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Baton Rouge - A touch of sanding remains to be done, perhaps a little more chiseling here and there and, certainly, a smidgen more polishing is on the to-do list. But LSU's masterpiece of a season nearly is complete, the latest contribution to its perfect 2011 being a 41-17 knockout of Arkansas on Friday at Tiger Stadium in front of 93,108 mostly adoring, totally impressed witnesses.

Rusty Costanza, The Times-Picayune RUSTY COSTANZA / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE LSU players lift the 'Boot' trophy after beating Arkansas at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge on Friday, November 25, 2011. LSU 41, Arkansas 17; Gallery 1 gallery (31 photos)

For the first time in school history, an LSU team is 12-0. After spotting Arkansas a 14-0 lead the Tigers, the nation's unanimous No. 1 team in every formal and informal poll, overwhelmed their guests. LSU served up a kick-in-the-pants, 41-3 scoring binge as a parting gift to what was the No. 3 team in the nation. That earned the Tigers the SEC West Division title and a trip to the SEC championship game in Atlanta a week from today, where they'll play Georgia at the Georgia Dome. It didn't earn them a respite from an obsession that has fed on itself and has dwarfed all other accomplishments this season.
The SEC West is nice, but doesn't resonate.
A 12-0 record is fine, but doesn't satiate.

The Tigers remain starved, hunting for a 14-0 mark, because they not only want to be BCS national champions, but the preference is to accomplish to feat without spot or stain.
Two more victories - against the Bulldogs and then Jan. 9 in the BCS title game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome likely against Alabama - and the undefeated Tigers will have their masterpiece.
"We're not done yet," said defensive end Barkevious Mingo, who helped LSU's defense work over Arkansas' vaunted offense with six tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss.
"We know it. We've got to keep on winning. Then we can reflect on the season. It's all about remaining perfect. That's still our goal."
Doubt they'll attain it at your own risk.
Arkansas (10-2) was the third team ranked in the top three that LSU has beaten this season, along with Oregon and Alabama. The Razorbacks were the seventh team LSU has beaten this season that was ranked in the Top 25 at the time. Four of the Tigers' six victories away from home were against ranked teams.

LSU football: Tyrann Mathieu talks about his punt return for a TD

LSU defensive back Tyrann Mathieu talks about his punt return for a touchdown against Arkansas that helped the Tigers rally from a 14-point deficit in the second quarter Friday at Tiger Stadium. He also gives his thoughts on the team's 12-0 start. Watch video

Only twice this season have the Tigers failed to score at least 35 points. Only three times have they allowed at least 17 points. At no time after any game have they needed to point any finger other than their index finger toward the sky. They've dominated, pure and simple. And LSU has been as consistent in administering punishment and humbling opponents as any team could dream to be while playing a schedule that, all things considered, was the toughest in the nation.
The Tigers are so highly regarded in the BCS standings that even a loss to Georgia would not prevent them from playing for the BCS title.
But there's little interest in backing into the game.

"We're going to keep our focus, keep striving for our goal," said defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, a New Orleans native who returned a punt 92 yards for a touchdown, caused two fumbles and had a team-high eight tackles.
"(The goal) is to win the national championship," he said. "To get that, we have to win the SEC outright."
They took their latest step in that direction Friday. Arkansas so thoroughly was smothered that the Razorbacks might as well have been homecoming fodder rather than a top-five team beaten to a pulp on Senior Day.

Complete LSU coverage No. 1 LSU advances to SEC title game with 41-17 win over No. 3 Arkansas
Bobby Petrino snubs Les Miles
Razorbacks say LSU, Alabama are similar
Tyrann Mathieu returns to form
Notes: Seniors get warm sendoff
Video: Jim Kleinpeter, Luke Johnson break down the victory
Video: Les Miles on Morris Claiborne's contributions
Video: Tyrann Mathieu talks about his punt return for a TD
Video: Rueben Randle on Tigers' ability to rally

Its 14-0 lead in the second quarter, taken on a touchdown pass and fumble recovery, was erased in the final 5:15 of the first half. In that span, LSU freshman running back Kenny Hilliard scored on a 6-yard run, Mathieu had his dazzling punt return and senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Russell Shepard.
"This football team, down 14 points, did not flinch," Coach Les Miles said. "There was never a question in anyone's minds on that sideline that we were going to respond."
It's what the Tigers have done all season, regardless of the opponent or score.
Their second-quarter flurry staggered Arkansas. The knockout came via 17 points in the fourth quarter. And with it, the Tigers again could focus on the future.
"We've got to get ready for Georgia," senior guard Will Blackwell said. "We've heard they've been talking, that they're ready to play us. We're ready to play them, too."
Of course they are.
LSU has zigged and zagged across five states this season, to play Oregon (in Texas), Mississippi State and Ole Miss (Mississippi), West Virginia, Tennessee and Alabama.

Now, with one final road trip to make and one more victory to attain, the Tigers almost are done zigging and zagging. With one more victory, they can draw a straight line to their next destination, from Baton Rouge to New Orleans.
"We know what we have to do," said Morris Claiborne, who intercepted his team-leading fifth pass Friday, further cementing his status as the nation's top cornerback. "We're going to put the work into it."
Most of the work already has been done. A little more sanding, chiseling and polishing, and the Tigers will have the masterpiece of a season they want.
John DeShazier