David Pollack Names SEC Program That Will End College Football Playoff Drought

"If you are not picking LSU in the College Football playoff as a repick, I can't help you," Pollack said. "I can't help you at all. It's Week 1, but I didn't think they played great. I didn't think they protected Nuss (Garrett Nussmeier) great... so, I've got LSU and inserting them right into the playoff picture."

LSU’s Defense Dominates Clemson

LSU's offense receives a lot of publicity. The Tigers have a star quarterback in Garrett Nussmeier, a talented running back in Caden Durham, and a strong receiving corps led by Aaron Anderson.

However, the defense truly stole the show on Saturday. LSU's defense limited Clemson to just 10 points and 261 total yards of offense. This included a strong performance against star quarterback Cade Klubnik, who threw for 230 yards with a completion rate of 50%, one interception, and no touchdowns. Additionally, they effectively shut down Clemson's run game, allowing only 31 rushing yards at an average of 1.6 yards per carry.

The offense did enough. Nussmeier threw for 232 yards and one touchdown, while completing 28-of-38 passes. He finished with an 82.7 QBR. Durham added 74 yards and one touchdown on 4.4 yards per carry, and Anderson added 99 yards on six catches.

LSU Surges Up the Polls After Week 1

With this significant victory, LSU surged up the rankings. Here is their current position in the latest standings:

• No. 3 in the AP Poll
• No. 4 in the USA Today Coaches Poll
• No. 11 in the ESPN Football Power Index

LSU has been chasing another shot at the College Football Playoff since Joe Burrow led the Tigers to a national title in 2019. With Nussmeier under center and a defense that just shut down one of the country’s top quarterbacks, Pollack believes this team has all the pieces to finally return. Week 1 may have been just the start, and the Tigers now have a golden opportunity to prove they’re still the SEC’s best hope for a playoff run.