Despite Sunday’s LSU football vs. USC matchup ending in a loss for the Tigers, it wasn’t all bad by any means, and might have actually shown some signs of solid potential heading into the remainder of the 2024 college football season.
LSU football vs. USC: The good, the bad and the promising
The good
Let’s get things started off with the fact that yes, LSU did come out of week one with a loss. With that said, it wasn’t all bad, and the Tigers truly showed some signs of what could be a solid season overall.
Right off the bat, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier looked as good as advertised, and the weapons he has to throw to have the potential to be about as deep as any pass catching group in the country. Totaling 304 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on 38 pass attempts, the newly dubbed purple and gold starter lived up to his gun slinging expectations, completing a pass to 10 players on the day.
Wide receiver Kyren Lacy and tight end Mason Taylor were the top pass catchers on the day, recording seven receptions each, combining for 156 yards and a touchdown. Other than those two, Aaron Anderson, CJ Daniels and Zavion Thomas each showed plenty of promise, recording at least two receptions each.
Other than the purple and gold passing game, there were several other spots where the Tigers shined, as kicker Damian Ramos hit both of his field goal attempts, while the return of running back John Emery Jr went about as well as anyone could have hoped, including 10 carries for 61 yards.
The bad
While they may have controlled the game and showed promise throughout Sunday’s 2024 week one matchup, the biggest concern for the purple and gold was the fact that they failed to execute when it mattered most.
Among the biggest concerns was the lack of discipline displayed from top to bottom. After getting called for 10 penalties for 99 yards, the LSU football team looked sloppy all day, and the worst part was the fact that it came primarily from some of the veterans on roster.
Whether it was the unsportsmanlike conduct penalties from seniors Kyren Lacy and Major Burns, or the false starts from junior offensive tackle Will Campbell, there was just an overall lack of focus from the group, and it ultimately led to what finished as a 27-20 loss vs. the USC Trojans.
Other than the lack of discipline, there were still several concerning moments regarding the Tiger defense, particularly in the defensive backfield. The entire safety room found themselves consistently out of position and missing tackles, while the young cornerbacks were often picked on due to their overall inexperience.
Furthermore, and possibly the most concerning of all was the lack of urgency from the offensive play-calling in the second half. After throwing the ball nine times on the first drive alone, the purple and gold put the ball in the air just nine times total in the entire fourth quarter, one of which ended up being a game sealing interception.
In short, the team got complacent while USC kept the fire going.
The promising
In the end, LSU officially came away with yet another week one loss, and while it’s never ideal to start 0-1, coach Brian Kelly has plenty to feel good about moving forward.
For starters, the defense looked immensely improved, even despite giving up 378 yards passing on the day. The pass rush was consistently making life difficult for USC quarterback Miller Moss, and the Trojans were simply able to make some great plays when it mattered most.
Additionally, after becoming known for their abysmal work in run defense last season, the Tigers allowed just 72 yards on the ground, as Woody Marks and their ball carriers averaged just 3.3 yards per carry on the day. Only adding to the solid day, the LSU defense managed to record seven tackles for loss to go along with seven passes defended. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but they’re at least getting closer to where they want to be.
Ultimately, this was not how coach Brian Kelly and LSU football wanted to start the 2024 season. Still, it wasn’t a terrible day of football by any means. If anything, it was a sloppy performance filled with easily fixable mistakes, and the good news is that they have two weeks left until they face off against another Power Four team.
Now it’s just a matter of what the Tigers do with those two weeks.
The 2024 LSU football team will return to the field this coming Saturday, September 7, 2024, against the Nicholls State Colonels in Baton Rouge, LA, which will be available to watch live on SEC Network at 6:30 p.m. CST.
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