LSU Football: 5 Reasons to Be Optimistic for 2012

If LSU is able to complete the perfect season with a win over Alabama in this year's BCS National Championship Game, the Tigers should rightfully be considered in the conversation of "Greatest College Football Teams of All Time."

Les Miles' team played what many consider to be the most challenging schedule in all of college football this season, and an undefeated record to show for it would be beyond impressive.

But what else is impressive with this team is that they are doing all of this without a ton of upperclassmen.

The majority of this LSU football team should be back in 2012, which should instantly strike fear in opposing SEC programs.

Let's break down five reasons why the Tigers should be optimistic heading into the 2012 college football season.

5. The Schedule

It is no secret that Alabama is LSU's toughest SEC opponent and it should continue to be that way for the foreseeable future.

This season, LSU was faced with the challenge of traveling to Tuscaloosa and playing the Tide on their home filed, which resulted in a 9-6 overtime win for LSU.

Next season, however, Alabama will have to travel to Baton Rouge to take on LSU in a rematch of this year's BCS National Title Game.

In addition to that game, LSU will also host South Carolina, who should be among the best in the nation in 2012 as well.

The schedule certainly favors LSU next season and could help lead to another dream year for Les Miles and the Tigers.

4. Running Backs Galore

Spencer Ware

Michael Ford

Alfred Blue

Kenny Hilliard

All four of these running backs will be returning for LSU next season.

This dominant foursome has combined to run for more than 2,300 yards and 30 touchdowns heading into this year's BCS National Championship Game.

The most amazing part is that Ware, Ford and Blue were all sophomores, while Hilliard was only a freshman.

It has been an ongoing debate this year as far as which team has the better backfield, LSU or Alabama. With all four of these backs expected to return to LSU in 2012, that topic should no longer be up for debate. 

3. The Honey Badger Returns

Of this year's five Heisman Trophy candidates, four of them are expected to be playing in the NFL in 2012. The lone exception is LSU's Tyrann Mathieu, who isn't playing because he isn't good enough, he's not going to the NFL because he was only a sophomore this past season.

Mathieu was the most explosive defensive/special teams player in all of college football and he will be returning for at least one more season at LSU.

Sure, Mathieu is only one player, but he has the ability to change a football game in a variety of ways. He is an outstanding cornerback who has a knack for the ball on defense, and he is an exceptional return man, who is arguably the best punt returner college football has even seen.

With Mathieu on the field, LSU will have a chance to win every game they play in 2012.

2. A Ton of Talent Coming Back

When looking over LSU's roster from this season, the Tigers are expected to return seven starters on offense and six starters on defense.

Of those 13 starters, 10 of them were freshman or sophomores this year.

That mean's that LSU has a ton of talent coming back to the field in 2012.

The most important position that LSU must replace is at quarterback, where both Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson are seniors. But many believe that redshirt sophomore Zach Mettenberger and highly-touted freshman Gunner Kiel will be better than both Lee and Jefferson as soon as next season.

With a memorable 2011 season combined with this much talent coming back next year, 2012 should be another memorable one for LSU football.

1. The Taste of Success

As mentioned earlier, this LSU team is expected to return 22 starters in 2012.

The most important reason to be optimistic about this team next season is because all of those 22 starters will have tasted success and experienced playing on the biggest stage in all of college football.

This team started the year with a top-five showdown against then-No. 3 ranked Oregon at Cowboy Stadium. They then took on Alabama in a game that was deemed the "Game of the Century." This group followed that up with a trip to the SEC Title Game where they pounded Georgia.

Now, in less than a week, the Tigers will play Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game on the biggest stage of all.

This group will be poised for another huge run in 2012.