LSU Football: 2025 Tigers Season Preview and Prediction

LSU Football: 2025 Tigers Season Preview and Prediction originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Head coach Brian Kelly says this is the best roster he’s had in his four seasons at LSU. The Tigers are all in for 2025, and that means making the College Football Playoff. Anything less will be considered a failure. The talent is there; it’s a question of molding the Tigers’ veterans, transfers and freshmen into a team.

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LSU 2025 Season Preview and Prediction

Previewing LSU’s Offense for 2025

LSU’s top-ranked transfer portal class got the big headlines, but the return of fifth-year quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is what truly affirmed the Tigers’ hopes for 2025. After throwing for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns, he’s a Heisman Trophy front-runner, and his strong right arm establishes LSU as a College Football Playoff contender.

The Tigers return only Aaron Anderson (team-best 61 catches for 884 yards, five TDs) among its top-five receivers, so LSU went deep into the portal. Expect Kentucky transfer Barion Brown and Oklahoma transfer Nic Anderson to earn starting roles with Aaron Anderson. Sophomore

Trey’Dez Green is a rising star, but another OU transfer, Bauer Sharp, will allow LSU to utilize multiple-tight end packages.

The offensive line lost bookend tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr. to the NFL. Tyree Adams takes over at left tackle, while DJ Chester likely slides over from center to left guard to make room for Virginia Tech transfer Braelin Moore. LSU’s rushing attack averaged just 116.4 yards per game in 2024, and the Tigers hope freshman Harlem Berry, the nation’s top-rated high school running back, can emerge quickly.

LSU veteran receiver Aaron Anderson
Scott Clause-Imagn Images

Previewing LSU’s Defense for 2025

Harold Perkins Jr. was a surprise returnee after an injury-marred 2024. He will play at Star, LSU’s hybrid linebacker/safety position. Another key returnee from injury is Jacobian Guillory, who will anchor the middle of the Tigers’ 4-3 front.

LSU needed edge rushers and landed Jack Pyburn from Florida and Patrick Payton from Florida State. Linebacker Whit Weeks, by far LSU’s top tackler in 2024 with 125, is expected to be ready for the opener at Clemson after breaking an ankle in the Texas Bowl.

The Tigers have fresh faces at cornerback, with Virginia Tech transfer Mansoor Delane and freshman DJ Pickett, a 6-foot-4, 5-star prospect.

LSU coach Brian Kelly | Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

Previewing LSU’s Specialists for 2025

Damian Ramos has been a serviceable college kicker, making 78% of his field goals and 98% of his PATs. Punting has been a liability, though; LSU was 15th in the SEC in net punting. The Tigers brought in Grant Chadwick, who averaged 43.4 yards per kick as a true freshman at Middle Tennessee in 2024. Brown (24.9 yards per return, one TD last season) gives LSU a threat on kickoffs it hasn’t had in years.

National Ranking: 7

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.

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Friday, June 13, 2025