How Weather Affects LSU Football Games

This: LSU's football team is about to kick off a game against Ole Miss. The weather? Clear skies with a comfortable 79 degrees at kickoff, cooling down to the upper 60s by the end of the game. This isn't just any weather forecast; it's part of the new LSU Football Kickoff Weather Index created by Storm Station and researchers at LSU’s Department of Geography and Anthropology. Let's back up a bit. Since 1960, LSU has played 64 home games in October with temperatures at or below 80 degrees after 6 pm. They won 44 of those games, which is pretty impressive. But why stop at just wins and losses? The new weather index adds two interesting layers to the forecast. It compares today’s weather to past games and shows how the team has performed in similar conditions.Project leader Ariana Zerangue was super excited about this project. She collected data on game scores, locations, temperatures, and precipitation. She then analyzed it all to find any hidden trends. What did she find? LSU tends to do better in warmer weather. The hotter it is, the better their chances of winning. Dr. Josh Eachus, Storm Station’s Chief Meteorologist, agrees. He says that even with changes in players and coaches, weather trends in college and pro football stay pretty consistent. Teams get used to their local weather, which can give them an edge during games. But this project isn't just about football. It's about understanding how weather affects us all. Zerangue hopes it will start interesting conversations about weather at tailgates and maybe even inspire future research. So, next time you’re at a game or tailgate, check out the LSU Football Weather Index. It might just change the way you look at the weather and the game.