SBS

The book on LSU's season is not closed, and the Tigers are hoping their 2022 story continues with a trip to the College Football Playoff.

But today—right now—that pursuit is not the focus.

Ten weeks ago, the debut of new head coach Brian Kelly ended in gut-wrenching fashion. LSU nearly overcame a 14-point deficit to Florida State in the fourth quarter, capping a 99-yard drive with a touchdown as regulation expired. Overtime loomed after the extra point.

Stunningly, FSU blocked the attempt, and LSU instead suffered a devastating 24-23 loss.

At that moment, there was little reason to believe the Tigers would legitimately compete in the SEC. About a month later, they barely survived a mediocre Auburn team before the apparent nail in the conference coffin.

Tennessee's high-powered offense flat-out destroyed LSU 40-13 in front of a stunned crowd. More than 40 percent of LSU's offensive yards came after it was 37-7.

LSU trailed by 30 points. Thirty points. At home.

In what world did that suggest LSU would be slipping on the SEC West crown? How could one of Alabama or Ole Miss—both undefeated at that moment—not wind up the division champion?

The simple, not-so-easy answer: Beat 'em both.

LSU's surge started the next weekend in a 45-35 victory over conference rival Florida. The contest, not coincidentally, also marked the star turn of dual-threat quarterback Jayden Daniels. He threw for a season-high 349 yards and three touchdowns, also scampering for three scores.

Then, in the two biggest games of the season, the Arizona State transfer was the best player on the field. Daniels accounted for 369 yards with five touchdowns in the 45-20 rout of Ole Miss and 277 yards with three scores in the 32-31 upset over Alabama. He lasered the game-winning two-point conversion in overtime to topple Bama too.

Suddenly, the UT-wrecked Bayou Bengals—predicted to finish fifth in the division in the preseason poll—owned the cleanest path to the SEC West title.

Saturday's victory at Arkansas wasn't a beautiful one, but freshman linebacker Harold Perkins keyed the critical 13-10 win. He matched a program single-game record with four sacks and forced a game-sealing fumble. LSU officially clinched the West later in the evening when Bama stopped Ole Miss' potential go-ahead drive.

In a word: Incredible.

LSU is the first program since 2015 to reach the SEC Championship Game despite having a 20-point home loss. Only once in the last 14 years has the SEC West winner dropped multiple regular-season games. Kelly joined a small group of first-year coaches to make the SEC title game.

Between modest preseason expectations, a disappointing start, an embarrassing home loss and the competition within the division, LSU basically had every reason to not be here.

But, no, the Tigers are booking a trip to Atlanta.

Three weeks from now, we might be talking about LSU in the College Football Playoff. That would only add to the preposterous nature of this adventure, given that top-ranked Georgia presumably awaits in the SEC Championship Game.

No matter what happens down the stretch, however, 2022 LSU's legacy is secure.

All of these bizarre, unanticipated and fascinating twists have resulted in a championship story that LSU fans will be telling their fah-muh-ly for years.

The road started with Kelly's fake accent that spawned months of mockery. The journey required two disheartening losses. The season ended, at absolute worst, with an improbable SEC West championship.

And maybe—just maybe—the Tigers aren't done yet.

The Rock. Cody Rhodes. Seth Rollins. Those are all names endlessly thrown around as guys who could dethrone WWE unified champion Roman Reigns.

But the only correct choice has been right there in every segment all along.

And that man is Sami Zayn.

Many might initially scoff at the idea even despite their love for Zayn. Dethroning Reigns will be a moment that could change the trajectory of the company if done right and with the right people.

But even the naysayers have to admit that Zayn has been one of the most entertaining aspects of weekly WWE programming ever since he first encountered The Bloodline.

Zayn has been entertaining in all segments and spots, as usual, but it's this now-iconic moment in which he turned a super-serious segment into a character-breaking moment that really put things over the top (starts at about the five-minute mark):

The man made Reigns, The Usos and Paul Heyman—maybe the best promo of all time—break character on live television.

At this point, it sure feels like we're headed toward an insurmountable bit of momentum akin to the Daniel Bryan "Yes!" movement all those years ago. Zayn has always been a fan favorite, but he's excelled after breathing refreshing new life into what was becoming a very tired Reigns title run and Bloodline saga.

This small dash of unpredictability, handled so well by the out-of-place Zayn, has given WWE what it wants—Reigns and his crew are must-see television every week.

That should be rewarded. Zayn is only 38 years old. Rhodes is 37 and coming off a serious injury. Rollins, as smooth as it would be to see the Architect come back to haunt Reigns again, is 36 and had his huge moments already.

Zayn being the one to take down Reigns as an underdog babyface would be a good sign that the new Triple H-led creative is strictly for the fans and versatile. The old Vince McMahon ways would undoubtedly crown Rhodes or maybe even The Rock, if not have Reigns just step away without losing.

Plus, Zayn being a wild card opens the door for another one—Kevin Owens.

Imagine, for a moment, that Zayn, fed up with the abuse, betrayal, etc., reunites with old friend Owens and helps him swipe the titles. Owens pulling off the upset with an assist at 'Mania (should WWE need a big audible) or otherwise would be memorable.

Either Owens or Zayn pulling up to take down Reigns would hit a poetic note. Both were huge mainstays of the Triple H era of NXT, and it was Owens all those years ago who was handpicked and assisted by Triple H in the ring while winning a top title.

But this is mostly about Zayn. Rewarding the guy who is winning the most fans over, drawing the most eyeballs and propping up the fanbase's tolerance for this holding-pattern Reigns run is how the pro wrestling business should be run.

Arguably nobody is hotter than Zayn right now, especially in WWE. There's little reason to think that momentum slows any time soon, either.

Where it goes from here is compelling. Countless stars have tried to defeat Reigns and failed, some repeatedly. But none have infiltrated the Bloodline. None have necessarily had this back. None have had this unpredictable storyline. Does Zayn help defend the tag titles? Does he squeak out a Royal Rumble win? Does he, post-'Mania, eventually nab a briefcase? Do he and Jey Uso reject Roman together?

It's thrilling to think about the possibilities, and it's encouraging that a new era of WWE creative might just dip into the bag instead of doing the usual cookie-cutter stuff. Zayn's name will forever be etched alongside the likes of Daniel Bryan and Kofi Kingston when pondering the next great upset-minded modern babyface.

Make no mistake, this isn't what anyone would have predicted even a few months ago. But things have livened up dramatically in WWE's only top title scene and guaranteed main event of WrestleMania since, strictly due to Zayn.

It would be only fitting, then, if he's the one to pull off the compelling babyface upset that, funnily enough, would only enhance Reigns' run in hindsight because of the end result.