LSU's schedule in 2025 is among the toughest in the country. With an eight-game SEC slate and a non-conference schedule headlined by a trip to Clemson in Week 1, the Tigers have little time to relax this season.
Starting on Oct. 11, LSU plays South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, and Alabama in consecutive games. They get South Carolina and Texas A&M at home, with trips to Nashville and Tuscaloosa on the docket. For an LSU team with National Championship aspirations, this stretch of games will define LSU's 2025 season.
Oct. 11: vs South Carolina
South Carolina will be a dangerous team in 2025. The Gamecocks went 9-4 overall last season, and posted a 5-3 record in SEC play. It was Shane Beamer's first winning season in conference play, and the Gamecocks head into the new season with plenty of momentum. Earlier this month, South Carolina was ranked No. 13 in the preseason coaches poll.
LaNorris Sellers is a dangerous dual-threat quarterback who could take a big leap in 2025. As a freshman last season, Sellers totaled 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns through the air while also rushing for 674 yards and seven touchdowns. He presents a real problem to opposing defenses, and now that he has some experience under his belt, he could be poised for a big 2025 campaign.
The Tigers and Gamecocks played a wild contest in Columbia last season that resulted in a 36-33 LSU win. Before going down with an injury, Sellers torched the Tigers running the ball for 88 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 10 carries. LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker needs to learn from last year's contest to draw up a game plan that limits Sellers' running ability. Winning this game at home is crucial for the Tigers.
Oct. 18: at Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt served as the darlings of college football last season. After posting a 6-6 record in the regular season and picking up Birmingham Bowl win against Georgia Tech, the Commodores posted a winning record for the first time since 2013. Vanderbilt started the season 5-2, which was highlighted by a colossal victory over then-No. 1 Alabama. It was the first win against a No. 1-ranked team in Vanderbilt program history. The win sent shockwaves around the country, and showed just how deep the SEC is.
In addition to picking up wins over Alabama, Virginia Tech, Kentucky, and Auburn, Vanderbilt also had some close losses in 2024. They lost to No. 7 Missouri in double overtime and fell to No. 5 Texas by just three points. A few different bounces and Vanderbilt could have been an eight or nine win team.
LSU defeated Vanderbilt by a score of 24-17 last season in Baton Rouge. This season, the Tigers head to Nashville on Oct. 18. Led by returning quarterback Diego Pavia, the Commodores have shown they are not to be taken lightly. Sandwiched between home games against South Carolina and Texas A&M, LSU needs to avoid a letdown in what could be viewed as a trap game.
Oct. 25: vs Texas A&M
LSU's loss to Texas A&M last season began the stretch of games that killed their College Football Playoff hopes. LSU already had one loss heading into last season's Oct. 26 matchup against the Aggies at Kyle Field. The Tigers led 17-7 at halftime, but were dominated in the second half. The Aggies would ultimately upset the 8th ranked Tigers by a score of 38–23.
The Tigers weren't able to recover from the defeat, as they dropped their next two contests to Florida and Alabama en route to a three-game losing streak. Revenge is on the Tigers' minds in 2025 as Texas A&M makes the trip to Baton Rouge for a showdown on Oct. 25.
Despite having nearly unlimited resources in College Station, the Aggies have disappointed in recent years. Year two under Mike Elko has Aggie fans hopeful, but this is a game LSU has to have. Elko posted an SEC record of 5-3 last season, and went 9-7 in ACC play in two seasons at Duke. Playing at home, the Tigers need to find the win column in this one.
Nov. 8: at Alabama
LSU's 2024 season fell off the rails with a 42-13 loss to Alabama on Nov. 9, as the Tigers were dominated from start to finish. However, Alabama has a lot of new pieces in place for 2025, which includes a new starting quarterback. The frontrunner seems to be redshirt junior Ty Simpson, although an official starter has not been named by head coach Kalen DeBoer. Garrett Nussmeier's experience bodes well for the Tigers in this matchup.
It's worth noting that both LSU and Alabama both have bye weeks heading into this matchup. That means the coaching matchup between Brian Kelly and DeBoer will be on full display. The coach who utilizes the bye week to get this team more prepared will come out on top in this one. It has to be Kelly.
Kelly is just 1-4 against Alabama in his career, with the one win coming in his first season at LSU in 2022. The Tigers defeated Nick Saban's Crimson Tide in thrilling overtime fashion by a score of 32-31. It was a victory that Tiger fans will never forget. Tiger fans would love to rekindle that magic for this matchup after losses to Bama in back-to-back seasons.