SB Nation Houston - LSU Vs. Washington: Tigers Easily Handle Huskies, 41-3https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46691/houston-fave.png2012-09-08T21:40:01-05:00http://houston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/30548732012-09-08T21:40:01-05:002012-09-08T21:40:01-05:00Washington Vs. LSU 2012: Final Score And Game Recap
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<p>No. 3 LSU easily dispatched the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-huskies">Washington Huskies</a> on Saturday night in a dominating 41-3 victory.</p>
<p>Washington didn't seem to be able to put up much of a fight, failing to gain a yard on the ground until the second half and managing just 28 yards rushing on 24 attempts. The Huskies managed just 185 yards of total offense for the game, compared to 437 for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/lsu-tigers">LSU Tigers</a>.</p>
<p>Washington would actually open the scoring on the first drive of the game after an LSU fumble on the opening kickoff, taking an early 3-0 lead. The Tigers would respond, overcoming a bit of a slow start on offense to take a 20-3 lead into halftime before putting the game away in the second half.</p>
<p>Quarterback Zach Mettenberger was 11-of-17 for 185 yards and a touchdown, easily managing the game and keeping the Tigers in easy control offensively for most of the contest.</p>
<p>The Tigers would rush 52 times in the game for 274 yards and four touchdowns combined, with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116004/alfred-blue">Alfred Blue</a> leading the way with 101 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.</p>
<p><i>For more on Tigers football, visit <a href="http://andthevalleyshook.com">LSU blog And The Valley Shook</a>, plus <a href="http://teamspeedkills.com">SEC blog Team Speed Kills</a>. </i><i>For more on Huskies football, visit <a href="http://uwdawgpound.com">Washington blog UW Dawg Pound</a>, plus <a href="http://pacifictakes.com">Pac-12 blog Pacific Takes</a> and <a href="http://seattle.sbnation.com">SB Nation Seattle</a>.</i></p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2012/9/8/3304358/lsu-washington-2012-score-game-recapBrandon Worley2012-09-08T19:46:28-05:002012-09-08T19:46:28-05:00LSU Vs. Washington Halftime Score: Tigers Lead 20-3, Allowed No Rushing Yards To Huskies
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/lsu-tigers">LSU Tigers</a> defense has been more than dominant against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-huskies">Washington Huskies</a> Saturday night. The Huskies have only been able to manage a field goal and trail 20-3, and the LSU rush defense has held Washington's running game to zero yards.</p>
<p>The offense for LSU has scored a pair of field goals and touchdowns to build up their lead. Starting quarterback Zach Mettenberger looks to be playing just fine as he has completed 9-of-14 for 129 yards, and he has not turned over the ball either.</p>
<p>The running game has put up the points for the LSU offense as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116004/alfred-blue">Alfred Blue</a> rushing for 54 yards on just nine carries, plus he scored a 21-yard touchdown in the first quarter. The other touchdown was a 1-yard run by fullback <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116021/j-c-copeland">J.C. Copeland</a>. Overall, the running game has put up 103 yards on the ground, making this LSU team very balanced.</p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; background-color: transparent;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">For more information on Tigers football, head over to <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #365317; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.andthevalleyshook.com/" target="_blank">And The Valley Shook. </a>If you'd like to read up more on the, pay a visit to the <a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #365317; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.uwdawgpound.com/" target="_blank">UW Dawg Pound.</a></i></p>
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https://houston.sbnation.com/2012/9/8/3304088/lsu-vs-washington-halftime-score-tigers-lead-20-3Jeremy Mauss2012-09-08T09:00:25-05:002012-09-08T09:00:25-05:00Washington Vs. LSU 2012: Game Time, TV Schedule, Odds And More
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<p>Despite a dominating 41-14 victory over North Texas in their debut, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/lsu-tigers">LSU Tigers</a> fell from No. 1 to No. 3 in the <a href="http://houston.sbnation.com/2012/9/4/3291520/college-football-rankings-lsu-coaches-top-25" target="_blank">USA Today Coaches' Poll</a> as many perceived the wins of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/usc-trojans">USC Trojans</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/alabama-crimson-tide">Alabama Crimson Tide</a> to be more impressive. In the second week of the season, though, the challenge will be a little tougher for all three teams, including the Tigers who will face the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-huskies">Washington Huskies</a> on Saturday.</p>
<p>Despite a strong performance by the Huskies in their opener against the San Diego State Aztecs, they will still be heavy underdogs when they travel to Baton Rouge to take on LSU. Led by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/86098/keith-price">Keith Price's</a> 25-of-35 passing for 222 yards and a touchdown, the Huskies earned a 21-12 victory over SDSU that garnered some votes in the AP Poll and nearly enough votes to earn a ranking in the Coaches' Poll.</p>
