LSU Tigers: 2023 NCAA College Football Team Preview

With Week 0 already in the books, the 2023-24 NCAA College Football season is upon us. Most remaining schools will get their season underway in upcoming Week 1 action.

Every college football season is filled with thrills and excitement. We can expect the 2023 season to be no exception, as some of the nation's most historic and proud programs are again gearing up for the pursuit of a CFB National Title.

One of those squads is the SEC's LSU Tigers. The Tigers posted a surprisingly strong campaign in Brian Kelly's first year at the helm by reaching the SEC Title Game. Can LSU repeat that success in 2023? Let's dig into the team's outlook for the season ahead.

LSU Tigers

• 2022 Record: 10-4
• Head Coach: Brian Kelly
• 2023 AP Top 25 Ranking: #5

LSU head coach Brian Kelly surpassed all expectations in his first season in Baton Rouge, leading the Tigers to a 10-4 record and an SEC West title. Kelly's vaunted offensive system functioned in solid fashion against SEC competition and we can expect improvements in 2023.

Talented QB Jayden Daniels returns to lead an explosive unit that averaged 34.5 points per game last season. Daniels will work with a talented receiving corps that's headlined by Kyren Lacy and returns five receivers who logged 20 or more catches in 2023.

#LSU QB Jayden Daniels is a humble, quiet leader for the Tigers with the chance to cement a legacy in Baton Rouge.

Daniels returned to Death Valley with something to prove in Year 2.

“What happens in the dark always comes to the light.”

Read: https://t.co/fPVjGYuGcS pic.twitter.com/LQZDsfiS2i

— Zack Nagy (@znagy20) August 30, 2023

While Kelly's offense seems set for a big year, Tiger fans likely aren't as confident in a defensive group that lost several key players from the 2022 roster. LSU's secondary was hit especially hard, as Kelly and staff were forced to replace seven defensive backs from last year's squad, a problem that they tried to solve by heavily working the transfer portal.

Harold Perkins Jr. looked like a star in the making last season, earning Freshman All-America honors, while Maason Smith will return to action on the defensive line after missing the bulk of 2022 with a season-ending knee injury.

Bottom Line: LSU made a surprise run to the SEC title game in Kelly's first year in Baton Rouge and a return trip is very much a possibility - if not expected - in 2023. LSU is the SEC's highest-ranked team that returns its starting quarterback this year.

Daniels is a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate with an experienced and talented receiving corps at his disposal. If their defense comes together after the massive roster turnover, the Tigers could again fight for the SEC West crown and be serious national title contenders.

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