BATON ROUGE – LSU moved up one spot to No. 7 in both national polls on Sunday following the 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech.
LSU is among six Southeastern Conference teams in the Top 10, a group that includes this week’s opponent Ole Miss, who is No. 8 in the AP Top 25 and No. 9 in the AFCA Coaches Poll.
Saturday’s matchup in Oxford will mark the first time since 1962 that LSU and Ole Miss enter the game ranked in the Top 10.
Other SEC teams in the Top 10 of both polls include Texas at No. 1, Georgia at No. 2, Texas A&M at No. 9 and Alabama at No. 10.
In all, 9 SEC teams are in the Top 25 this week with Tennessee at No. 14 (Coaches) and No. 15 (AP), Missouri at No. 20 (AP) and No. 22 (Coaches) and Oklahoma (No. 21 Coaches) and No. 24 (AP).
LSU is off to a 2-0 start under first-year head coach Lane Kiffin with wins over Louisiana Tech and the season-opening 51-10 victory over Clemson, which was the largest margin of victory over a Top 25 opponent since beating No. 9 Virginia Tech, 48-7, in Tiger Stadium in 2007.
Through two games, LSU’s defense leads the nation in yards allowed per game (142.0). The Tigers are No. 2 nation in rush defense (18.0) and No. 12 in pass defense (124.0). The Tigers also lead the nation with 12 sacks through two games with edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen No. 1 nationally with five sacks.
Offensively, LSU ranks No. 3 in the nation in yards per game with 586.0. LSU ranks No. 4 in passing yards nationally with 358 yards per game to go along with 228 rushing yards a contest.
In two games, LSU has outscored its opposition, 96-24.