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Best case-worst case scenario for LSU, or a Poor Man's Ted Miller

Best case

LSU wins its high profile opener over Wisconsin 34-24 and drives all the way home to rip Sam Houston 63-3 and UL-Monroe 56-7. Mississippi State comes to Tiger Stadium.


The Tigers burn the Bulldogs 50-10. Skip Bayless of ESPN First Take starts Heisman campaigns for Anthony Jenninings and Brandon Harris.


LSU tears New Mexico State to shreds 70-0, with Terrence Magee embarrassing the Aggies for 364 yards, giving him well over 800 for the season already. Up next: A road game against the defending SEC champion Auburn.


The Tigers splatter the false Tigers 38-17, winning their 4th consecutive game in the series against their Psycho Ranger inferiors. LSU rolls over hopeless Florida and Kentucky teams, then avoids a surprise upset bid from Ole Miss, 28-21 to improve to 9-0 and ranked 3rd.

The bye week gives LSU a much needed rest for the clash with #2 Alabama. It's a dynamic, physical contest of contrasting styles that is 20-20 at the end of regulation after Adam Griffith, normally a punter, misses a potential game winner for the Tide. LSU gets the ball in the first overtime, with Magee going 17 yards on a third and five for the Tigers TD. A diving interception from safety Jalen Mills ends Alabama's possession and preserves the Tigers' win.


After that war, the rest of the regular season eases up. LSU rolls past Arkansas and puts away Texas A&M in the second half 34-6.

Behind big days from Heisman finalists Jennings, Harris, and Magee, LSU kicks Missouri to the curb 42-20 for the SEC title. With utter contempt, LSU and their well-traveling fanbase grudgingly invade Pasadena, silence #3 Oregon 20-17 in the Rose Bowl semifinal, and leave as quickly as possible.

That sets up the national title game: No. 2 LSU vs. No. 1 Florida State. Both 14-0.


Florida State ties the game 21-21 with a touchdown and 2-point conversion. LSU takes over with 2:33 remaining. On first and 10 from the Tigers' 40, Magee is tackled after a 6-yard gain.

Announcer: Magee gets back up ... he gets back up ... was he not on the ground? The Seminoles are saying wait a minute, he was down.

Heisman winner Magee' 37-yard gain gives LSU a first and 10 on the FSU 23. Four plays later, LSU and Jamie Keehn line up for a 19-yard field goal.

"Can everyone just calm down?" says Keehn. "Who do you think I am, Alexis Serna?"

Nothing but net.

LSU wins the 2014 national championship. In the following months, Les Miles signs the nation's #1 recruiting class.

Not long after a shocking resignation of Nick Saban on Christmas Day, Alabama is hit with a two-year bowl ban and a loss of 15 scholarships by the NCAA due to providing its players with extra benefits.

Worst case

The usual tough test in the season opener for LSU does not end well this time, with Wisconsin leaving NRG Stadium with a 24-21 win. Terrence Magee has two fumbles.

"This game won't define our season," coach Les Miles says.

A reporter asks Miles why Kenny Hillard didn't receive a few more touches.

"He's never really maintained the tremendous promise he showed late in his freshman year," Miles replies.

For the rest of the season, every time the Tigers lose, news stories contain this phrase: "...Les Miles, who has made two memorable decisions to not play backups on offense..."

LSU bounces back without blowout wins over Sam Houston 49-7, and UL-Monroe 56-7. But when Mississippi State comes to town, LSU wins 40-20 but loses wide receiver Travin Dural to a wrist injury.

"We'll be all right," Miles said. "The vets are receiving plenty of help from a slew of promising new talent."

After putting away a pesky challenge from New Mexico State 24-6, LSU goes back on the road to face the other Tiger team, currently ranked #2 in the nation.

Auburn wins 35-21. Tre'davious White and Rashard Robinson become so frustrated on the sidelines that they instigate a fight among the defense players after the game. Coach Miles suspends both players for the upcoming trip to Gainsville. A rejunvenated Gator squad feasts on LSU's defense, with QB Jeff Driskel throwing for 3 touchdowns and running for another in a 28-27 upset.

"We're still working hard," said punter Jamie Keehn. "We won't let ourselves drop out of the top 25."

LSU returns home to drub Kentucky 30-7.

"Our first goal every year is to become bowl eligible," Miles says. The Tigers need just one more win.

Ole Miss, sniffing the top 10, goes into Tiger Stadium and walks out with a 20-10 victory.

"We're beat up and we're young," Miles says. "But we can win 9 games this season."

After a bye week, LSU limps towards the Saban Bowl against #1, unbeaten Alabama.

"We'll do everything to match their physicality," said Anthony Jennings.

The Tide grindes down LSU 41-16. Heisman trophy candidate Jake Coker passes for 4 touchdowns. Heisman trophy candidate T. J. Yeldon rushes for 225 yards. Lombardi Award candidate Brandon Ivory has 3 sacks. The crowd showers the Tigers with boos at halftime and leaves early in the 4th quarter.

"We have to put this behind us," Miles says. "We have the Golden Boot on the line next week. I know these guys remember what happened last year, how we came within a few breaths of a barn-burner in our backyard."

Arkansas shocks LSU with 17 unanswered points in the 4th quarter for a 31-27 comeback win.

"We have to treat our season finale as the postseason. Win, and we're going bowling," says Miles.

LSU and Texas A&M are tied 20-20 at halftime, but the Aggies roll to a 47-20 victory. The last play of the game features Aggies safety Howard Matthews returning Brandon Harris' third interception 70 yards for a TD.

Arkansas wins the Outback Bowl, Ole Miss wins the Gator Bowl, and Florida wins the Cotton Bowl.


Top-ranked Alabama and #3 Auburn meet in Arlington for the national title. Alabama, after going 1-2 in the Heisman trophy vote, beats Auburn to win the national championship, with Heisman winner Jake Coker passing for 4 touchdowns in a 35-28 thriller. Nick Saban wins the Nobel Prize for awesomeness after signing the nation's #1 recruiting class.

Les Miles, fed up with all the talk of LSU's decline, resigns in disgust. He's hired by the Cleveland Browns.

"Tiger fans deserve another national championship in the last 10 years," athletic director Joe Alleva says. "And this man deserves a second chance to get us there... Ladies and gentlemen, Curley Hallman has agreed to return to coach the Tigers.

"Isn't that just so great!"