Was last season's 8-5 record the exception to the rule, or is LSU regressing as a program?
That question won't be answered until the end of November, but the college football world will get clues this August when LSU opens fall camp for head coach Les Miles' 11th season as the head coach of the Tigers.
It's an important season for Miles and his staff.
The quarterback position has been a near-constant sore spot ever since Matt Flynn brought a national title to Baton Rouge after the 2007 season. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is in the final year of a three-year deal, and another underwhelming season will almost certainly create a situation in 2016 where Miles is coaching for his job.