Sixth-ranked Tigers trying to ignore polls
LSU has risen from No. 25 in the preseason poll to No. 6 after a 3-0 start.
Suddenly the Tigers have gone from a team that outsiders viewed as a middle-of-the-pack team in the SEC to one that’s in the thick of the College Football Playoff conversation.
But there’s still a long way to go, beginning with a nonconference game against Louisiana Tech on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. And LSU coach Ed Orgeron is focused on trying to keep his team focused on the task at hand while also being oblivious to the polls.
“We are not going to mention rankings,” Orgeron said Monday at his weekly news conference. “We are not going to mention anything but focusing in on the task at hand which is Louisiana Tech.”
The Tigers’ 22-21 victory at then-No. 7 Auburn in the SEC opener last Saturday came just 13 days after a 33-17 victory against preseason No. 8 Miami.
“We played two Top 10 teams so far. Being a Top 10 team did not help them so that’s not going to win a football game for us,” Orgeron said. “Winning a football game is to go to practice, prepare, be humble, be hungry, take care of the football and play LSU football.”
Speaking of taking care of the football, the Tigers have not turned the ball over this season and have taken it away from their opponents seven times. They had two interceptions against Auburn.
LSU’s ball security has helped it score on all 11 of its red-zone possessions.
One of the keys to the victory against Auburn was how the offensive line, which has been reshaped because of injuries, performed against Auburn’s formidable defensive line.
“I thought our line played outstanding and only gave up one sack against possibly one of the best defensive lines in the country,” Orgeron said. “Those guys were really on target.”
LSU held Auburn scoreless in the fourth quarter as it rallied from a 21-10 deficit to prevail on Cole Tracy’s 42-yard field goal as time expired.
“We talked about having poise all week,” Orgeron said. “We talked about it was going to take 60 minutes and it took every second of the game and we talked about finish and we finished.”
Tech (2-0) is averaging 42 points and 500 yards of offense after victories at South Alabama (30-26) and at home against Southern (54-17). The Bulldogs had an open date last week.
