SEC Football: Preseason power rankings for 2023 season
By Matt Melton
3. LSU Tigers
Coming off an impressive year one under head coach Brian Kelly in Baton Rouge, LSU sits at No. 3 in our 2023 preseason SEC football power rankings.
The Tigers posted one of their best single-seasons in recent years during the 2022 campaign, one where they finished with a 10-4 overall record, as well as 6-2 in the SEC to win the SEC West. Also winning the Citrus Bowl at seasons end, this was the Tigers first 10-win season since their 2019 campaign in which they won the national championship.
Headlining the returning players for LSU is quarterback Jayden Daniels, who will lead an offense in addition to others such as Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr., Josh Williams, Mason Taylor, and more. The Tigers defense will also return multiple significant names such as Harold Perkins Jr., Maason Smith, Greg Penn III, Mekhi Wingo, and more.
LSU’s new additions could also make an impact this season, headlined by transfers that include Oregon State linebacker Omar Speights, Southern cornerback Zy Alexander, Arizona defensive lineman Paris Shand, and Texas A&M cornerback Denver Harris, among others. The Tigers could also have a few true freshmen make an impact as well, headlined by the likes of Lance Heard and Da’Shawn Womack.
Playing in one of the nation’s premier Week 1 matchups, LSU will play Florida State in a neutral-site game from Orlando, FL.