In February 2023, undefeated LSU went to South Carolina to take on the defending champions near the midpoint of the SEC season. Despite their 23 wins by an average of 32.4 points, there was a healthy dose of skepticism regarding the Tigers, who had been mostly untested against a light nonconference slate. Before Selection Sunday, LSU’s nonconference strength of schedule ranked 320th in the country.
Those doubters had their day, as the Tigers lost by 24 points to the Gamecocks in their first meeting. But LSU had the last word when it won the national championship two months later.
Fast forward two seasons, and the Tigers’ resume bears a strong similarity to the 2023 champs. They are once again unbeaten through 20 games, winning by an average of 28.4 points. The offense and defense rank fourth and 11th nationally, compared with fifth on both ends in 2023. They have the 212th-ranked nonconference strength of schedule. Heading into a showdown with defending champion South Carolina, LSU is familiarly not regarded as a top contender for the national title.
Unsurprisingly, coach Kim Mulkey doesn’t have a problem with how her team — or her scheduling methods — is perceived.
“People love to get honest about our nonconference schedule, and everybody has a right to an…
