LSU must avenge Alabama loss to remain elite

With talent up and down its roster and a quarterback (finally) able to complete a basic forward pass, LSU will be one of the best teams in college football in 2012.

Bold words, yes, but the Tigers just have too much talent to fall flat.

Don’t believe me? Ask Mel Kiper Jr. He’ll tell you the basic facts – more than half of LSU’s current starting lineup will call the NFL home in the very near future.

They have an absolute wealth of riches built within their depth chart and are a whale of a college football team – a true joy to see every Saturday.

Talent is one thing – expectations are another.

LSU can win as many games as it wants in 2012. And trust me, they will win more than their fair share.

But there’s only one contest that matters in the eyes of its greedy fans: November 3’s home game against Alabama – a rematch of last season’s BCS National Championship drubbing in New Orleans.

Last season was one of the best seasons in LSU history – the Tigers were one win away from being the best college football team of the BCS era.

LSU won eight games against nationally ranked opponents.

In the course of their five-month campaign, the Tigers defeated three teams who won BCS bowls (Oregon, West Virginia and Alabama).

They also lambasted prominent programs like Florida, Auburn, Arkansas and Georgia – all by 20-plus points.

LSU survived the SEC slate unscathed and played a 13-game regular season with only one real challenge – the first game against the Crimson Tide.

They won individual awards and team awards. They even had a Heisman Trophy finalist – a honey badger who charmed the college football world with his good play and alter ego personality.

Then the rematch came and it all went down the drain.

That one night in New Orleans defined LSU’s entire 2011 season.

Let’s be real here – Alabama outplayed LSU in both of the teams’ meetings last season and were clearly the best team in the country.

It’s painful for an LSU grad to admit, but they were undoubtedly the champion of 2011 college football.

In the first game, the Tide outgained the Tigers 295-239 and were constantly in LSU territory.

A combination of goofy play calling, penalties and four missed field goals led to Alabama’s demise and LSU’s 9-6 win.

In the BCS National Championship Game, the Tide left nothing to chance. They battered and bruised LSU up and down the Superdome.

If not for USC’s thrashing of Oklahoma in 2004, this would be known as the most lop-sided BCS National Championship Game in history.

The score was just 21-0, but it was much worse than that.

LSU had no chance to score and threaten the Tide’s lead.

They knew it. Alabama knew it.

Everyone in the Superdome knew it.

The TV audience watching across the world knew it.

It was the most embarrassing loss in the history of LSU football.

A 13-win season went down the drain.

The most successful year in the history of the program was all for naught.

The only thing anyone will remember about 2011 in Tigerland is the way the season ended.

It’s unfair, but true.

So with that said, only one game matters for the Tigers in 2012: their rematch with Alabama.

Whether or not both teams will be undefeated at the time it’s played is unknown, but also irrelevant – LSU must beat Alabama.

The SEC Western Division may or may not be up for grabs.

That’s not important, either – the Tigers must prove they are not inferior to anyone in the country.

To do so, they have to avenge the drumming Alabama handed them in January.

Les Miles must prove he is on par with every coach in his financial bracket across America.

To do so, he must win a high-stakes game against Nick Saban when all of the world is watching.

Unfair, yes. But that’s just the reality of the situation.

Sure, I know Miles’ fans will tout that the coach has a 3-3 record against Saban in the past five seasons – a very respectable mark.

It doesn’t matter.

This next game will just be different.

I think deep down Miles knows it is, too.

No matter how it’s sliced, the Tigers have to beat Alabama – it’s an absolute must for the program.

Whether the final record for the team in 2012 is 11-2, 14-0 or even 7-5, if one of the games in the ‘win’ tally is against Saban’s Crimson Tide, fans will be able to feel optimistic about the future of the program.

But if Alabama comes into Louisiana and wins again, look out.

The locals may revolt.

And if the locals revolt, it could be the beginning of the end for Miles in Baton Rouge.

Again I state – that may be unfair.

But that’s just how this game we call college football works.

Nov. 3, 2012 will be a night that changes a lot of things within the history of the LSU football program.