After securing their first conference win of the season this past weekend, the South Carolina Gamecocks now turn their attention to a massive early season opportunity. With College GameDay coming to Columbia for the first time in 16 years, Carolina will have the chance to shock the SEC as they welcome the 16th-ranked LSU Tigers to town for a showdown at high noon.
The once-beaten Tigers will enter Saturday looking to keep their postseason dreams alive, as they have little room for error if they hope to make the College Football Playoff. Despite several major departures from last season, LSU once again has a roster littered with NFL talent. With Brian Kelly entering his third season on the Bayou, the Tigers figure to be a major player in the SEC.
With all of college football watching, can the Gamecocks pull a massive upset? Let’s find out as we take a dive into this week’s South Carolina matchup preview.
LSU’s Season So Far
LSU will enter this weekend’s contest with one loss already on their record. This defeat was the outcome of a week one slugfest against the 11th-ranked USC Trojans. The high-stakes matchup saw the Tigers fall just short of a last-minute comeback, as the Trojans escaped with a 27-20 victory.
Following their week one letdown the Tigers faced off against FCS opponent Nicholls State last Saturday. While the Colonels made it interesting early on, LSU pulled away in the second half thanks to a 21-point third quarter. Now with their sights set firmly on South Carolina, the Tigers are looking to start conference play with a win.
The Gamecocks will naturally have something to say about this, but taking down LSU is a daunting proposition even with home-field advantage. For Carolina to pull off the upset, they must first understand who exactly they’re up against.
Tiger’s Offense Hasn’t Skipped a Beat
After losing Heisman-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels to the NFL draft, many assumed we would see some early struggles offensively from LSU. Contrary to popular belief, however, the Tigers appear to be just fine so far.
While some may look at this revelation in bewilderment, those who have been paying close attention to the LSU roster probably aren’t all that surprised. Much like LaNorris Sellers for Carolina, Tiger fans everywhere have been waiting for the day a certain quarterback got his shot. That quarterback’s name is Garrett Nussmeier, and while he had to wait a bit longer than Sellers to become the guy he certainly isn’t letting his chance go to waste.
Through two weeks, Nussmeier has put up fantastic numbers. He is tied for the FBS lead in passing touchdowns with eight, and also leads the nation outright in passing attempts and completions. He’s also done a great job at protecting the ball early on, with just one interception to his name. When asked about the LSU quarterback on Tuesday, Shane Beamer had nothing but praise.
“I’m really impressed by him,” Beamer said. “He does not look like a first-time starter, looks very poised and confident. He can make all the throws.”
The Gamecocks head coach also had high praise for a formidable LSU offensive line.
“Arguably, the best offensive line in the country,” Beamer said. “The two tackles are unbelievable, and there’s a reason they’re going to be extremely high draft picks. We have an opportunity to go up against what many are saying is the best offensive line in the country, so we’re excited.”
The battle in the trenches is likely to be a deciding factor in this contest. Through two weeks, Carolina’s front seven has been dominant, especially in pass rush situations. That will be key once again if the Gamecocks hope to upset LSU. With arguably the best offensive line in the country in front of them, it will be interesting to see if they can rise to the occasion.
Formidable Defense With Some Holes
On the other side of the ball, LSU appears to have another extremely formidable defensive unit. This should come as a shock to absolutely nobody, as the terms “great defense” and “LSU Tigers” have gone hand and hand for decades. When asked about the challenges the Tigers defense poses, Beamer got straight to the point.
“They have athleticism and speed,” Beamer said. “That is what jumps off the tape. Size up front. Everybody knows about Perkins. He is everywhere that we have to account for. Great football player. They have guys that can disrupt things at all three levels of the defense.”
The player Beamer mentions by name is of course junior linebacker Harold Perkins. Arguably the top linebacker in the country, Perkins is the heart of the LSU defense. While he is off to a bit of a slow start this season, the two-time All-SEC selection figures to be heavily involved in Saturday’s matchup.
While this LSU defense is far and away the best Carolina has played up to this point, they aren’t invincible. The past two weeks have seen the Tigers give up several big plays through the air, along with having their run defense tested. Just last week they gave up 145 yards on the ground against a much smaller Nichols State offense.
This is not some fatal flaw for LSU, but it represents an opportunity for the Gamecocks. Carolina’s entire offense currently revolves around running the ball. If they can establish the run game early, then this game quickly becomes a lot closer than many are anticipating.
Final Thoughts
Saturday represents a major early crossroads for this Carolina team. Having College GameDay on campus for the first time in 16 years with the chance to knock off a ranked LSU squad is something that can define a season. The Gamecocks have the opportunity to turn the SEC upside down, but it won’t be easy.
Simply put LSU is the better team, and they have a fairly substantial talent advantage. This means Carolina has virtually no room for error. They must play a nearly perfect game in all three phases. There are two keys to a Carolina win in my view. Getting consistent pressure on Nussmeier, and establishing the run game early. If the Gamecocks can throw LSU’s passing game off and wear down the Tigers front seven on the ground then they will have a chance to win.
In many ways, College GameDay represents the epicenter of college football. The eyes of the entire country turn towards whatever matchup is featured. This Saturday that means all eyes will be locked on Columbia, South Carolina. If the Gamecocks pull off the upset, then the narrative of their season shifts in massive ways,
