This LSU football season has been as close to perfect as a season can get.

The record is perfect – 14-0, which is why the Tigers are in the College Football Playoff Championship Game against Clemson.

Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy by a record margin and he and his offensive teammates broke a slew of school, SEC and NCAA records. With 55 TD passes, he could become the 1st QB in FBS history to throw 60 in a season.

Other teammates, head coach Ed Orgeron and passing game coordinator Joe Brady have won national awards.

But as 2020 begins, the Tigers still need to take stock of themselves, make these 5 New Year’s resolutions – and keep them.

1. Beat Clemson

Sure, it’s obvious. But none of the accolades or historic performances during 2019 will mean nearly as much if 2020 starts with a loss.

Just ask the 2011 LSU team.

Those Tigers had a regular season nearly as remarkable as this one – but their season will always be remembered primarily for the one failure, the title-game loss to Alabama.

The program’s chances for future success will be enhanced by the impact a championship will have on recruiting. Those chances will be weakened – at least a bit – by a loss.

Clemson is undefeated, too. In fact it’s unbeaten in its past 29 games. It’s the defending champion. It has won 2 of the past 3 national championships.

In other words, those Tigers are really, really good, too.

LSU needs to finish – and recognize that doing so will require its best performance yet.

2. Keep this coaching staff intact

Orgeron has done an outstanding job.

One of the biggest keys to his success has been assembling an outstanding staff.

He has said LSU has positioned itself to keep Brady as countless suitors are bound to come offering more money than he’s making and more responsibility than he has.

UNLV reached out to defensive coordinator Dave Aranda about its head-coaching job. More attractive opportunities will be coming his way.

Offensive line coach James Cregg is a rising star.

The staff is really good throughout.

Schools looking to upgrade their staffs look to the most successful teams.

To paraphrase Orgeron, “They’re coming.”

Keep your guys.

3. Recognize that the next quarterback won’t be another Joe Burrow

Brady and Burrow transformed the LSU passing game and the national perception of the LSU offense.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. This is the new LSU offense. It won’t be changing.

But whether it’s Myles Brennan or someone else, the next starting quarterback isn’t going to be able to do what Burrow did this season.

That means the recruiting and coaching approach at every other position has to be that they have to be better so the team isn’t worse.

4. Keep building in the trenches

It seems a lot longer than 14 months ago that Orgeron lamented the gap between  Alabama and LSU in the trenches after the Crimson Tide’s 29-0 win last season.

The LSU offensive line was very good this season. The defense line was good, but it lacked quality, experienced depth.

Both lines were good enough to beat Bama, go 14-0 and reach the title game.

But continuing that level of success requires constantly replenishing both lines with lots of big, strong, athletic linemen.

5. Don’t forget the rest of the defense

It has been well documented that the defense was erratic this season.

It played its best down the stretch and certainly seems capable of contributing significantly to a national championship.

But there were weaknesses. There’s not great depth. There will be losses to the NFL. There needs to be better depth.

Even this LSU team has significant work to do in the New Year.