LSU Football: Analyst gives minimum expectations for Tigers in 2021

LSU football‘s 2020 season got off to a tough start, losing three of their first five games.

But the Tigers were able to rally, ending the season with two straight wins to finish with a 5-5 record.

It wasn’t the season that most folks expected after watching LSU go 15-0 in 2019, but the final two games of the year showcased the young talent the Tigers have on the roster.

And thanks to that young talent, the expectations will be a bit higher for LSU in 2021.

What are the minimum expectations for LSU football in 2021?

Rivals recruiting analyst Mike Farrell recently discussed the five teams in 2021 that he expects to improve.

Unsurprisingly, LSU is one of his five teams (the other four are Michigan, California, Florida State, and Penn State).

“After a perfect 2019 things were bad last season for LSU with so many losses to the NFL and opt outs,” wrote Farrell.

“But I’m expecting bigger things in 2021,” added the Rivals recruiting analyst.

So what “bigger things” is Farrell expecting in 2021?

“They should start 3-0 with wins over UCLA, McNeese and Central Michigan, and they have Mississippi State and Auburn right after that,” writes Farrell. “A 7-5 season is my minimum expectation and I think 8-4 is likely.”

I think Farrell is actually being a bit generous here. I think 8-4 should be the minimum expectation for the Tigers in 2021.

If LSU loses five games, it would likely mean losses to Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Texas A&M, and either Arkansas or Ole Miss.

After the way the Tigers finished the 2020 season, I just don’t see them losing five games — especially to those opponents.

Losses to Alabama and Texas A&M are very possible. And I’ll even go as far as saying that LSU will probably lose one of the games to Auburn/Florida/Arkansas/Ole Miss.

At that point, LSU would be 9-3 in the regular season. I think that should be the goal, with 8-4 being the minimum acceptable record for the Tigers this upcoming season.

I think that’s pretty fair just two years after winning a national championship.