The LSU Tigers path to the College Football Playoff in 2023
By John Fye
Beat Ole Miss on the road in Week 5
Ole Miss was 7-0 before running into the LSU football buzzsaw last season. The Tigers rushed for 252 yards, including 121 from Jayden Daniels, on the way to a 45-20 victory. At the time, Ole Miss’s path to the CFP was through Baton Rouge. However, this time, it’s LSU paving the road to the CFP through Oxford, Mississippi.
Beating the Rebels is important for the LSU Tigers because they’re an SEC West foe that figures to field another explosive offense. In addition, LSU football fans cannot overlook Jaxson Dart’s return as Ole Miss quarterback. The Tigers’ defense made life difficult for Dart last season, but the pending junior was admittedly beaten up going into the late October matchup. However, the 2023 version of LSU vs. Ole Miss occurs in late September, giving the Rebels a slight advantage.
Lane Kiffin knows offense, but if there’s a legit criticism of his scheme in Oxford, it’s that his quarterbacks take too many hits. Fans witnessed such with Matt Corral; now, history repeats itself with Dart. One can assume Dart will be a healthier player on September 30; thus, more of a threat to LSU. Conversely, Kiffin exercised some moves to overhaul Ole Miss’s habitually lousy defense, which started with hiring Pete Golding away from Alabama.
Golding doesn’t have a magic wand and will not morph average college defenders into great ones. However, his scheme will help to improve the ‘Land Shark’ defense that remains everything but predatory on Saturdays. LSU football fans must also consider Golding has a game against the Jayden Daniels-led offense under his belt. It was a loss, but we bet the former Crimson Tide defensive coordinator has studied LSU multiple times since Mason Taylor’s walk-off catch.
Speaking of Alabama, the Tide comes next on our list.