LSU football season preview 2020: Record predictions, depth chart analysis, breakout players

LSU football season preview, including record predictions, depth chart analysis and breakout players to watch this fall season on the reigning national champions.

LSU football created a tough act to follow as the Tigers completed a perfect season by winning a National Championship over Clemson. Led by Heisman Trophy-winner Joe Burrow and a laundry list of soon-to-be NFL starters on both sides of the ball, last year’s iteration of LSU has a case to be considered the greatest college football team ever assembled.

But the Tigers now have to move onto the next chapter under head coach Ed Orgeron — and that won’t be easy. LSU has to replace roughly 40 percent of their roster from last season, including Burrow. That wouldn’t be easy in any season but, with the COVID-19 altered year ahead in which the Tigers will play 10 SEC games on the year, that’s even more so the case.

There will be no chances for the Tigers to transition to quarterback Myles Brennan, to adjust to the 4-3 base defense that new defensive coordinator Bo Pelini is adopting after Dave Aranda’s departure or to allow guys growing pains against inferior competition. It’ll be baptism by fire in the SEC schedule as they face one conference foe after another.

LSU was dealt a blow on Aug. 30 with Biletnikoff winner Ja’Marr Chase opting out of the season on Aug. 30, leaving the depth chart with a massive hole to fill. Perhaps cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. can help fill the void playing double-duty?

So what will the follow-up to their title-winning season look like? That’s what we’re here to find out. As they have to make wholesale changes amid unprecedented times for college football, let’s dive deep into LSU football in the 2020 season, looking at their schedule game-by-game, breaking down the depth chart and identifying the breakout candidates.