The LSU Tigers are coming off a national championship, but they’ll have a lot of key players to replace in 2020 and beyond.

Can coach Ed Orgeron keep the LSU program on an upward trajectory? That won’t be easy based on some talented nonconference opponents the Tigers have scheduled in the coming years.

So, which games are the ones we can’t wait to watch? Here are the 5 best future nonconference opponents on LSU’s schedule:

1. Clemson (2025, 2026)

After seeing Clemson and LSU square off in the College Football Playoff title game this past season, we can’t wait to see them share the field again. Can Coach O and Dabo Swinney keep their teams atop the college football world?

The 2025 game will take place at Clemson, with a date in Baton Rouge set for 2026. Could they be early Playoff primers? We’ll find out in a few short years. Clemson will certainly be hungry for some revenge.

2. Oklahoma (2027, 2028)

The Tigers have also scheduled the other team they faced in this past Playoff — Oklahoma. The 2027 game will be in Norman, with the 2028 contest in Louisiana.

Lincoln Riley has gotten his team to the Playoff each of the past 3 seasons, but he hasn’t gotten the Sooners past the semifinals. Will he have a title by the time this series comes around? We’ll find out.

3. Texas (2020)

If this game lives up to the game in Austin last year, it will be electric. The tensions were high between the Longhorns and Tigers last year, both on and off the field. Don’t expect LSU to do Texas any favors when the Longhorns come to town this season.

Will the Tigers be able to deal the Longhorns another damaging loss? We don’t have to wait long to find out, as this game is scheduled for Sept. 12.

4. Utah (2031, 2032)

The Tigers have 3 trips West to play Pac-12 teams in the coming years — UCLA, Arizona State and Utah. Utah has been the best of that group recently. Will they still be good when the Tigers head out there in 2031 and host the Utes in 2032?

Kyle Whittingham has built a strong program in Salt Lake City, so it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see these games be meaningful on the Playoff radar.

5. Florida State (2022*, 2023*)

This is basically a home-and-home series, but it’ll be played as 2 neutral-site games. In 2022, the Seminoles and Tigers will kick off the season in New Orleans. In 2023, this game will be played in Orlando.

That is a fun idea. Now, it’ll be up to Mike Norvell to quickly turn the Seminoles into contenders again to make this series competitive.