🐯 LSU Tigers — 2025 Season Preview

📍 Conference: SEC🏟️ Home Field: Tiger Stadium (Death Valley) 👔 Head Coach: Brian Kelly (4th season)

📝 Preseason Overview

The LSU Tigers enter 2025 as legitimate College Football Playoff contenders, boasting one of the SEC’s most stacked defenses and a deep group of playmakers on offense. Head coach Brian Kelly is under pressure in his fourth season to deliver a playoff berth, but the roster’s experience, high-level transfers, and elite skill talent make this the most complete team of his tenure. The only looming question? The offensive line and its ability to protect senior QB Garrett Nussmeier.

🔥 Defensive Strength: SEC’s New Power Unit

The Tigers’ defense has undergone a major overhaul through the transfer portal and looks poised to be one of the best in the SEC:

• Jack Pyburn (EDGE, Florida transfer): Game-changer off the edge; brings toughness and SEC experience.

• Mansoor Delane (CB, Virginia Tech transfer): Physical cornerback expected to shut down top receivers.

• Bernard Gooden (DL, USF transfer): Depth and strength in the trenches.

• AJ Haulcy (S, Houston transfer) & Tamarcus Cooley (S, NC State transfer): Versatile safeties solidifying the back end.

• Whit Weeks (LB) & Patrick Payton (EDGE): Returning leaders anchoring a defense that now has SEC title-caliber depth.

This defense should set the tone, disrupt quarterbacks, and carry LSU through its toughest matchups.

🚀 Offensive Firepower

While the offensive line remains a concern, LSU’s skill talent is elite:

• Garrett Nussmeier (QB): Senior leader, proven passer, and the heartbeat of LSU’s playoff run.

• Caden Durham (RB): Lightning-fast sophomore ready for a breakout season.

• WR Room: Arguably one of the nation’s deepest with Chris Hilton, Aaron Anderson, Zavion Thomas, Nic Anderson, Barion Brown, and TE Bauer Sharp.

• OC Garrett Nussmeier: Coordinating a high-tempo, versatile offense designed to maximize LSU’s speed and talent.

🧩 Offensive Line X-Factor

The O-line is LSU’s make-or-break unit:

Position	Player(s) to Watch
LT	Tyree Adams
LG	Paul Mubenga / Coen Echols
C	Braelin Moore
RG	Josh Thompson
RT	Weston Davis

This young but athletic group needs to gel quickly to protect Nussmeier and unlock the Tigers’ deep WR talent.

📆 Key Games for Playoff Run

• Week 1: Clemson (Neutral): A national statement game out of the gate.

• @ Alabama (Nov. 8): The rivalry game that often decides SEC West supremacy.

• @ Oklahoma, @ Ole Miss, @ Texas A&M: Brutal Road stretch that will test LSU’s maturity and depth.

• vs. Texas (Oct. 18): Clash with preseason #1 favorite.

📈 Strengths & Challenges

Strengths:

• Elite defense with depth across all three levels.

• Deep, explosive WR corps capable of dominating matchups.

• Veteran QB Nussmeier’s leadership and experience.

Challenges:

• Offensive line chemistry and pass protection.

• Brian Kelly is under pressure; a non-playoff year would spark hot seat talk.

• Road-heavy SEC schedule leaves little room for error.

🔮 Season Outlook

LSU’s roster is loaded — this is the best combination of transfers, returning stars, and recruiting talent Kelly has assembled. If the offensive line holds, LSU can go 10-2 or better and push for a CFP spot. Expect Death Valley to be electric as this team chases its first playoff berth since 2019.