LSU is still in SEC, national chase, but faces a big 'If'

Every LSU loss, like the Tigers’ 24-19 defeat two Saturdays ago at Ole Miss, always casts a pall over Tigertown.

But it’s a mere early morning haze compared to the clouds hanging over Austin, Texas; State College, Pennsylvania; and Clemson, South Carolina, right now.

The preseason Associated Press top 10 is in the shredder. Preseason No. 1 Texas is not even in the top 25 after being stunned 29-21 at Florida this past Saturday. Neither is preseason No. 2 Penn State after an even more stunning 42-37 loss at previously winless UCLA, by far the worst loss for any ranked team so far this season.

And preseason No. 4 Clemson? LSU helped grease its skid out of the polls with a 17-10 defeat to start the year. Combining the records of the Longhorns, Nittany Lions and Tigers (orange version), you