LSU football: 5 non-conference games that need to happen

Dec 31, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks helmet at a press conference at the L.A. Hotel Downtown in advance of the 2015 Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon Ducks

While the LSU football team recently faced the Oregon Ducks in the 2011 Cowboys Classic, a home-and-home series between the two programs would provide plenty of excitement.

Both Tiger Stadium, aka Death Valley, and Autzen Stadium, aka the Autzen Zoo, consistently rank among the most intimidating venues in college football. Scheduling this game would make for a well-deserving trip for each fanbase, and give each team a taste of the best environments of both the SEC and the Pac-12.

The game would also generate tremendous hype, and not just because of the stature of these two football programs. The Tigers and the Ducks boast vastly different styles of play, creating a matchup that would certainly be among the most intriguing of the college football season.

In addition, a victory for either team would immediately launch them into College Football Playoff contention. The 2011 showdown between the two teams is proof of the postseason implications that such a game can have. While LSU would have made the BCS National Championship Game regardless that year, following an undefeated regular season, a victory over the Ducks in Week 1 entrenched the Bayou Bengals at the top of the national polls from the very beginning of the season.

The Tigers struggle to find premier opponents to schedule home-and-home series with, due to their considerable home-field advantage. Oregon benefits from a similar advantage, though, making it a matchup that could potentially happen.

Next: USC Trojans