I remember.
LSU has to play in-state schools so many times per 4 years. I think that's it. This is nothing about the conference obviously, or even athletic charter, this is a "the legislature says so or you don't get money" thing. Whichever school is being thrown a bone, that's who it'll be. Depends on how many alumni from each place are in office, I guess.
I don't think it would change the overall quality, only where the opponent comes from. For various reasons a lot of components which makes the entirety of "LSU Football" what it is do not want to be playing McNeese or Southern, but they'll never get them off their schedule. Same goes for La. Tech, Tulane, etc.
Not saying it wouldn't be Sam Houston or Western Michigan making things equally as lame, but the in-state thing would probably go away. I think we'd have seen that from our former AD if he'd had the leeway. For as much as he did wrong and for as bad at the overall job as he was, he did seem to be inclined to hustle to give the football fans some good games. I mean, he also made it impossible for Joe Fan to afford those games, but 10 out of 10 for good intentions, I suppose.