A year ago, LSU was basking in the glow of its win at Alabama, the Tigers' first against the Crimson Tide since 2011.
Of all the steps LSU had taken under coach Ed Orgeron, none seemed more validating. Alabama had distanced itself from LSU since the teams met for a national championship in January 2012. After the win in Tuscaloosa, LSU was the definitive No. 1 team, propelled by star quarterback and Heisman Trophy front-runner Joe Burrow and the greatest offense in modern college football history. Nothing would stop the Tigers from winning it all.
Now, nothing seems the same at LSU. The Tigers are 3-5 after a 55-17 home loss against No. 1 Alabama this past Saturday, a game they entered as 28.5-point underdogs. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, the 38-point defeat was the most lopsided home loss by a defending national champion in the AP poll era (since 1936) and third worst overall. Things don't get much easier for LSU, which travels to No. 6 Florida on Saturday, followed by a home game against Ole Miss in its Dec. 19 regular-season finale.
Barring a major turnaround, LSU is headed toward its first losing season since 1999.
"Has any team ever gone from the penthouse to the poorhouse quicker?" a Power 5 coach wondered.
There are also concerns off the field. A handful of women have accused the university of not taking enough action when they reported allegations of sexual assault and domestic violence involving football players and other students. Last month, USA Today reported that "officials in the university's athletic department and broader administration repeatedly have ignored complaints against abusers, denied victims' requests for protections and subjected them to further harm by known perpetrators." According to the report, records show at least nine football players have been reported to police for sexual misconduct and dating violence since Orgeron was hired to replace Les Miles four years ago.
On the field, LSU's fall has been swift but explainable, and even a bit expected. A number of factors have led to unprecedented roster turnover, by far the program's biggest problem. Assistant coach changes, a limited offseason and a series of distractions also have contributed to the poor play.
"There is no question the transition to new coaches, a new scheme and new players has probably taken its toll and contributed to the frustration," a Power 5 head coach said. "And then you throw in everything else they're dealing with as far as COVID-19, it probably hasn't been too much fun."
We spoke to coaches, LSU officials and NFL scouts about the Tigers' struggles to get a sense of what's wrong and how coach Ed Orgeron can fix things on the Bayou. ESPN's Tom VanHaaren also broke down LSU's past and future recruiting situation.