When unranked Arkansas enters Tiger Stadium on Friday, it will be fighting to salvage a season that has seen a Razorback squad go winless in Southeastern Conference play.
The Razorbacks (3-8, 0-7 SEC) are coming off a 24-17 home overtime loss against Mississippi State on Saturday. First-year SEC coach Bret Bielema will lead Arkansas into an LSU team fresh off a dominating 34-10 victory against No. 19 Texas A&M and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel.
Though Arkansas has struggled in 2013, the Tigers (8-3, 4-3 SEC) aren’t taking their final regular season opponents lightly.
“You know the history with Arkansas,” said junior linebacker D.J. Welter. “They can be 2-8 or 8-2 and they’re still going to play us the same. It’s the end of the year for them, and we have to really show up. They’re a good team, and they have great athletes, so we have to be ready for them regardless of their record.”
Last season, LSU traveled to Fayetteville, Ark., escaping with the Golden Boot in a 20-13 win.
In the past eight years, the Arkansas-LSU victor has won by five points or less five times. Junior defensive tackle Ego Ferguson said he knows how close this rivalry can be.
“Every year it feels like a close game with them,” Ferguson said. “I feel like each year we’ve played them, it’s gone down to the wire. We just have to take this game and build off of last week and come with it this week.”
With only one regular season game remaining on the schedule, several junior Tigers will have a key decision to make in the near future.
Ferguson, wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry and defensive tackle Anthony Johnson, all juniors, will soon decide whether or not they want to enter the 2014 NFL Draft. Sophomore running back Jeremy Hill could also declare after the season.
Beckham said the decision will be made after he discusses it with his family.
“It’s crazy and a scary feeling at the same time,” Beckham said. “It’s almost like you’re about to go out into the real world. People think college is the real world, but you’re still protected here. It’s going to be a growing experience.”
The same cannot be said for the 2013 senior class, as Friday will be their last contest in Tiger Stadium.
Ferguson said the squad will be playing for the veterans this week.
“I know those guys don’t have a choice,” Ferguson said. “They can’t come back, and [the Arkansas game] is all about them. [I’ll decide] after the season, after we finish what we’ve got to do.”
LSU senior quarterback Zach Mettenberger needs 74 yards against Arkansas on Friday to become the third player in Tiger history to throw for 3,000 yards.
Only former Tigers Rohan Davey and JaMarcus Russell have eclipsed the 3,000-yard mark.
The Watkinsville, Ga., native said he would be lying if he’d be happy with a 73-yard performance against the Razorbacks, even in victory.
“It would definitely be a nice moment for myself, but at the end of the day, I want to win more importantly,” Mettenberger said.