USC outlasts the LSU Tigers 27-20 in a rare week one thriller that lived up to the hype. The buildup surrounding the game was fueled by the similar circumstances of the two historic programs. As the pre-game conversations would suggest, a few of the finer points of the game decided the difference. The result is yet another 0-1 hole for LSU after a marquee matchup to start the year.
USC Outlasts LSU
Rolling the Dice
The Tiger offense looked unstoppable on the first drive of the game as Garrett Nussmeier was sharp early on. Nussmeier completed seven passes on the first drive alone with four of them going to Kyren Lacy. Eventually, he completed a wide receiver screen on third down to Kyle Parker which brought LSU to fourth and goal on USC’s three-yard line.
With all the momentum squarely on the Tigers’ side, Brian Kelly decided to pass up a field goal and go for the touchdown. UCLA’s D’Anton Lynn sent a perfectly timed blitz up the middle that rushed Nussmeier into throwing a hopeless and incomplete pass to avoid the sack. Of course, that decision alone didn’t lose the game for LSU. However, it was the first of many momentum swings in the game, and the point difference could have changed USC’s approach at different points of the game.
Defensive Struggle
It’s rare to see a game where both quarterbacks move the ball so easily, but the defenses somehow manage to impress. That was the case in the first half. USC’s Miller Moss was sharp throughout, as was Nussmeier. Lincoln Riley found ways to get favorable matchups and took advantage of them. Joe Sloan deftly attacked different layers of the Trojan pass defense. Both quarterbacks were decisive and accurate, and their targets made plays. Despite their stellar play, the game was tied at only 10-10 at the half.
Both defenses were very aggressive, especially on third down. USC had three tackles for loss compared to LSU’s seven. The timing of the Trojans’ plays behind the line was impactful, as they killed LSU drives at critical times. Kelly and Sloan’s offense was determined to establish the running game and had success in the second half. One could argue that success turned out to be fool’s gold.
Lacy, who was unstoppable in the first half, was nowhere to be found in the second half. It seemed as though it wasn’t USC that stalled the Tiger passing game, it was the Tigers themselves. The turning point of the game was LSU’s conservative drive at the 8:38 mark of the fourth quarter. Up 17-13, the Tigers ran John Emery for a five-yard loss on first down. A nice pass to tight end Ka’Morreun Pimpton set the Tigers up with a third and one. Predictably, LSU ran up the middle again, resulting in another loss. USC scored a touchdown to go up 20-17 on their next possession, and LSU never led again.
Missed opportunities
We’ve now established that both quarterbacks played at a high level. There was only a 26-yard difference in the two teams’ total offensive yardage. Both defenses were vastly improved. In such a close matchup, penalties loom large. LSU had almost twice as much penalty yardage as USC. To make things worse, some penalties came from easily avoidable personal fouls from veteran players.
Nussmeier threw a meaningless interception on LSU’s last drive with eight seconds left, but there were no other turnovers in the game. Credit USC for making the plays to recover them, but the Tigers forced two fumbles. An LSU recovery in either instance would have been game-changing. A Tiger fumble recovery after Sai’vion Jones’s second-quarter sack would have prevented an eventual field goal on that drive. Recovering Woody Marks’ third-quarter fumble would have put the Tigers on the USC 20 yard-line. Those are plays that special teams finish.
Looking Forward
LSU will move on from this game to a blockbuster matchup against Nicholls State next week. Nothing against Nicholls, but the Tigers won’t learn much more about themselves from playing Nicholls than they already know. But there are opportunities to build on the positives of the first game and gain experience.
The Tigers have a chance to field a legitimate defense this season. The defensive line was better, holding USC to only 69 rushing yards. The blitzes were more effective, and there were more one-on-one wins in standard four-man pressures. True freshman PJ Woodland was fearless and sticky in coverage. Yes, he was penalized, but he showed a short memory. Woodland looked more like a defensive starter than some actual starters.
Fans and players alike are devastated after an off-season of building excitement for another high-profile game. Unlike fans, there’s no time for coaches and players to sulk or point fingers. LSU has to focus on improving, playing smarter, and capitalizing on opportunities against Nicholls before going on the road to South Carolina.
