When LSU coach Les Miles looks back at his team's poor first-half performance against Tulane, he realizes it might not be such a bad thing.

"It's kind of what we needed," Miles said.

The wake-up call comes just in time for the Tigers to deal with two much bigger challenges: the program's first No. 1 ranking in the AP poll since 1959 and a visit from an angry Florida team hungry for redemption following a 20-17 last-second home loss to Auburn.

As for the first challenge, safety Craig Steltz said, "The top ranking doesn't mean anything. It's just a number right now. They say we're No. 1, so we have to prove it this week. If we lose this week, being No. 1 won't mean anything."

As for playing Florida, last year's 23-10 road loss to the Gators is all the reminder the Tigers need of where their heads need to be this week.

"Even if we'd had a good game last week," senior running back Jacob Hester said, "I think it would have been double the focus and attention just because we did lose to Florida last year and we felt like we shot ourselves in the foot.

"It's Florida. We're definitely going to be up for it. We've got to be focused. We know we've got to play our ‘A' game. If we have all the turnovers like we did last year, we don't have a chance against a great team like Florida."

The Tulane game came just in time to remind the Tigers (5-0, 2-0 SEC) they still have plenty of work to do. The offensive line gave up six sacks, quarterback Matt Flynn wasn't as effective as he needed to be in the passing game and the Tigers are still trying to replace the temporary loss of their best receiver, injured senior Early Doucet.

"Anybody that voted us No. 1 obviously didn't get up and watch us play Saturday," Miles said. "We have to come to work and prepare. We have a lot to improve on and a lot to accomplish.

For all their talent, the Tigers are also loaded with experienced seniors who have seen plenty of ups and downs throughout their careers.

Players such as defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, outside linebacker Ali Highsmith, cornerbacks Jonathan Zenon and Chevis Jackson, Hester, Doucet, Flynn and Steltz all bring a much-needed maturity to a team that must continue to remember that it can't win a national championship on Oct. 6. All the Tigers can do is beat Florida.

"I honestly think this is a level-headed team," Miles said. "I don't think there's anybody that thinks that there's some magical power that's going to allow us to win every game without great effort, team concept, commitment to practice and all the things that have made this team a good football team.

"Irrespective of rankings, we're a good football team. Now we play a very, very good football team, and we're going to have to play better than they are this Saturday, somehow, some way."

--DT Glenn Dorsey had a relatively quiet game against Tulane with three tackles but his impact always goes beyond stats because of his ability to control the line of scrimmage and provide a foundation for the defense. Through five games, Dorsey has 25 tackles, 4.5 for loss and three sacks with one pass breakup.

--WR Early Doucet's season got off to strong start but last week missed his third consecutive game because of a pulled groin muscle and his status for the Florida game remains very uncertain.

--OLB Ali Highsmith remains one of the most important and active players on one of the nation's best defenses. Through five games, Highsmith leads the Tigers with 33 tackles to go with four quarterback hurries and four pass breakups.

--CB Jonathan Zenon gives defensive coordinator Bo Pelini a chance to get creative and take chances with the other nine defenders because he can leave his corners in man-to-man coverage. Zenon has 16 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and three pass breakups.

--CB Chevis Jackson is the other half of LSU's shutdown cover corners, allowing the safeties and linebackers to get more involved in the run game and the pass rush. Jackson has 15 tackles, two interceptions and six pass breakups.

--SS Craig Steltz wasn't an official full-time starter until this season but he's been a full-time impact player for the past two seasons and is another key reason for LSU's defensive success. His nose for the ball makes him a constant threat for a turnover and he has responded with four interceptions and a fumble recovery.

--QB Matt Flynn's strong start in his first season as the Tigers' starting QB has been sidetracked by a sore ankle that has kept slowed some of his burst and mobility.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: While the Tigers are 5-0 and ranked in the top four in the SEC in scoring, total and rushing offense, the offense probably isn't as good as it should be right now, due in large part to injuries to Flynn and Doucet and inconsistency in the passing game. Some of that inconsistency starts up front with an offensive line that gave up six sacks last week against a Tulane defense that came in allowing 445 yards and 33 points per game. The offensive line also picked up six penalties against Tulane and must improve for the Tigers to start moving toward their potential again.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Despite the loss of two tackles to injuries, the defensive line remains the foundation for a defense that leads the nation in all four major statistical categories for the second consecutive week. The front seven remains strong and continues to hold its ground while the two new starters in the secondary, safeties Craig Steltz and Curtis Taylor, as well as nickel back Danny McCray, continue to give the Tigers solid play.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We have to focus on every game. Now we have to go out and play like a No. 1 team. We have an X on our back now." -- LSU cornerback Chevis Jackson.

THIS WEEK'S GAME: Florida at LSU, Oct. 6 -- The game may have lost a little of its luster when then-No. 3 Florida lost 20-17 at home to Auburn last week but this remains a monumental national game for both teams. After opening the season with four impressive performances, last week's first-half struggles against Tulane and Auburn's win at Florida should grab LSU's attention. Winning starts with slowing Florida QB Tim Tebow and being able to attack Florida's uncertain secondary in the passing game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Matt Flynn -- Flynn remains less than 100 percent because of a tender ankle and he took some hits against Tulane, coming up on the wrong end of four sacks and completing just eight of 18 passes for 138 yards in the first half. Flynn came back in the second half and finished the game 16-for-29 for 258 yards with an interception. His performance, especially in the passing game, will go a long way toward determining the outcome against Florida.

DT Glenn Dorsey -- Florida is at its best when it can establish the dive play up the middle and then build off it with runs by Tebow and the receivers and play-action passes. If Dorsey and fellow tackles Al Woods and Marlon Favorite hold their ground, the Tigers will be hard to beat.

DE Tyson Jackson and OLB Ali Highsmith -- With Florida's ability to use reverses and other wide plays out of the spread, the Tigers will need a combination of relentless pursuit and discipline from their edge players.

CBs Jonathan Zenon and Chevis Jackson -- So much of what LSU will be able to do against Florida's offense will be determined by the ability of Zenon and Jackson to handle their responsibilities on the edge against both the run and the pass.

ROSTER REPORT: The Tigers are a different team with senior receiver Early Doucet on the field and making plays but his status remains questionable for the Florida game. Doucet has not played or practiced since suffering a groin pull the day before the Middle Tennessee game. "The schedule is to move him up and get him going," LSU coach Les Miles said. "I don't know the likelihood of this week. I think Early will be day to day still. I still question whether Early will get there, and I want to do what's right for him because we have a long season. And he's certainly going to be important to us as we go forward."

Doucet's potential absence is exacerbated by a calf injury that limited sophomore Brandon LaFell against Tulane. LaFell leads LSU with 17 catches for 279 yards but is expected to play against Florida. "He's good," Miles said. "He got bruised, but we expect him to play and expect him to practice early this week."

While Flynn admits he's less than 100 percent, he's also convinced he's getting closer. "There were a couple of times where I would've liked to get out a little bit faster," said Flynn, discussing the Tulane game. "But I think that my ankle's making progress, and it's going to be at full speed soon."

Defensive tackle Marlon Favorite sat out the Tulane game with a minor knee injury but will play against Florida, while backup left guard Will Arnold, who has a viral infection, remains questionable.