Ed Orgeron met with the media on Tuesday to preview LSU’s upcoming trip to the Fiesta Bowl to take on UCF.

Of the many topics discussed, none loom larger than the Knight’s 25-game win streak, which is currently the highest win streak in the nation. The most impressive win of that streak came nearly a year ago as UCF knocked off Auburn 34-27 in the latest Peach Bowl. If LSU doesn’t defeat UCF, it will provide Knight fans that much more ammo heading into the long offseason and leading up to the 2019 college football season.

Will focus be a concern for LSU, as many claim it was for Auburn this time last year? Not according to Orgeron, who noted his team is still angry over having the Texas A&M game taken from them.

Here are the highlights of what Coach O had to say on Tuesday:

  • Opening comments: Expects to sign the majority of the class during the early signing period… honored to be playing in a New Year’s Six bowl… we have started on UCF, our analysts have broken them down.
  • on Kelvin Joseph’s status: We have work to do there, he should be healthy. We will see how he does this week.
  • on John Battle’s status: He will be reprimanded, we don’t know exactly what his punishment will be.
  • on early signing period: We will get most of our committed guys sign; we’ll have a few left in February.
  • on adjusts/improvements that need to be made on offense: We have 15 practices, we have things we want to fix, want to put in, we will continue to put in some different things. We have a long way to go to run the offense that we want.
  • How do you juggle recruiting and bowl prep? We have visited the majority of the guys we expect to sign. We will finish in-home visits by Tuesday or Wednesday.
  • How is the early signing period different the second time around? I think we are better organized, understanding the tight window that we have. We have 19-20 very firm commitments. Most of the in-home visits have been celebrations. We aren’t trying to convince these guys to sign. Overall, this class, we have been recruiting this class for two years. The relationship we have with these recruits and their families is very strong.
  • on getting up for the UCF game: We are not happy the way the season ended, we should have won that game — I’m not going to get back into all that but that’s all the motivation we need; I’ve never played a team that had a 25-game winning streak.
  • on Devin White winning the Butkus Award: “Very happy for him, and for our team. Devin is one that wants to win a championship. He said that, wanting to win for Louisiana. He was not interested in individual awards. The way they did it was first class and his team was very excited for him. In my opinion, he’s the best linebackers in the country; I’ve been a part of Ray Lewis, I’ve been a part of Patrick Willis, and he’s right in that group. No question, one of the best I’ve ever been a part of, as far as a middle linebacker and I still think he’s going to get better. I think he’s going to have a tremendous pro career. He could have opted to not play. He has not told me if he’s declaring. He has done what he should do and finish with his team.
  • on Joe Burrow: He gave it all for his team. He has done that all year, we cut him loose. The reason we didn’t run Joe was due to the health of Myles (Brennan). We hope to run Joe more next season.
  • on guys not playing in the bowl game: Here’s what I’ll say. I’m old-fashioned. I think the team comes first but I understand. He’s a father already, I didn’t go against it. It has to be in your heart, you have to want to be here. If you don’t want to be here, I really don’t want you to be around. If a guy is done, I like him to tell me and I’ll honor that. I’m not mad at him, do I agree with it, not necessarily.