<p>The Tigers, though, are a much bigger test than SDSU, led by Zach Mettenberger, a potent rushing attack and one of the nation's fiercest defenses.</p>
<p><b>Game time/date:</b> 6 p.m. CT, Saturday</p>
<p><b>Location</b>: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA</p>
<p><b>TV Schedule/Streaming</b>: ESPN</p>
<p><b>Odds: </b>LSU favored by 23 points.</p>
<p><i>For more information on Tigers football, head over to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.andthevalleyshook.com/">And The Valley Shook. </a>If you'd like to read up more on the, pay a visit to the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.uwdawgpound.com/">UW Dawg Pound.</a></i></p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2012/9/8/3300442/lsu-washington-2012-schedule-game-time-spreadAdam Stites2012-09-08T07:05:35-05:002012-09-08T07:05:35-05:00LSU Vs. Washington: Zach Mettenberger And The Series of Unrealistic Expectations
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<img alt="Take heart, LSU fans. Big things are yet to come for no. 8. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/v0JXAiSMS_w2M4QAH0QD8sZBHVM=/0x1124:2626x2875/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/8735411/20120901_jla_ah6_876.jpg" />
<figcaption>Take heart, LSU fans. Big things are yet to come for no. 8. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>LSU fans should shelf the doubt. Confidence in Mettenberger should be at an all-time high.</p> <p>LSU opened the season without much fanfare last Saturday, dominating in ho-hum fashion against a vastly inferior North Texas team. It was no secret entering the game that all eyes would be upon Zach Mettenberger, the fan-appointed savior to the LSU offense. 508 yards later, LSU message boards were afire with rampant criticism of the offensive line, Mettenberger, playcalling... all things LSU offense.</p>
<p>Is the criticism warranted? Is the 2012 LSU offense doomed to fail? Will the Zach Mettenberger experiment be an utter failure? Does a single game, against North Texas, answer all these questions? Beyond the fact that it's early yet to give up on any team or player, after the jump I'll explain why LSU fans should be encouraged by Mettenberger's performance against North Texas.</p>
<p>For the past four seasons, inept QB play became the new normal for LSU. Gone were the days of Jamarcus Russell, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/10512/matt-flynn">Matt Flynn</a>, Matt Mauck and Rohan Davey. LSU fans became so disillusioned with the the level of play, mediocrity became touted as greatness. Either time Lee or Jefferson performed solidly, a slew of optimism followed regarding how they had finally "turned the corner." If insanity is truly doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result, LSU fans truly embodied it.</p>
<p>Thus, once finally divorced from such ineptitude, expectations became immediately unreasonable. It would not be sufficient for Zach Mettenberger to take the starting reins and perform as a modest, efficient game manager. No, for LSU fans, Mettenberger needs to be a Heisman Trophy-contending, BCS-title winning, gun slinging son of a bitch. He needs to throw for 4,000 yards and 40 touchdowns. Otherwise, he can't possibly be any better than anything LSU fielded in 2011, right?</p>
<p>LSU fans who came into 2012 hoping for a new, pass-oriented offense set themselves up for disappointment. The fact is, no coach would opt into a pass-first offensive philosophy with a stable of running backs as deep and talented as currently inhabit LSU's roster. Further, historically, Miles is a coach who prefers a daunting rushing attack which is complemented by a downfield passing attack. Unfortunately, in the previous four seasons, that passing attack literally never came to pass.</p>
<p>However, labeling MIles as a coach who loathes passing is a misnomer. He threw plenty when Russell, Flynn and dating back to his OSU days, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">Josh Fields</a>, were at the helm. True, his run/pass split still favored a rushing attack, but rather than the 80/20 of 2011, the split looked more like 60/40. For Miles, the right quarterback makes all the difference.</p>
<p>It's early yet, but it seems Mettenberger will be another QB Miles can trust. He attempted 26 passes on Saturday, which would have been the 3rd highest number of pass attempts for an LSU QB last season. Though more than a few of these could easily be labeled as glorified handoffs via the bubble screen, he did take a few shots down field, and, perhaps even more encouraging, he worked the deep middle on multiple occasions. For Lee, this proved to be a trouble area in year's past. For Jefferson, he rarely made decisions quickly enough to find receivers open here. Opening up that dynamic of the offense alone makes for a more dangerous attack.</p>
<p>Further, Mettenberger exhibited a poise in the pocket. He stood tall, scanned the field, made big throws and took a few (too many) big hits. Lee proved particularly weak in this area, often bailing or getting rid of the ball at the slightest pressure. Jefferson tilted to the other side, holding on to the ball too long while being indecisive. Early in the game, in an third and long situation, Mettenberger stood tall and delivered a strike to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131942/odell-beckham-jr">Odell Beckham Jr</a>. It's a throw we haven't seen made in four years. The combination of arm strength and poise often make for a good QB. Mettenberger shows both early on.</p>
