ESPN Releases FPI Top-25 Following LSU Football, BYU Cougars, Alabama Open Dates

The LSU Tigers (5-3, 2-3 SEC) navigated an open date in Week 10 with the program remaining idle amid a chaotic stretch in Baton Rouge.

Following a Week 9 loss to the Texas A&M Aggies, the LSU administration relieved head coach Brian Kelly of his duties less than 24 hours later followed by athletic director Scott Woodward parting ways with the program just days later.

Now, after a much-needed bye week for the program in the Bayou State, the Tigers will enter Week 11 with all eyes on the Alabama Crimson Tide with interim head coach Frank Wilson leading the charge.

“It’s a tremendous, humbling moment for myself," Wilson said of becoming LSU's interim coach on Tuesday. "... I recognize this moment is so much bigger than me. I just happen to be the caretaker at this moment for this wonderful institution that we so love.

"It’s our flagship state university and we have tremendous pride in it. I will do my very best and die trying to represent us as a university, as a state, as a community, to the best of my ability, with dignity, honor, and pride, the way LSU has always been and will always be."

Following Week 10, the ESPN Football Power Index has updated the Power Rankings with the LSU Tigers, BYU Cougars, and Alabama Crimson Tide remaining in the mix despite bye weeks.

The Updated ESPN FPI Rankings: Week 11 Edition

Ohio State
Indiana
Oregon
Alabama
Notre Dame
Georgia
Utah
Texas
Texas A&M
USC
Texas Tech
Miami
Ole Miss
BYU
Tennessee
Oklahoma
Vanderbilt
Mizzou
Michigan
Iowa
LSU
Penn State
Washington
Florida State
Florida

LSU Tigers Football: Barion Brown. — Courtesy of LSU Tigers Football.

Frank Wilson's Take: Stick Together Down The Stretch

“It’s a testament to the quality of the young men that we have [that none have opted out]. They signed up to come to school here. They came at the helm of coach Kelly as the head coach, but they were also committed to the university and they were committed to one another.

"In a time as perilous as this, you bat down the hatches, you go shoulder to shoulder and you stand firm and stick with the commitment of what your intentions were from the beginning. It’s been hard. It’s an array of emotions, but we’ve been here for one another.

"When the news broke we were here together. We’re here throughout the bye week. We have bonded closer. We’ve taken up the slack to be supportive of one another during this time.”

More LSU News:

Elite LSU Football Commit Reaffirms Pledge Despite Ohio State, Ole Miss Pushing

Five Players LSU Football Must Keep After Brian Kelly's Firing, Including DJ Pickett

ESPN Insider Labels Lane Kiffin 'Top Target' for LSU Football, Florida Gators

Join the Community:

Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Tigers On SI: @LSUTigersSI for all coverage surrounding the LSU Tigers.