LSU Tigers Brand, Lane Kiffin Personality Combine For Massive Viewership Numbers

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Lane Kiffin's first LSU Tigers squad may not be perfect, but they certainly make for compelling television.

Using Nielsen Data, On3 revealed that the Tigers have been the second-highest-viewed team this season with an average viewership of 7.623 million, behind only the Texas Longhorns. LSU's game against the Ole Miss Rebels drew 10.90 million viewers, as revealed in a separate story. The games against the Clemson Tigers and the Texas A&M Aggies also finished in the Top 10, each pulling in about 5.7 million.

The Tigers have been one of the biggest brands of the sport. Adding in one of the more controversial figures in that sport, along with heavy investment into star power on both sides of the ball have made plenty of people who aren't LSU fans tune in as well.

Kiffin has always made for great TV as an eccentric head coach. There is almost nothing that he says that doesn't get reported on or shared many times over. Even if he had been hired through non-controversial means, his personality being mixed with the brand of the Tigers is an exciting pair as-is.

Then there was the added drama of his departure from the Rebels right before the College Football Playoff, which made this year's Magnolia Bowl one of the most anticipated games in recent history. Then there was the whole "professional player" drama heading into the season.

Even outside of just what Kiffin brings, the product on the field has been fun to watch, as well.

Sam Leavitt has completed 63.8% of his passes so far this season with 1,044 yards, five touchdowns and six interceptions. They haven't had a ton of explosive plays through the air, which would normally lead to a boring offense, but Leavitt's legs have kept things fresh.

It feels like anything could happen on any given play with this team. Dilin Jones has been a great surprise so far this season; he runs through contact and fights hard for yards. The creative use of him at wildcat QB has led to some interesting plays.

This play, a 57-yard touchdown pass, was set up because they had lined Jones up in wildcat, forced the defense to adjust, and then slid Leavitt back over under center. Few play-callers are working like Charlie Weis is right now.

Stifling defense isn't always the most fun to watch for casual fans of other teams, but this year is an exception for the Tigers. Princewill Umanmielen and Deuce Geralds have combined for 11 sacks through just four games, creating highlight after highlight.

With LSU being both the villains of the sport, plus them actually being entertaining on the field, this is a trend that should continue for some time.

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