The LSU football program has the same three goals at the start of any season:

  1. Win the conference
  2. Win a national title
  3. Beat Alabama

In theory, an LSU team could go 1-11. If that one victory is against Alabama, the win may help to salvage the season (to an extent).

This is the task facing interim head coach Ed Orgeron. His Tigers will face Alabama on Nov. 5. Until then, LSU faces a daunting stretch — featuring the likes of Florida, Southern Miss, and Ole Miss.

Per a report from ESPN, a source said “If [LSU] beats Alabama, they might sign him to a new contract before midnight.” This could contradict conventional wisdom — which has LSU pursuing the likes of Tom Herman, Jimbo Fisher, Art Briles, Dan Mullen, and Jim Mora (among others).

However, Orgeron is a native son of the state of Louisiana. He identifies with the culture, is a rabid recruiter, and a terrific developer of talent. His infectious energy is something that simply cannot be denied. As a result, “Coach O” is confident he can become the full-time coach of LSU:

“Listen, this thing here, I’m going to get it. If we do what we need to do, I feel in my heart I’m going to get it. If I don’t, it’s because we didn’t do well enough and I don’t deserve it. Really, we control our own destiny, and I feel like we have a job here, and we have a right to earn it. If we earn it, we ought to get it. If we don’t earn it, I get that. I know what the expectations are here. They’re my expectations, the same expectations I had growing up in this state and cheering for the Tigers.”