Kirk Herbstreit names LSU as team to keep an eye on in College Football Playoff hunt

Everyone loves to talk about the top six ranked teams in the College Football Playoff rankings. But more times than not, somebody from the outside of the initial CFP top six ends up in the final four, competing for a national championship. For ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit, that team this season could be the LSU Tigers.

Herbstreit was impressed with the last two wins LSU has put together — Florida in the Swamp and a now No. 11 ranked Ole Miss team at home. He said there is “some confidence” in Death Valley thanks to first-year head coach Brian Kelly and the recent play of Jayden Daniels.

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“Since the loss to Tennessee, they were able to regroup, beat Florida, and then go back home and take care of Ole Miss in a game where they pulled away late,” Herbstreit said during Tuesday’s CFP Selection Show. “I think they’ve found some confidence, I think they believe in what Brian Kelly is doing and they have a quarterback playing well.”

In the two wins Herbstreit mentioned, Daniels completed 73.3% of his throws while also going for 597 yards and five touchdowns. It’s been even better on the ground, having 165 rushing yards and six touchdowns.

Daniels is playing well just in time for a certain team to come to town.

Potential SEC Championship game could help LSU

Early playoff talk with LSU usually has one contingent attached to it — a matchup down the road against Alabama. They will get to host the No. 6 ranked Crimson Tide right away, with Saturday’s showdown taking place in Death Valley.

Herbstreit knows if the Tigers get a win vs. Bama, they will have the fast track to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game and potentially work their way into the conversation.

“If they beat Bama, it’s a big if,” Herbstreit began. “But if they were able to beat them, they’re an Arkansas and A&M away from getting to Atlanta.”

No team has ever made it into the playoffs with two losses, with Florida State and Tennessee being the blemishes on LSU’s schedule. Auburn was close in 2017 but wound up losing to Georgia in the SEC Championship and falling out of contention.

LSU could have a chance to become the first, especially if there is revenge on their earlier loss to Tennessee. At the end of the day, the SEC Champion has always been in the thick of national championship contention in the modern era.