<p>Though, what may really distinguish Mettenberger is the proper level of confidence. He carries himself as a team leader and with even a bit of swagger. Yet, he's able to critique his own play in post-game press conferences. It's striking that right balance, something we never saw the previous four seasons.</p>
<p>For many LSU fans, tempering expectations will prove to be wise. Les Miles isn't going to adapt a 40-pass per game attack, and nor will he be hamstrung by limited QB play in 2012. Mettenberger showed promise against North Texas, with plenty to build on. Relax, Tiger fans. Good things are to come.</p>
<p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">For more on LSU football, check out </span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.andthevalleyshook.com"><b><i>And The Valley Shook</i></b></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">, </span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.teamspeedkills.com"><b><i>Team Speed Kills</i></b></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;"> and </span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football"><b><i>SB Nation's college football page.</i></b></a></p>
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https://houston.sbnation.com/2012/9/8/3299709/lsu-washington-zach-mettenberger-sec-football-2012Paul Crewe2012-09-06T21:46:27-05:002012-09-06T21:46:27-05:00Chris Faulk Injury: Starting Left Tackle Sidelined For Year With Knee Injury, According To Report
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<p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/lsu-tigers" class="sbn-auto-link">LSU Tigers</a> received some bad news on Wednesday when h</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">ead coach Les Miles said that left tackle <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/158706/chris-faulk" class="sbn-auto-link">Chris Faulk</a></span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2012/09/lsu_lt_chris_faulk_injured_in.html" style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> would be out for at least Saturday's game</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> against the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-huskies" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Huskies</a> with an undisclosed injury.</span></p>
<p>The news got a lot worse on Thursday when <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">The New Orleans Times-Picayune, who verified through three independent sources, </span><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2012/09/shuffled_deck_lsu_will_have_to.html">learned that Faulk suffered a major knee injury</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> that will sideline him for the entire season. He faces an extensive rehab. </span></p>
<p>This is a huge blow for LSU as Faulk is a sure-fire first-round draft pick, according to New Orleans-based NFL Draft analysis Mike Detillier:</p>
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<p>"I love him as an athlete and for his ability to move his feet," Detillier said. "He's a very good run blocker, but he really excels at protecting the quarterback and that's huge to the NFL. Quality left tackles in the NFL have become a scarce breed."</p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Detillier also is saying that Faulk is the best tackle in the SEC. The players who could replace Faulk are <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/10575/josh-dworaczyk" class="sbn-auto-link">Josh Dworaczyk</a>, starting left guard <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131943/la-el-collins" class="sbn-auto-link">La'el Collins</a> and starting right tackle <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36549/alex-hurst" class="sbn-auto-link">Alex Hurst</a>.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: bottom; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: transparent;">For more on the Tigers, be sure to head over to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.andthevalleyshook.com/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #365317; font-weight: bold;">And The Valley Shook</a> and join the discussion. Be sure to also check out our dedicated<a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #365317; font-weight: bold;"> college football hub</a>.</i></p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2012/9/6/3299372/chris-faulk-injuryJeremy Mauss2012-09-05T12:40:11-05:002012-09-05T12:40:11-05:00LSU Vs. Washington: Forget The Tiger, It's The Noise Threatening Huskies
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-huskies">Washington Huskies</a> coach Steve Sarkisian used an actual caged tiger at practice Tuesday to replicate what his players can expect when they enter Death Valley to take on Louisana State this Saturday, <a href="http://seattletimes.com/html/huskyfootball/2019067840_huskyfootball05.html" target="_blank">according to a story from Percey Allen of the Seattle Times. </a></p>
<p>The tiger, an 18-month-old female named Sheena, was placed in a cage about 30 feet from the field where the Huskies practiced Thursday as a proxy to Mike, LSU's latest living Tiger mascot.</p>
<p>But Allen goes on to explain that the Huskies shouldn't be afraid of the restrained beast. Instead, it's the intense fan noise that should have them shaking in their boots. Here's what current Seattle Seahawks and former <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/florida-gators">Florida Gators</a> defensive tackle <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">Jay Howard</a> had to say as a warning about playing in the "sea of noise."</p>
