Their six year drought could come to an end.
David Pollack Names SEC Team That Could End College Football Playoff Drought originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The 2025 college football season begins in just over a month. This season will feature the second year of the 12-team College Football Playoff format.
In 2024, the playoffs featured six teams making their debut, and several others ended their playoff droughts. As the 2025 season approaches, there is hope that this trend will continue. The LSU Tigers are among the teams looking to break their playoff drought.
LSU hasn't participated in the playoffs since 2019. Under Brian Kelly's leadership, the Tigers have come close to making a return. In Kelly's first year, the team finished with a record of 10-4 and competed in the SEC Championship. They followed that season with a 10-3 record in 2022 and a 9-4 record last year.
On "See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack," the former Georgia Bulldog suggests that if LSU performs well this season, it could make a return to the postseason tournament.
"When I start to look at this roster, I see a lot of great," Pollack said. "I see a lot of good things. I see a lot of things to be excited about. I see a team that, if everything went perfectly, they could go to the playoffs."
The Tigers are buzzing with excitement thanks to the return of star quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. In his first year as the starting quarterback, he threw for an impressive 4,052 yards, recording 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. However, the optimism for LSU goes beyond just his return. The team brings back 62% of its total production, which ranks 38th in the nation.
Despite finishing last in the SEC in rushing, LSU retains star sophomore running back Caden Durham, who rushed for 753 yards and scored six touchdowns as a true freshman last season. However, a challenge for LSU is that they must replace four out of five starters on the offensive line.
ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI) ranks the Tigers as the No. 12 team in college football heading into the season, indicating some uncertainty about their potential. However, they still have among the best odds to win the national championship, according to ESPN BET.
LSU is set to make a statement with a major game to start the season, facing the Clemson Tigers on Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET on the road.
Related: Paul Finebaum Names College Football Team Set for a Resurgence
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
