The LSU Tigers won the 2019 national championship, going undefeated with Joe Burrow winning the Heisman Trophy.

In 2020, things didn’t go so well for coach Ed Orgeron’s program. The Tigers struggled defensively en route to a 5-5 record.

At SEC Media Days on Monday, OL Austin Deculus was asked about the team taking a big step back in 2020. He said he understands why people soured on LSU in 2020, as the product on the field wasn’t great (via 247Sports):

Q: You’re not even two years removed from winning a National Championship, but do you feel like at times that LSU now gets overlooked, and why is that dangerous for other teams as a motivator for you guys?

AUSTIN DECULUS: Any program that goes from National Championship to 5-5, they’re going to always go like, eh, they’re going to put them to the side a little bit, which is respectful. If you don’t produce and you don’t do it good within your season, you’re not going to get the love, you’re not going to get the recognition. So it’s really going to change after the season.

LSU also had a self-imposed bowl ban last season. Now that we’re entering 2021, though, expectations are higher for the Tigers. We’ll see if they can live up to those expectations.

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