Where LSU's SEC rivalries rank in the league following expansion

While LSU doesn’t necessarily have a true natural rival as the only power conference program in the state of Louisiana, it has quite a few around the SEC that have developed due to both regional factors and others.

The Tigers’ biggest rival historically is probably Ole Miss, and they also have a long-running series with Arkansas, known as the Battle for the Boot. Though they’ve only become more prominent in recent years, rivalries with former SEC West foe Alabama and cross-division opponent Florida have seen the heat turned up, as well.

Now, with Texas and Oklahoma set to join the SEC, we’ve added a few more historic rivalries to the league slate. With that in mind, where do LSU’s stack up? Here’s how CBS Sports’ Will Backus ranked them.

No. 13 – Arkansas vs. LSU (Battle for the Boot)

LSU and Arkansas played sparingly through the years until 1992 when the Razorbacks’ move to the SEC and the subsequent creation of divisions allowed the border states to become frequent opponents. The SEC even introduced a shiny, golden, boot-shaped trophy (formed by the outline of Arkansas and Louisiana) in 1996 to bring some prestige into this rivalry. Razorback fans have plenty of animosity towards LSU, though the feeling may not be entirely reciprocated with the Tigers’ already full ledger of sworn enemies. LSU leads 42-23-2

Though this rivalry really only kicked into high gear when Arkansas joined the SEC, these teams have been playing their border battle since 1901. We’ve seen wild matchups between the two, but Backus is right that this one has become a bit of an afterthought for Tigers fans.

No. 12 – LSU vs. Ole Miss (Magnolia Bowl)

As a self-confessed lover of offensive football, this rivalry is often a joy to watch. No matter what either team looks like for the rest of the year, the Magnolia Bowl can always guarantee points. The Rebels and Tigers have combined to score at least 48 in every matchup since 2014. It’s also fairly competitive (in a contemporary sense) with each team alternating wins since 2020. Still, both programs have at least one or two teams that sit higher on their personal list of rivals. LSU leads 63-42-4

While this rivalry has been played for quite a long time, it hasn’t always been the most competitive. The last few years have given us some very exciting football in this matchup, however, and this year’s game will likely be no different.

No. 9 – Florida vs. LSU

These two teams have only met 70 times, but no one can say they haven’t been eventful. It’s hard not to love a rivalry that features a game in which Florida defensive back Marco Wilson threw a cleat leading to a 15-yard penalty and a 57-yard, game-winning field goal for LSU in soupy fog. This series is also ridiculously competitive and has featured several clashes between national championship-caliber teams. Hopefully, the new schedule structure doesn’t eliminate what was a premier cross-divisional showdown. Florida leads 33-31-3

This game doesn’t have a catchy moniker, but the two squads have been annual opponents since 1971 and became cross-division rivals in 1992. This game has featured elite matchups in the past and saw the intensity turned up a bit beginning in 2016 when the matchup had to be postponed due to the effects of Hurricane Matthew.

No. 8 – Alabama vs. LSU (First Saturday in November)

The SEC West existed for 32 years. Alabama and LSU combined to win that division 22 times. One of those two teams has made it to the SEC Championship Game in each of the past six years. Both teams have been ranked in the AP Top 25 in 16 out of the last 18 installments in this series. When Alabama and LSU face off, there’s always something major on the line, adding prestige to a series that’s relatively young among the SEC’s rivalries. Alabama leads 56-27-5

While Alabama dominates the all-time series, this game has more often than not proven to be a classic in recent years and in most seasons over the last decade-plus decided the SEC West. When these two teams play, it’s always must-see TV.

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