Breaking down LSU’s Football Power Index rankings since 2005
It’s been a fantastic millennium when it comes to LSU football.
The Tigers won just one national title in their first 107 years of existence, but since the year 2000, they have claimed three, all under different head coaches.
The program reached its zenith during the 2019 season when it won the national championship as part of a 15-0 run that included a Heisman Trophy and one of the best single-seasons for a quarterback in college football history from Joe Burrow.
But the last two seasons have been major disappointments, leading to the worst finishes in recent memory. LSU opted for a change by dismissing the title-winning coach, Ed Orgeron. In comes one of the most accomplished coaches in college football in Brian Kelly as a new era begins in Baton Rouge this fall.
ESPN recently published its preseason Football Power Index (FPI), which measures team strength based on 20,000 simulations. Here’s where the Tigers stand heading into 2022.
FPI: 13.9
Overall Ranking: No. 11
SEC Ranking: No. 4
LSU Wire breaks down the Tigers’ final FPI in every season since 2005, the first year from which that data is available. That was also the first season under former coach Les Miles.
2005: 11-2
Photo by Dale Zanine USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) 2005 Dale Zanine
FPI: 18.2
Overall Ranking: No. 6
SEC Ranking: No. 1
Bowl Game: 40-3 win vs. Miami in the Peach Bowl
2006: 11-2
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports © copyright Matthew Emmons
FPI: 22.5
Overall Ranking: No. 3
SEC Ranking: No. 1
Bowl Game: 41-14 win vs. Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl
2007: 12-2
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 22.7
Overall Ranking: No. 3
SEC Ranking: No. 1
Bowl Game: 38-24 win vs. Ohio State in the BCS National Championship
2008: 8-5
Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 11.7
Overall Ranking: No. 22
SEC Ranking: No. 5
Bowl Game: 38-3 win vs. Georgia Tech in the Chick-fil-A Bowl
2009: 9-4
Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 15.3
Overall Ranking: No. 12
SEC Ranking: No. 3
Bowl Game: 19-17 loss to Penn State in the Capital One Bowl
2010: 11-2
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 16.8
Overall Ranking: No. 14
SEC Ranking: No. 4
Bowl Game: 41-24 win vs. Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl
2011: 13-1
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 29.7
Overall Ranking: No. 2
SEC Ranking: No. 2
Bowl Game: 21-0 loss to Alabama in the BCS National Championship
2012: 10-3
Beth Hall-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 19.3
Overall Ranking: No. 10
SEC Ranking: No. 4
Bowl Game: 25-24 loss to Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl
2013: 10-3
Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 19.4
Overall Ranking: No. 15
SEC Ranking: No. 5
Bowl Game: 21-14 win vs. Iowa in the Outback Bowl
2014: 8-5
Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 19.0
Overall Ranking: No. 15
SEC Ranking: No. 6
Bowl Game: 31-28 loss to Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl
2015: 9-3
Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 20.6
Overall Ranking: No. 8
SEC Ranking: No. 3
Bowl Game: 56-27 win vs. Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl
2016: 8-4
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
FPI: 22.9
Overall Ranking: No. 6
SEC Ranking: No. 2
Bowl Game: 29-9 win vs. Louisville in the Citrus Bowl
2017: 9-4
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 13.9
Overall Ranking: No. 14
SEC Ranking: No. 4
Bowl Game: 21-17 loss to Notre Dame in the Citrus Bowl
2018: 10-3
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 14.9
Overall Ranking: No. 17
SEC Ranking: No. 8
Bowl Game: 40-32 win vs. UCF in the Fiesta Bowl
2019: 15-0
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 30.3
Overall Ranking: No. 3
SEC Ranking: No. 1
Bowl Game: 42-25 win vs. Clemson in the CFP National Championship
2020: 5-5
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 9.2
Overall Ranking: No. 28
SEC Ranking: No. 6
Bowl Game: None (self-imposed bowl ban)
2021: 6-7
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 5.8
Overall Ranking: No. 42
SEC Ranking: No. 11
Bowl Game: 42-20 loss to Kansas State in the Texas Bowl
1
1
