LSU Football: The Tigers are unranked for the first time since 2000

There are just two weeks left before the college football season, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time for some preseason polls. The AP and Coaches Polls were released this week to the excitement of fans across the nation. They didn’t come without their fair share of surprises either. While many LSU Football fans may have felt hard done by when these rankings released, the Tigers being left off was not a shocking development.

LSU comes into the 2022 season unranked for the first time in over two decades. The last time this happened was 2000, which saw the Tigers coming off the back of their last two losing seasons. Now, the program finds itself in a similar position.

LSU Football unranked in the AP and Coaches polls for the first time since 2000

Luckily for new Head Coach Brian Kelly, it took LSU just three years to win a National Championship last time around under a young Nick Saban. It goes without saying that would be a dream scenario for fans nowadays. The Tigers are ensuring they’ve got all the tools to succeed in the near future, from one of the best head coaches in the country to some superb recruits coming in via the 2023 recruiting class.

Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves and wish away the 2022 season though. Even though the last two seasons have been the program’s worst in decades, there is optimism that this year can be the start of something special. Regardless, fans are beginning to grow restless as winning football games is all that matters in Louisiana.

The state’s unofficial spokesperson had his say on the matter on Wednesday morning:

There is plenty of buzz out of Baton Rouge ahead of this year. Jayden Daniels is looking like he will be the starting quarterback under first-year Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock, which has fans excited for an offensive unlike any they’ve seen in recent years. Kayshon Boutte also returns to bring some explosiveness on that side of the ball. Meanwhile, some individual stars—such as BJ Ojulari—on the defensive side of the ball have fans hopeful for a defensive resurgence.

Suffice it to say, September 4 cannot come soon enough. The expectations may not be sky high, but the excitement levels in the Bayou are through the roof.