Brian Kelly and his LSU Tigers were ranked at No. 15 overall in the first release of the College Football Playoff rankings for the 2024 season, meaning they are at least 3 spots outside of where they need to be in order to make it in with the new 12-team format.

Kelly was asked during the weekly head coaches SEC teleconference about his thoughts on where the team stood, now heading down the final stretch of the season. Of course, there is some disappointment to be expected, but Kelly doesn’t seem to be paying much mind to it.

At least for the time being.

“There’s so much football to be played the initial rankings is the horses getting in the gate,” Kelly said. “It would be nice to be No. 1, but there’s a lot of race ahead of us. You’ve got to play well the remaining four weeks of the season.”

Kelly on CFP: There's so much football to be played the initial rankings is the horses getting in the gate. It would be nice to be No. 1, but there's a lot of race ahead of us. You've got to play well the remaining four weeks of the season.

— Scott Rabalais (@RabalaisAdv) November 6, 2024

LSU’s next matchup on the schedule, a contest in Tiger Stadium against the Alabama Crimson Tide, is largely viewed as a must-win game for both teams if they are to have a shot at the Playoff. After that game, LSU will finish out its slate against Florida, Vanderbilt and Oklahoma, in that order.

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“Each game becomes a playoff,” Kelly said. “Focusing on one game at a time and being at your best regardless of the competition will be important.”

Brian Kelly on #LSU at No. 15 in CFP: Each game becomes a playoff. Focusing on one game at a time and being at your best regardless of the competition will be important.

— Scott Rabalais (@RabalaisAdv) November 6, 2024

It will be interesting to see how things shake out when Alabama and LSU kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET in Tiger Stadium on Saturday.

Crissy Froyd

Crissy covers SEC football news for Saturday Down South.