SEC Round-Up: LSU's 'priority No. 1' is chasing another national title

It is well-known that history tends to repeat itself.

Not always, though. If history always repeated itself, we would all be wealthy. We wouldn’t worry about the investor’s warning that “past performance does not guarantee future results.”

The good folks in Baton Rouge would be wise to remember that disclaimer.

East of the Sabine they’re talking about LSU winning a national championship this football season. Indeed, they’re shouting it from the rooftops.

“Winning the national championship this year is the main goal for this team, for everybody on this team,” star receiver Malik Nabers said. “It is priority number one.”

That’s fine. Every high-quality team should set a national championship as priority No. 1, and LSU certainly qualifies.

However, some folks in Baton Rouge are basing national championship expectations on the current squad’s perceived similarities to the 2019 championship edition, which arguably remains the best college football team ever.

They’re looking at this year like the old “Dragnet” TV show. You know, “Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent.”

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

Daniels led the Tigers in rushing and passing last season with 885 yards on the ground as well as 2,913 through the air.

No doubt, on the surface there are quite a few similarities to that 2019 season. For example:

A grad transfer quarterback. In 2019, LSU was led by Heisman-winning quarterback Joe Burrow. Their stats were similar in their first season at LSU, but Jayden Daniels actually threw for 19 more yards last year than Burrow did in 2018. Both have exceptional running ability, too. The similarities stop there. Well, except that overzealous LSU fans might add, “Their first names start with ‘J,’ and their last names start with a consonant, so yeah, we’re Houston bound, baby.”

The receivers are stellar. This is somewhat legitimate. Somewhat. Nabers could be a first-round draft choice. The other projected starting receivers are Brian Thomas, who made 31 catches in 2022, and Kyren Lacy, who hauled in 24 catches last year. LSU’s 2019 starting receivers were Ja’Marr Chase (first-round pick), Justin Jefferson (first-round pick) and Terrace Marshall (second-round pick). No one questions whether LSU’s receivers this year are good, but they’re not THAT good.

LSU goes to Alabama this year. Yeah, LSU prevailed 46-41 in Tuscaloosa in 2019. This year, the Tigers will head into Bryant-Denny Stadium on Nov. 4. Nice coincidence, but visiting Alabama typically isn’t a reason for optimism.

Surely, the LSU faithful can come up with more similarities that hint at a repeat of history.

However, it would be wiser to concentrate on their season opener against eighth-rated Florida State. Last year, the Tigers lost to the Seminoles.

Repeating that history might seem more likely than repeating the feat from 2019.

Around the SEC

This week’s games: Thursday - Florida at No. 14 Utah; South Dakota at Missouri

Saturday - New Mexico at No. 23 Texas A&M; Virginia at No. 12 Tennessee; Ball State at Kentucky; Western Carolina at Arkansas; Mercer at No. 22 Ole Miss; Massachusetts at Auburn; Southeastern Louisiana at Mississippi State; Tennessee-Martin at No. 1 Georgia; Alabama A&M at Vanderbilt; Middle Tennessee at No. 4 Alabama; No. 21 North Carolina at South Carolina

Sunday - No. 5 LSU vs. No. 8 Florida State (Orlando)

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

By winning another title this year, Georgia could become the first school to three-peat in the modern era (since 1970).

Who’s hot: Georgia, of course. The Bulldogs have won back-to-back national championships.

They’ve also picked up 17 consecutive victories and won 33 of their last 34 contests. That’s not hot, that’s torrid.

Who’s not: Ole Miss reached No. 7 in the nation last season. Then, the Rebels lost five of their last six games and ended the year on a four-game losing streak. Though they figure to easily defeat Mercer, the Rebels enter this season with the SEC’s longest losing streak.

Keep an eye on: Auburn’s offensive line has three transfers from “group of five programs.” Two other starters previously were reserves their entire career. The ability to run block appears to be the key to success for Auburn quarterback Payton Thorne, a transfer from Michigan State. Two seasons ago, Thorne logged 3,232 yards and 27 touchdowns. He was aided by a running game that averaged 175.6 yards per game. Last season, the Spartans running production dropped to 113 yards per game. Consequently, Thorne’s passing numbers also dropped to 2,679 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Pressure is on: Pencil in quarterbacks Carson Beck of Georgia and Jalen Milroe of Alabama. Beck steps in as the successor to Stetson Bennett, who led the Bulldogs to two national championships. Milroe, if he is indeed named the Tide’s starting quarterback, has to follow up Bryce Young, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2021 and was the first player selected in the NFL Draft last April. Both guys may also be looking over their shoulders, especially Milroe. Although he’s expected to start for the Tide, he has been vying for the job with Ty Simpson and Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner. Alabama head coach Nick Saban may have a quick hook if Milroe — or whoever starts — shows signs of struggling.

Best matchup: Florida’s run defense vs. Utah’s offensive line. Utah quarterback Cam Rising, who is still recovering from a torn ACL sustained in the Rose Bowl, isn’t expected to start against the Gators. Junior backup Bryson Barnes and redshirt freshman Nate Johnson are both expected to play. Rising’s absence likely puts a greater emphasis on the running game. Obviously, Florida hopes to force Utah’s seldom-used quarterbacks to pass frequently. However, Utah’s offensive line projects among the best in the nation, so the Utes may be able to depend on their running game. Meanwhile, Florida’s defensive front is projected to be significantly improved from a year ago when the Gators checked in at 100th in the country defending the run.