LSU did well to turn around what could have been a disastrous 2017 season when it won six of its last seven SEC games.
Many national analysts had that midseason turnaround in mind when looking ahead and creating their "way-too-early" top-25 rankings for 2018.
But not everybody believes LSU can live up to its potential.
Most early rankings list four teams on the 2018 LSU schedule ahead of the Tigers, starting with Miami for the season opener in the Dallas Cowboys' home stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Others are Alabama and Georgia, who LSU will face at home, and Auburn, who the Tigers will face on the road.