points away from going undefeated

We are 23 days away from college football season, and today we are discussing a team that lost four games, but could’ve easily gone undefeated.

Last season was not your typical LSU football season. The Tigers fired long-time head coach Les Miles four games into the season and named Ed Orgeron interim head coach. It was the first time LSU has fired a head football coach since 1999 when they fired Gerry DiNardo after going 4-7 and 3-8 in his final two seasons in Baton Rouge.

Last year’s team entered the season as the no. 5 ranked team in the AP poll, but quickly plummeted in the rankings. They finished the season ranked no. 13 in the country and defeated Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson and Louisville in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.

It was the Tigers’ third 8-win season in the last 14 years, and their second in the last three years. But if it weren’t for the Hurricane Matthew, the Tigers would’ve likely ended up 9-4. And that leads us to no. 23 on the Southbound and Down College Football Countdown.

LSU Tigers lost four games by a total of 23 points

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Wisconsin (2 pts)

The season opener in Lambeau Field was an ugly one. Neither team looked good offensively, and both teams turned the ball over three times. The Badgers prevailed 16-14, but the Tigers had a chance late.

After Wisconsin’s go-ahead field goal with 3:47 to play, LSU was driving. On the first five plays of the drive, Brandon Harris went 3-for-4 for 30 yards, and Leonard Fournette had a 15-yard gain down to the Badgers’ 30-yard line. But Harris was intercepted by D’Cota Dixon to end the game. It was the Tigers’ first season-opening loss since 2002.

Les Miles (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Auburn (5 pts)

The game that unfairly decided Miles’ fate is how I’ll forever remember this game. Another old school slugfest between the Tigers and Tigers. LSU did an excellent job of containing Auburn’s offensive attack, holding them without a touchdown in the game. Unfortunately for them, Auburn has the best kicker in the SEC, if not the country.

After Daniel Carlson‘s sixth field goal of the game, LSU had a final drive with a chance to win. Danny Etling led the Tigers on a 13-play, 60-yard drive, and that’s when the chaos ensued. After an illegal shift penalty in the final seconds, LSU was scrambling to get back to the line of scrimmage. LSU snapped the ball as soon as the referee cleared the area, then Etling scrambled and hit D.J. Chark in the back corner of the end zone for what looked like the game-winning touchdown.

The refs reviewed the play and ruled that LSU didn’t get the play off, giving Auburn an 18-13 win. Miles was subsequently fired the next day. Would Miles have been fired had LSU won that game? We’ll never know.

Alabama (10 pts)

It’s not that LSU almost beat Alabama or anything, but they gave the Crimson Tide by far their toughest test of the season. Jalen Hurts finally broke the 0-0 tie with his 21-yard touchdown scamper early in the fourth quarter. Alabama went on to win 10-0.

While the LSU defense came to play, the LSU offense did not. Etling threw for just 92 yards, and the Tigers were held to 33 rushing yards on 27 carries.

Florida (6 pts)

If you’re picking up on a trend here, LSU was involved in some wild games. Hurricane Matthew caused these two teams to postpone their Oct. 8 contest and they rescheduled it for Nov. 12. This game, like all of LSU’s losses in 2016, was another ugly slugfest. And just like all of LSU’s other losses, the Tigers had a chance to win late.

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A third of the Gators’ offensive output came on one play, a 98-yard touchdown pass from Austin Appleby to Tyrie Cleveland, which was also Florida’s only touchdown of the game.

Trailing 16-10, LSU went on a 13-play, 74-yard drive in the game’s final minutes. And with 35 seconds remaining, LSU was looking at a first and goal from the Florida 7-yard line. The Gators managed one of the most impressive goal line stands of the season to preserve the win and the SEC East.

The Tigers’ defense got the job done all year. They allowed 16.1 points per game in their eight wins, which was actually better than the 15 points per game they allowed in their four losses. It all comes down to the offense. LSU averaged 37.9 points per game in their eight wins, and 9.3 points per game in their four losses.

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LSU football is trying to move their offense into the 21st century, which is one of the biggest reasons Miles got the axe. Orgeron brought in Matt Canada to lead the Bayou Bengals’ offensive attack. If the Tigers can score some points this season, they could easily be the team that represents the SEC West in Atlanta at season’s end.