LSU Football: Ranking the 2012 Schedule from Easiest to Toughest

With the college football season right around the corner, the LSU Tigers must put last year behind them and focus on the 2012 season. Although LSU fell short of a national championship victory, it does return 13 starters from that squad and may be even better than it was a season ago.

But before we declare the Tigers SEC champions once again, they must overcome another tough SEC schedule. While this schedule is nowhere near as tough as the one LSU had to go through last season, it does have its fair share of tough opponents that stand in the way.

As September is quickly approaching, here are the easiest and most difficult games on the LSU Tigers' 2012 schedule.

12. Vs. Towson

Last year's record: 9-3

Returning starters: N/A

The only thing these two teams have in common is that both teams' mascots are Tigers. Other than that, these teams are completely different. Don't expect to see the starters in this game for very long.

11. Vs. Idaho

Last year's record: 2-10

Returning starters: 10

Idaho didn't do much of anything right last season, ranked 107th in scoring and 98th in scoring defense. Instead of scheduling the Vandals, maybe the Tigers should have been awarded an extra bye week. It’s virtually the same thing, right?

10. Vs. North Texas

Last year's record: 5-7

Returning starters: 13

While North Texas may not be as bad as the previous two teams, the Mean Green is still pretty terrible if we are judging by LSU standards. These two teams have met a total of four times, and the Tigers have won each game by over 30 points. Expect similar results in Week 1 of the 2012 regular season.

9. Vs. Ole Miss

Last year's record: 2-10

Returning starters: 15

This will be the fourth cakewalk victory for the Tigers, as Ole Miss has shown no signs of life the last two seasons. In last year's meeting, the Rebels got beat down by a score of 52-3, making it the eighth victory over Ole Miss in the last 10 matchups.

The Rebels are recruiting better, but it will be a while before they are on the Tigers' level.

8. Vs. Mississippi State

Last year's record: 7-6

Returning starters: 12

The Bulldogs may have lost a lot of their offensive production, but quarterback Tyler Russell has played well throughout the spring, and there is a lot of running back depth to get by.

Mississippi State also returns seven starters from a defense that ranked 16th in the country in scoring allowed. Things are looking up for this program, but LSU has won the last 12 meetings and 19 of the last 20 against the Bulldogs.

7. Vs. Washington

Last year's record: 7-6

Returning starters: 14

If this game was being played in Seattle, I would give the Huskies more of a chance to pull off an upset. But since the Tigers were given only four road games, this matchup does not favor Washington at all.

Still, the Huskies do have a playmaker at the quarterback position in Keith Price. Anytime you have a solid quarterback leading the offense, you have to give that team a slight chance to shock the college football world.

6. At Auburn

Last year's record: 8-5

Returning starters: 16

The Auburn Tigers should be an improve team heading into 2012, but they still have serious questions, particularly on defense and at the quarterback position. Auburn will have the home crowd in its favor, but it is LSU that has won five of the last seven meetings.

5. At Florida

Last year's record: 7-6

Returning starters: 17

Florida needs to find production on the offensive side of the ball before we can declare them to be a serious contender again in the SEC. Still, playing in Gainesville provides one of the toughest environments in college football, and Florida does have 10 starters returning from a defense that was ranked eighth in the country.

4. At Texas A&M

Last year's record: 7-6

Returning starters: 15

Texas A&M has seemed to have the Tigers' number over the years, winning six of the last eight meetings against LSU. Granted, not counting the 2011 meeting, the last time these two teams met was in 1995, but still.

The Tigers will have to travel to College Station, which is no cakewalk, and will have to protect a first-year starter against a team that finished first in the country in sacks a season ago.

3. Vs. South Carolina

Last year's record: 11-2

Returning starters: 13

The Gamecocks are one of the more underrated teams entering the 2012 season. We are talking about a team that won 11 games last year and is getting a healthy Marcus Lattimore back in the backfield.

Let's also not forget that South Carolina had a defense that was ranked third in the country and returns six starters from that unit.

The game will take place in Baton Rouge, but it will be a battle that will come down to the wire.

2. At Arkansas

Last year's record: 11-2

Returning starters: 13

LSU made things very difficult for Arkansas last year in the 41-17 victory. This time, the Razorbacks will have a running game, as 1,000-yard rusher Knile Davis will be back on the field. This will give Arkansas a more balanced offense, truly testing that Tigers defense like no other team on this schedule can.

Also, playing in Fayetteville makes things that much more interesting.

1. Vs. Alabama

Last year's record: 12-1

Returning starters: 11

We know what to expect when these two teams meet for the third time in two years. It's going to be another defensive battle, and it will likely come down to the wire. With that said, the Crimson Tide is still one of the more talented teams in the country, and the outcome of this game could once again decide who makes it out of the SEC West.

It will not be easy for either team, and it is important that the Tigers remain focused and get the memories from last year out of their heads.