The defending national champion LSU Tigers had a rough start to the 2020 season last week. Mississippi State came to Baton Rouge, passed for over 600 yards and defeated the Tigers 44-34.
That performance led some to write off LSU as a contender this season.
ESPN Radio host Paul Finebaum was on ESPN’s First Take on Wednesday morning and discussed the Tigers and their outlook for 2020.
“Not good,” Finebaum said of LSU in 2020. “Stephen A., I know you promised a year ago that Alabama would win this year and not LSU, and you’re right. I’m not suggesting LSU was a one-hit-wonder. I think they have a very good program.”
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Finebaum pointed out how tough it is for LSU to replace 14 starters and then losing Ja’Marr Chase right before the season began.
But replacing 14 starters, losing Ja’Marr Chase, their best wide receiver, having Derek Stingley out of the game, one of the better cornerbacks, they just didn’t have it. I think they’ll lose a couple more games this year. They will not be a contender when this season ends.
Finebaum is not wrong in the sense it is incredibly hard to replace the production LSU lost the very next season. Myles Brennan has a chance to be really good, but he will always be operating in the shadow of Joe Burrow’s greatness.
Some good news for LSU is that Stingley should be back on the field for this weekend’s tilt at Vanderbilt.
It will be interesting to see how things play out when the two teams kick off at 6:30 p.m. CST.
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