This roller coaster of a season has seen LSU go from a playoff contender to appearing completely hopeless in the span of a month. There were even “Fire Brian Kelly” chants at home against (gasp) Vanderbilt. Though the hot seat talk was immature, three-game losing streaks and a five-star commitment flip brought concern about the future. Beating Vandy was nice, but the Tigers’ 37-17 win over Oklahoma was reassuring. LSU’s complete game displayed execution on both sides of the ball that reinforced the belief that the staff is competent. Progress in football, like life, does not care how quickly we want the results.
LSU’s Complete Game
Offensive Effort
A complete game starts with effort. Garrett Nussmeier’s decision-making and ball security can be questioned. His effort, especially against Oklahoma, cannot be challenged. Nussmeier appeared to suffer a significant injury after getting sacked for the second time on the night. He writhed in pain on the ground while LSU fans feared the worst. Fortunately, he did not allow that play to end his regular season.
Nussmeier returned to the game after missing an offensive series to go 4-4 on his next drive, finishing the drive emphatically with a 40-yard touchdown bomb to Chris Hilton. As impressive as his passing was, it was the toughness shown while running that truly stood out. The normally hesitant runner was routinely diving for first downs and uncharacteristically decisive. Nussmeier played freely without turning the ball over, and that turned out to be a great combination for the LSU offense.
Speaking of combinations, LSU’s run game did enough to complement the passing attack and avoid predictability offensively. The Tigers finished with 29 rushes for roughly four yards per carry, and that’s about as good as it gets for this year’s team. More importantly, there were timely runs that changed the outlook of the game.
Caden Durham had a 50-yard run that flipped the field while backup quarterback AJ Swann was in the game for LSU. This drive resulted in three points with no passing threat. Josh Williams converted a third-and-short (LSU’s worst nightmare) early in the game allowing the Tigers to continue their drive and improve field position. Field position is always important, but even more so against the Sooners whose offensive style isn’t conducive to finishing long drives.
Understanding the Assignment
Oklahoma ran for 257 yards against Alabama, led by quarterback Jackson Arnold’s 131 yards. Considering LSU’s track record against running quarterbacks this season, the average observer would expect Arnold to feast on the Tiger defense. Arnold did have a good day with 75 yards rushing. But LSU prevented the back-breaking runs that destroy the morale of the defense. The Tigers’ assignment sound defense kept Arnold out of the end zone and stopped Oklahoma on all four third-down conversions in the first half. These stops not only got the LSU defense off the field but also forced Oklahoma to play from behind.
The LSU defense appeared to be more disciplined against Vanderbilt, but even with the Commodore’s improved play it’s hard not to think, “Yeah, but that was Vanderbilt.” However, what we saw against Vandy was no aberration. LSU fit the runs well, habitually stopping runners after short gains. Stopping Oklahoma’s short passing game was key. Tight end Bauer Sharp came in with 40 catches on the year; he had one against LSU. Whit Weeks and freshman Davohn Keys played linebacker at an inspiringly high level, especially while spying or rushing.
There can’t be a complete game for LSU without special teams. Shifty wide receiver Aaron Anderson took responsibility as a kickoff returner, and the returns were explosive. Anderson returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and averaged 51 yards per return. His touchdown was LSU’s first kickoff returned for a touchdown since 2020.
Vibe Check for the Future
Kelly was energized and defiant after the game. “We played five freshmen, two sophomores on defense today playing their tails off. So we’re taking receipts, and we’ll see you at the national championship. This team is building,” said Kelly.
Whether you’re a Brian Kelly fan or not, he’s right about the contributions of young players on this team. Dominick McKinley was a bully at defensive tackle, finishing with two sacks. As McKinley matures with freshman Ahmad Breaux and a strong incoming class at the position, the defensive tackles can make life easier for every other position on the defense.
Projecting the future isn’t only for the young players. Nussmeier has now seen the ups and downs that come with the responsibility of playing quarterback. He’s been praised, criticized, hurt, and redeemed. He’ll be better for his experience this season. Furthermore, he might have figured out that running for a first down is better than taking hits in the pocket.
Hilton has also faced his share of adversity in 2024. The oft-injured wide receiver has the skill set to be the deep threat LSU needed, but injuries kept him out of the lineup for over half of the season. Once he returned, he struggled to return to his previous form. If underperforming wasn’t enough, he was berated on the sideline by Kelly in a viral moment at Florida. Hilton had two 40+ yard touchdowns on the day in a reminder that he can still be that guy for the LSU offense.
The 2024 regular season for LSU has been an unquestioned disappointment for the team. The passion that the players have shown since the three-game losing streak has kept the season from becoming a disaster. Nussmeier is growing and had a great game against a salty defense. Defensive personnel is improving as Blake Baker continues to instill his philosophy and methods. There are no guarantees in football, but there’s reason to believe LSU is on the right track to ascend.
