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Bill Connelly has his early S&P+ projections out for 2016, and they set up pretty well for LSU at the moment.
Recruiting impact |
Returning production |
Weighted 5-year |
Proj S&P+ |
||
2 |
LSU |
8 |
3 |
2 |
24.4 |
LSU checks in at No. 2 behind Alabama, with top 10 marks in returning production, recruiting impact and five-year S&P+ average.
Of course, Alabama will be far from LSU's only S&P+ top 25 opponent, at least as of now.
Date |
Opponent |
Projected S&P+ Rank |
Sept. 3 |
Wisconsin* |
37 |
Sept. 10 |
Jacksonville State |
N/A |
Sept. 17 |
Mississippi State |
21 |
Sept. 24 |
at Auburn |
24 |
Oct. 1 |
Missouri |
47 |
Oct. 8 |
at Florida |
19 |
Oct. 15 |
Southern Miss |
72 |
Oct. 22 |
Ole Miss |
7 |
Nov. 5 |
Alabama |
1 |
Nov. 12 |
at Arkansas |
17 |
Nov. 24 |
at Texas A&M |
25 |
*Game at Lambeau Field
Seven opponents in the top 25, 10 in the top 50. The toughest two games will be in Baton Rouge with Ole Miss and Bama coming in, while road games at Auburn, Florida, Arkansas and Texas A&M seem tough but manageable at the moment. Although admittedly this is all very preliminary.
Still, one more thing that sets up well for the program moving forward.