Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images(BATON ROUGE, La.) -- If LSU wants to make it back to the BCS Title Game, they'll have to do it without one of their best players. The team has announced they have dismissed star cornerback Tyrann Mathieu from the team for violating school and team rules.

Last season, Mathieu established himself as one of the best defensive players in the country. In his sophomore season, Mathieu registered 77 total tackles with two sacks and two interceptions. He was a Heisman Trophy finalist and won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation's best defensive player.

"We extended ourselves personally and professionally to him," LSU head coach Les Miles said at a news conference Friday. "He has really improved and has a chance to take some steps as a person."

"For the team, we lost a quality person. We enjoyed working with him. He was a great teammate," Miles later added.

Due to privacy laws, it is still unknown at this time just what rule or rules Mathieu broke to get himself kicked off the team.

LSU enters the season ranked No. 1 in the USA Today Coaches poll.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio