Since SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey is so “shy” about informing the public of his conference’s loaded schedules, we’ll let you in on a secret – there are no easy roads to the playoffs in the SEC. On that note, we ranked LSU’s five toughest games of 2025. The deciding factors in these rankings include talent, location, and where the games fall on the schedule.
The 2024 season taught us that LSU most likely can’t afford to lose more than two games to make the 12-team playoff. Most college football media types hold the Tigers in high regard this year. But to accomplish their playoff goals, they must navigate the following potential landmines with success.
LSU’s Five Toughest Games
5) Texas A&M Aggies (home)
There’s no better team to exemplify LSU’s potential downfalls than Texas A&M and the elusive Marcel Reed. The Bayou Bengals confidently went into a rowdy Kyle Field with legitimate playoff momentum in 2024. Then Reed eventually replaced an ineffective Connor Weigman at quarterback, leading to the beginning of a rare three-game losing streak for the Tigers.
Reed is back, but he’s not the only threat. Bill Connely’s returning production numbers calculated the Aggies with the sixth most production coming back with 71%. Texas A&M lost elite talent on its defensive front. However, the back seven is loaded with NFL talent with Taurean York at linebacker, Bryce Anderson and safety, and former Alabama starter Dez Ricks at cornerback. Fortunately for LSU, the game will be played in Baton Rouge.
4) Florida Gators (home)
This is not an overreaction nor hyperbole – Florida’s DJ Lagway has a realistic shot to win the Heisman Trophy in 2025. Lagway is 6’-3” and 240 pounds, but he’s not the athletic freak LaNorris Sellers is (more on him later). But Lagway is a more polished passer at a younger age. More importantly, he has the invaluable skill of elevating his teammates on both sides of the ball.
Florida was a different team when Lagway played, and that says a lot about a true freshman. However, it’s not a one-man show in Gainesville. Sophomore running back Jadan Baugh bruised his way to seven touchdowns last season while averaging over five yards per carry. A talented group of receivers is led by Eugene Wilson and includes a young threat with incoming freshman Dallas Wilson.
Florida’s defensive line slapped the Tigers around in the Swamp last year. Tyreak Sapp and James Kamran will return to face an LSU team featuring a new offensive line. Offensive line coach Brad Davis has an important task in developing chemistry on the line early, as the Gators come to town in the third game of the season.
3) South Carolina (home)
South Carolina’s Sellers has put himself in the conversation as the first overall pick in the draft, which will see several big names being called at quarterback. Let’s not forget that he’s done so after one year of starting as a redshirt freshman. The Gamecock quarterback is as physically gifted as anyone at the college level.
He’ll have to clean up his ball security issues because the South Carolina defense will look different after losing five players to the draft. Shane Beamer has excelled at establishing an identity for his teams and recruiting guys that fit in his program. Don’t expect this defense to fall off to the extent of becoming a liability.
2) Alabama (away)
Here’s where the confidence level goes down a notch in predictability. Who knows what the Alabama offense will look like with a new quarterback? The Tide could realistically start a true freshman in Keelon Russell, and most freshmen don’t perform like Lagway.
But enough about the unknowns. We know that no LSU team besides the legendary 2019 group has won in Tuscaloosa since 2011. That’s right. The famous “Game of the Century” matchup from which 45 participants were drafted is now almost old enough to date Bill Belichick.
All jokes aside, whoever’s playing quarterback will have a cheat code in Ryan Williams at receiver. Besides that, Alabama’s defense is a loaded group led by linebacker Deontae Lawson. LSU will once again face a stiff challenge at Alabama on November 8th.
1)Clemson (away)
Clemson will be the trickiest of LSU’s five toughest games of the season for several reasons. The most obvious reason is that Dabo Swinney has constructed a very talented team. Todd McShay has six Clemson Tigers projected to get drafted in the first round of the 2026 draft. Quarterback Cade Klubnik is also in the mix for the first overall pick, and he has an explosive and versatile group of receivers at his disposal.
Veteran-laden, talented, and at home, Clemson isn’t the ideal opponent for a program that’s struggled in season openers lately. Of course, each year is different, and each LSU team is different. But the Tigers won’t change the narrative surrounding them until they win a marquee season opener.
The Tigers from Baton Rouge also feature an upper-echelon quarterback in Garrett Nussmeier and a veteran team. If any of Brian Kelly’s teams are built to win against a true contender in week one, it’s this one. A win would be huge for LSU’s playoff resume and allow room for error in the SEC. If the LSU Tigers lose, they’ll have to regroup quickly and prepare for more challenges on their unforgiving slate.
Main Image: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
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