LSU’s decision to name Ed Orgeron as its interim head coach has paid off immensely.

The Tigers have won all three of their games under Orgeron and have been revitalized on offense. LSU has averaged 536 yards in that span — posting its three highest totals of 2016 — including 634 yards during a 42-7 win over Missouri in his debut, which was the most in an SEC game in school history.

That victory included both Derrius Guice and Darrel Williams rushing for more than 100 yards and 3 touchdowns, respectively, in the absence of injured star running back Leonard Fournette. Three weeks later, Fournette returned to action and recorded a career-best 284 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Needless to say, Orgeron has done everything asked of him in the wake of Les Miles’ firing. The biggest criticism facing the Tigers early was a lack of consistency on offense, which changed immediately under the Louisiana native. “Coach O” has not only kept the Tigers afloat but seems to have them looking like the team many expected to contend for a national championship in the preseason.

As you’d expect, having a local boy find immediate success as interim coach has excited the LSU fan base and could give Orgeron a legitimate chance at earning the job full-time, which initially seemed like a longshot. There’s a growing confidence among the Tigers’ roster and its fan base that is undeniably linked to “Coach O,” which was displayed when fans chanted, “We Want Bama” after last week’s 38-21 win over Ole Miss.

LSU defensive back Dwayne Thomas echoed those sentiments on Wednesday when asked about next Saturday’s matchup against the top-ranked Tide at Tiger Stadium.

“I really see us dominating this offense. I really see us dominating this team,” Thomas told The Advocate. “This is the year. We’ve been letting them off the hook for the last couple of years. This is my senior year. We’re going out with a bang. It’s time for us to bring that win back. We’re going to be at home. I feel like we have the edge to take it to them, and we’re going to take it to them. I feel like we’re going to dominate this game.”

Perhaps that may seem like overconfidence against a team that has beaten all of its opponents by an average of 29 points per game and hasn’t lost a game in more than a year. Alabama has played on a different level than any other team in the FBS. There hasn’t been one instance where the Tide has been challenged since rallying against Ole Miss in Week 3. But Thomas’ comments are exactly what you want to hear if you’re a fan regardless.

LSU has a new swagger under Orgeron, and the players are buying into what he’s selling. Alabama may very well be unbeatable on most days, but the Tigers are arguably the most talented team on its schedule. If they continue to play up to their full potential, they are a very dangerous team capable of giving the Tide fits.

The recent momentum matched with playing in Death Valley should help LSU make next Saturday’s game competitive, at least for most of it. But it’s difficult to assume that anyone can match Alabama from a talent perspective or out-coach Nick Saban.

It’s also too small of a sample size to say that the Tigers are a legit contender. They were expected to dominate teams like Missouri and Southern Miss, and Ole Miss seems to be less of a contender each passing week.

Still, LSU has looked outstanding under Orgeron, and the quarterback position has yielded steady confidence and production. That’s what many expected when they picked the Tigers over the Tide in the preseason, although that was thought to come under Brandon Harris and not Etling.

So while Alabama may be the most complete team in college football, there’s a chance for LSU to make next Saturday’s game interesting and pull off a big performance.

If anyone is going to have this team motivated, it’s Orgeron.