By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL/Designated Writers

Typically, I’m not the first guy in line to give LSU credit, but if the line hasn’t formed yet, I’d like the honor.

The school announced that it will be playing Southern in the 2022 football season and Grambling State in 2023. And here’s what I’d like you to remember about the Tigers playing these upcoming opponents — they don’t have to.

There also don’t have to play Nicholls State this year. They didn’t have to play Northwestern State last year. Or Louisiana Tech the year before.

In fact, if all goes as planned, LSU will have played all Division 1 football-playing schools at some point. And many of those in recent years.

And even though the Tigers’ record is something like 6000-0 in those games, it really doesn’t matter. It’s the right thing to do for a whole lot of reasons. And let’s not ignore the fact that announcing games against two historically black universities during this week of unrest is either marketing genius or blind-ass luck.

Doesn’t matter.

How often has Arkansas played Arkansas State? Answer: never.

You will get an occasional Michigan vs. Directional Michigan game or a Georgia vs. Georgia Southern, but they make sure to not make it a habit. LSU has lined ’em up and brought them to Baton Rouge. The Tigers handed them their hats and, more importantly, also handed them a check when it is all over with. LSU actually handed McNeese State a check in 2015 for a game they didn’t even play because of a weather-induced cancellation.

It would be the same check to some nondescript school that no one has ever heard of, but LSU chooses to keep it within the boundaries of the 18th state (there’s your history lesson of the day).

Way to go. Other major college football schools should start paying attention and stop worrying about issues that really don’t exist.