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<p>"It's loud all the time," he said. "That's all I can say. The fans are crazy and nuts. They're going to be yelling all game long."</p>
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<p>Furthermore, it's been a while since Washington faithful has seen their team make the trip to LSU. The Huskies last traveled to visit the Tigers in 1983 and were annihilated 40-14. Since that time, LSU has recently renovated their stadium to make it the seventh-largest college football collusive in the country, seating a grandiose 92,542 spectators.</p>
<p>So here's to hoping the Huskies aren't too distracting by the living, breathing tiger in the corner so they can mentally prepare for the crowd factor and treat the audience to an at least semi-competitive game. Then again, I don't think anyone wearing purple and gold will mind a blowout as long as they get to taunt the visitors with "Tiger Bait" chants all day.</p>
<p><i>For more information on Tigers football, head over to <a href="http://www.andthevalleyshook.com/" target="_blank">And The Valley Shook. </a>If the Huskies are more you cup a tea, pay a visit to the <a href="http://www.uwdawgpound.com/" target="_blank">UW Dawg Pound.</a></i></p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2012/9/5/3294273/lsu-vs-washington-football-2012Cody Ulm2012-09-05T11:25:58-05:002012-09-05T11:25:58-05:00LSU Vs. Washington: Zach Mettenberger Already Facing Criticism
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<p>Zach Mettenberger is one start into his LSU quarterback career and already knows what it's like to feel the heat from the media, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2012/09/lsu_quarterback_zach_mettenber_8.html">as NOLA.com writes</a>.</p>
<p>Mettenberger certainly wasn't bad in the Tigers' 41-14 rout of North Texas, completing 19 of 26 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown. But he also threw a pick deep in LSU territory when he should have thrown it away, drew a big intentional-grounding penalty and was knocked out of the game on a sack (he returned and recovered well, though, leading the team on a field goal drive and completing his final eight passes).</p>
<p>Mettenberger plays one of the visible position at one of the most visible programs in the country, and acknowledged he knows criticism will come with or without success.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"No one can criticize me as hard as I criticize myself," Mettenberger said when asked if he was his own worst critic. "Y'all have ripped me in the newspapers and stuff but that's part of it. I feel I could have played better. I wanted to be 26-for-26 with 300 yards but that's not how it goes. But we got the win and if I keep improving from here, we'll be good."</p>
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<p><i>For more on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/lsu-tigers">LSU Tigers</a>, be sure to head over to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.andthevalleyshook.com/">And The Valley Shook</a> and join the discussion. Be sure to also check out our dedicated<a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football"> college football hub</a>.</i></p>
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<p><a title="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube" href="http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=sbnation"><img alt="Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube" onclick="_gaq.push(['_trackEvent', 'SBN YouTube Integration', 'HTML Article Insert - Grey']);" src="http://assets.sbnation.com.s3.amazonaws.com/youtube/youtube-article-insert.png"></a></p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/2012/9/5/3294096/lsu-washington-zach-mettenbergerKevin Jeffers2012-09-04T11:22:03-05:002012-09-04T11:22:03-05:00College Football Rankings: LSU Stays Put In AP Poll
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<p>The LSU Tigers are still No. 3 in the AP poll after a 41-14 victory over North Texas.</p> <p>While the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/lsu-tigers">LSU Tigers</a> looked strong in a 41-14 victory over North Texas in their opener on Saturday, the top-ranked <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/usc-trojans">USC Trojans</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/alabama-crimson-tide">Alabama Crimson Tide</a> also performed well. A dominating performance over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/michigan-wolverines">Michigan Wolverines</a> allowed Alabama to take over the top spot, but USC fell only to the No. 2 spot in the rankings, keeping LSU at No. 3.</p>
<p>The Tigers earned four first-place votes, but will have an opportunity to sway more voters when they face a tougher test in the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/washington-huskies">Washington Huskies</a>. While the Huskies didn't earn a spot in the Top 25, they earned 15 votes after a 21-12 win over San Diego State.</p>
<p>Also earning votes in the poll were the SEC's newest member, the Texas A&M Aggies, although they didn't play in the opening weekend due to Hurricane Isaac causing their scheduled opener to be postponed until October.</p>
<p><i>For more on the LSU Tigers, <a href="http://www.andthevalleyshook.com/" target="_blank">be sure to head over to And The Valley Shook and join the discussion.</a> </i><em>While we're here, let's watch some of the many fine college football videos from <a href="http://youtube.com/sbnation">SB Nation's YouTube channel</a>:</em></p>
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https://houston.sbnation.com/2012/9/4/3291468/college-football-rankings-lsu-ap-top-25Adam Stites