LSU debuts at No. 5 in AP Top 25

LSU’s highest preseason rank since 2012

By JAMES MORAN
Tiger Rag Associate Editor

The Tigers now have a lofty rank to match their championship aspirations.

LSU opened up the 2016 at No. 5 in the initial AP Top 25 released Sunday morning, its highest preseason mark since 2012, when they started at No. 3. The Tigers also received one first-place vote.

Defending national champion Alabama again occupies the top spot in the preseason poll, followed by Clemson, Oklahoma and Florida State with LSU rounding out the top five. Tennessee (9), Ole Miss (11), Georgia (18) and Florida (25) were the other SEC schools in the initial Top 25.

LSU began last season at No. 14 in the AP Poll and finished the season at No. 16.