Three SEC fanbases with their hands on the panic button ahead of Saturday's matchups
By Kevin Miller
3 SEC Football Fanbases with Hands on the Panic Button:
LSU Tigers
The LSU Tigers are 1-1 after a loss to the Southern Cal Trojans and an ugly win over the Nicholls State Colonels. Injuries are mounting up for this year's team, and thanks to the Bayou Bengals finishing with 0 top-12 AP poll finishes since their 2019 National Championship, there is growing angst within that fanbase.
Brian Kelly is a good coach, but expectations in Baton Rouge are typically "championship or bust." Kelly has led the Tigers to 10 wins in 2022 and 2023, but LSU has a losing record against ranked opponents.
This weekend brings another tough test for LSU as they travel to Columbia, South Carolina for the College GameDay game of the week. During the Brian Kelly tenure, LSU is 5-7 away from home in non-bowl games, and the Gamecocks come into this game with confidence after smacking the Kentucky Wildcats 31-6 in Lexington last week.
With table-smacking during press conferences and awkward on-field interviews, it seems like Coach Kelly is feeling the pressure some, as well. If things don't go well for his team on the road on Saturday, hot seat talk could begin in Baton Rouge as LSU still has tough games at home against UCLA, Ole Miss, Alabama, and Vanderbilt and on the road against Arkansas, Texas A&M, and Florida remaining on the regular season schedule.
LSU fans feel like their favorite team should beat South Carolina, thus easing some of their concerns and discomfort. However, if that doesn't happen, there will be tons of Louisianans smashing the panic button.