BATON ROUGE — The LSU football team (13-1) was ranked No. 2 in the final AP Top 25 and the ESPN Coaches’ Poll, it was announced on Tuesday.
The Tigers, who suffered their first loss in 15 games Monday in New Orleans, received one first-place vote in the AP Top 25 and finished behind national champion Alabama.
On the way to the school’s 11th Southeastern Conference Championship, LSU finished the regular-season at 12-0 for the first time in school history. LSU earned its 13th victory and beat its eighth ranked opponent on Dec. 3 when it came from behind to beat No. 12 Georgia in the Georgia Dome, 42-10.
When bowl season was complete, LSU’s opponents compiled a 7-1 record in the postseason including victories by the BCS Champion (Alabama), Orange Bowl winner (West Virginia) and Rose Bowl winner (Oregon).
The Tigers seniors look forward to All-Star games in the coming weeks. National Signing Day will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 1, and spring practice will follow at a date to be determined.
LSU opens the 2012 season on Saturday, Sept. 1, in Tiger Stadium against North Texas.
AP Top 25
RK, TEAM, RECORD, PTS
1. Alabama (55), 12-1, 1495
2. LSU (1), 13-1, 1425
3. Oklahoma State (4), 12-1, 1399
4. Oregon, 12-2, 1250
5. Arkansas, 11-2, 1198
6. USC, 10-2, 1181
7. Stanford, 11-2, 1167
8. Boise State, 12-1, 1127
9. South Carolina, 11-2, 1013
10. Wisconsin, 11-3, 905
11. Michigan State, 11-3, 873
12. Michigan, 11-2, 839
13. Baylor, 10-3, 780
14. TCU, 11-2, 653
15. Kansas State, 10-3, 621
16. Oklahoma, 10-3, 572
17. West Virginia, 10-3, 547
18. Houston, 13-1, 518
19. Georgia, 10-4, 439
20. Southern Miss, 12-2, 411
21. Virginia Tech, 11-3, 329
22. Clemson, 10-4, 188
23. Florida State, 9-4, 154
24. Nebraska, 9-4, 143
25. Cincinnati, 10-3, 103
Others receiving votes: Brigham Young 51, Auburn 40, Northern Illinois 33, Missouri 23, Texas 15, Rutgers 3, North Dakota State 2, Penn State 2, Virginia 1.
USA Today Poll
RK, TEAM, RECORD, PTS
1. Alabama (59), 12-1, 1475
2. LSU, 13-1, 1404
3. Oklahoma State, 12-1, 1367
4. Oregon, 12-2, 1290
5. Arkansas, 11-2, 1188
6. Boise State, 12-1, 1162
7. Stanford, 11-2, 1106
8. South Carolina, 11-2, 1084
9. Michigan, 11-2, 925
10. Michigan State, 11-3, 912
11. Wisconsin, 11-3, 911
12. Baylor, 10-3, 775
13. TCU, 11-2, 710
14. Houston, 13-1, 673
15. Oklahoma, 10-3, 610
16. Kansas State, 10-3, 602
17. Virginia Tech, 11-3, 574
18. West Virginia, 10-3, 554
19. Southern Miss, 12-2, 429
20. Georgia, 10-4, 345
21. Cincinnati, 10-3, 248
22. Clemson, 10-4, 237
23. Florida State, 9-4, 205
24. Nebraska, 9-4, 144
25. Brigham Young, 10-3, 79
Others receiving votes: Northern Illinois 36, Missouri 33, Texas 29, Auburn 28, Rutgers 11, Penn State 10, Texas A&M 5, Virginia 4, Washington 2, Temple 2, Florida 1, Louisiana-Lafayette 1, Mississippi State 1, Arkansas State 1, Notre Dame 1, Ohio 1.