Orgeron: We want to play Alabama

Ed Orgeron isn't clear when an agreeable date for all parties will allow his LSU team to host Alabama in the two programs' annual rivalry contest.

After a COVID-19 outbreak within the program, largely knocking players out this weekend due to contact tracing, according to Orgeron, there's no natural makeup-date since Dec. 12 already is taken by the Tigers. They're set to play Florida that day, the game among the SEC's first to be rescheduled this season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Orgeron, however, makes one thing clear about getting the top-ranked Crimson Tide back on the schedule.

“We will reschedule Alabama,” Orgeron said. “We want to play Alabama. That's a great rivalry for us. They're a great football team.”

Orgeron said he's heard a number of potential dates for the Tide-Tigers contest to be reschedule but couldn't point to just one. Alabama is ranked No. 1 nationally and for several weeks now has been the SEC's lone remaining unbeaten team. The Tide have the inside track to appear in the Dec. 19 SEC title game, which is an additional date the SEC is allowing teams to schedule make-up contests.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” Orgeron said on the SEC teleconference. “I've heard a lot of things.”

Orgeron said the Tigers had a spirited Tuesday practice for the Tide and would shift focus today on next week's opponent, Arkansas.

“Whenever they tell us to play,” Orgeron said, “we'll play.”

Orgeron is optimistic that his Tigers, College Football Playoff defending champions, are going to be able to play next week against the Razorbacks. While his program does have some new positive COVID-19 tests, Orgeron says it is the contact tracing that is limiting most of his players.

“The majority of our players that are out is because of contact tracing,” Orgeron said. “Our quarantine guys will be back sometime next week, right now it looks positive (for playing against Arkansas).”