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Ed Orgeron is at his dream job and will look to build on his 6-2 record from last season. He took over when LSU fired Les Miles after a 2-2 start. Orgeron’s two losses came against Alabama and Florida.
LSU will build its offense around running back Derrius Guice, who played backup to star rusher Leonard Fournette and now inherits his spot.
“Everything that we do is going to be based around our best player, Derrius Guice,” Orgeron said at the SEC Media days in July. “We feel we have one of the best running backs and one of the best offensive players in the country coming back, lead the SEC in rushing.
“Derrius is a great player. He runs the ball like Warren Sapp played the defensive line for me at Miami. He runs with an attitude.”
While Guice will be the engine for the Tigers offense, by LSU wants better production from its quarterbacks. Senior Danny Etling, the starter last season, returns, but there has been competition at the position.
LSU’s defense will be rebuilding, returning only five starters from last season. That will not deter the confidence Orgeron has in it, however.
“We feel that we have a very good defense,” Orgeron said. “We are going to be young. We have to go through some growing pains at the beginning of the season.”
Arden Key, a junior linebacker, led the team with 12 sacks last season.
LSU kicks off its season in Houston with a matchup against BYU on Sept. 2.
2017 Schedule
Sept. 2; BYU
Sept. 9; Chattanooga
Sept. 16; at Mississippi State
Sept. 23; Syracuse
Sept. 30; Troy
Oct. 7; at Florida
Oct. 14; Auburn
Oct. 21; at Ole Miss
Nov. 4; at Alabama
Nov. 11; Arkansas
Nov. 18; at Tennessee
Nov. 25; Texas A&M
* Houston
2016 Record: 8-4 (5-3 Conf./T-2nd in SEC West)
All-time SEC championships: 11
Bowl appearances: 48 (25-22-1)
2016 Results
Sept. 3; Wisconsin; L 14-16*
Sept. 10; Jacksonville State; W 34-13
Sept. 17; Mississippi State; W 23-20
Sept. 24; at Auburn; L 13-18
Oct. 1; Missouri; W 42-7
Oct. 15; Southern Miss; W 45-10
Oct. 22; Ole Miss; W 38-21
Nov. 5; Alabama; L 0-10
Nov. 12; at Arkansas; W 38-10
Nov. 19; Florida; L 10-16
Nov. 24; at Texas A&M; W 54-39
Dec. 31; vs Louisville; W 29-9+
* Green Bay. Wisconsin
+ Citrus Bowl
Starters Returning: 14
Offense: 8
Defense: 5
Specialty: 1
Starters Lost: 14
Offense: 6
Defense: 7
Specialty: 1
