LSU football enters 2025 with a familiar swagger and an undercurrent of urgency. The Tigers have all the raw ingredients for a breakthrough year. They have a veteran quarterback ready to seize the spotlight, a deep stable of offensive playmakers, and a defense that’s been reloaded through the portal with SEC-sized talent. The expectations in Baton Rouge are not just about winning games. They are about winning championships. For a fan base that measures seasons by banners and trophies, anything less than an SEC crown and a playoff berth would be considered underachieving.
LSU football season preview
LSU heads into 2025 with legitimate playoff ambitions after a 9–4 campaign that showcased both flashes of elite potential and stretches of inconsistency. The Tigers have a roster ranked among the nation’s Top 20 in returning strength. Offensively, they moved the ball efficiently at 6.10 yards per play with a 44.92 percent success rate. Too often, though, they were stalled when facing elite defenses in the red zone.
On defense, holding opponents to 24 points per game kept them competitive. However, the secondary’s vulnerability against explosive passing attacks remains a pressing concern. With a seasoned core and an SEC-ready roster, LSU has the talent to contend for a conference crown. That's assuming they can sharpen their execution in big moments.
One thing is pretty clear, though. LSU’s defense has the potential to be elite in 2025 thanks to a significant roster overhaul. The Tigers bolstered their unit through the NCAA Transfer Portal. They added Florida EDGE Jack Pyburn, Virginia Tech cornerback Mansoor Delane, South Florida defensive lineman Bernard Gooden, Houston safety AJ Haulcy, and NC State safety Tamarcus Cooley, among others. With these reinforcements, the defense looks retooled and reloaded.
Here we will look at four bold predictions for LSU Tigers football looking ahead to the 2025 NCAA Football season.
LSU wins the SEC
The boldest prediction is also the one that Tigers fans most want to hear: LSU will win the SEC title in 2025. They have among the most stable programs in the nation, and their top-end talent can compete with anyone. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier leads the charge. Once an understudy, he’s now one of the top names in college football. This early, he is already considered a Heisman favorite and projected by many as a potential No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick in 2026.
Nussmeier played at an elite level down the stretch in 2024. He led LSU to a three-game winning streak that showcased his arm strength, poise, and command of the offense. Recall that LSU has a history of quarterbacks blossoming in their fifth year. Think of guys like Joe Burrow in 2019 and Jayden Daniels in 2023. Now, Nussmeier looks primed to follow in their footsteps. If LSU is going to compete for a national title, it starts with his consistency.
Caden Durham goes for over 800 yards
Sophomore running back Caden Durham is poised for a breakout. He’ll get his chance to announce himself to the nation in LSU’s Week 1 opener against Clemson. That's where some expect him to eclipse 125 yards against a tough front. His running style is built for SEC football. He is explosive off the line, resilient after contact, and smart with ball security. Durham’s 3.48 yards after contact ranked in the SEC’s top 10 last season. Also, he didn’t fumble once despite shouldering a heavier workload down the stretch.
Even while battling a nagging toe injury in 2024, Durham posted two 100-yard games against Arkansas and South Alabama. Fully healthy and running behind an improved offensive line, he’s set to rack up more than 800 scrimmage yards. A top-five recruit at his position, Durham’s ceiling remains sky-high. LSU intends to lean on him to balance Nussmeier’s passing attack.
Aaron Anderson logs more than 900 yards
LSU’s receiver room may look different after losing four of its top five pass-catchers from 2024. Still, the Tigers have a star in Aaron Anderson. The former five-star recruit began his career at Alabama, transferred to LSU, and in 2024 finally stepped into the spotlight. He delivered with 61 receptions for 884 yards and five touchdowns. Anderson proved himself as a reliable and dynamic weapon.
He is electric with the ball in his hands, averaging 7.5 yards after the catch while forcing 20 missed tackles. Nearly 90 percent of his snaps came from the slot, but his ability to stretch the field and create mismatches makes him one of the SEC’s most dangerous receivers. In 2025, Anderson should easily eclipse 900 yards and be a centerpiece of LSU’s aerial attack. His chemistry with Nussmeier could be the key to sustaining drives and finishing against elite defenses.
Defense will be a strength
After years of inconsistency, LSU’s defense looks ready to return to its reputation as one of the SEC’s most feared units. With additions like Gooden on the defensive line and Pyburn off the edge, LSU has both size and speed to disrupt opposing quarterbacks. The secondary, a weak spot in 2024, now features Mansoor Delane at cornerback. They also have a revitalized safety duo in AJ Haulcy and Tamarcus Cooley.
Expect this group to be more opportunistic than in years past. The combination of a stronger pass rush and athletic defensive backs should generate more turnovers and swing momentum in big games. Defensive lineman Dominick McKinley’s continued growth adds another anchor up front. That makes LSU’s defense capable of dictating terms against high-powered offenses. If the Tigers are to win the SEC, it will be this revamped defense that provides the backbone.
Final thoughts
The Tigers are built for a special 2025 run. With Garrett Nussmeier positioned for a Heisman-worthy campaign, Caden Durham breaking out in the backfield, Aaron Anderson emerging as an elite SEC receiver, and a retooled defense set to force turnovers, LSU has all the pieces. The road through the SEC is brutal. However, LSU has the roster depth, star power, and urgency to meet the moment. Don’t be surprised if December ends with the Tigers holding the SEC trophy high and booking a trip to the College Football Playoff.
