The Tigers’ No. 1 ranking will hang in the balance Saturday when LSU hosts No. 17 Florida in the most recent chapter of the teams’ storied rivalry.
If last year’s contest is any indication, it could be a thriller.
Last season, LSU pulled ahead in the final seconds for a 33-29 victory in The Swamp.
The go-ahead touchdown was set up by a fake field goal at Florida’s 36-yard line with 35 seconds left. Former Tiger Derek Helton took the snap and tossed the ball over his shoulder to former LSU placekicker Josh Jasper. Jasper scooped the ball off the turf and scurried for five yards and a first down.
Four plays later, then-junior quarterback Jarrett Lee found former LSU receiver Terrence Toliver in the corner of the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.
“It was a crazy game and the most electric feeling I’ve been around,” said junior center P.J. Lonergan.
Saturday’s match-up pits two of the nation’s top-15 defenses against each other. LSU’s defense is ranked 9th in points allowed, and Florida is ranked 13th.
The Gators’ defense struggled last weekend and was dismantled by then-No. 3 Alabama, 38-10, at home.
Against Alabama, Florida was hindered on offense by the loss of senior quarterback John Brantley to a leg injury. Gators coach Will Muschamp, who’s making his return to Tiger Stadium as a head coach after four years at LSU as an assistant from 2001 to 2004, has since announced that Brantley will miss the LSU game and will likely be replaced by freshman Jeff Driskel.
Driskel took over against Alabama after Brantley’s injury in the second quarter, completing 2-of-6 passes for 14 yards.
Also in the running for playing time at quarterback are freshmen Jacoby Brissett and Tyler Murphy.
“Jeff obviously is ahead because of the playing experience, but we’re repping all three guys for the game,” Muschamp said.
LSU sophomore defensive back Tyrann Mathieu is looking forward to facing whichever young quarterback the Gators place atop the depth chart.
“We’re licking our chops,” Mathieu said. “We want to rattle that guy early. It’s really about us going out there, playing aggressive, playing physical — hopefully get him out of his game early.”
Sophomore defensive back Tharold Simon said with Brantley injured and a freshman taking his place, LSU has to prepare for a different offense than Florida has shown so far this season.
“We don’t know what they’re going to come with yet, but we’ve got good coaches, so I know they’re going to come up with a good game plan for us,” Simon said.
LSU coach Les Miles said Driskel may be young, but he has a similar skill set to Brantley.
“[Driskel] is a very talented freshman and capable,” Miles said. “In my opinion he will give them every opportunity to compete extremely well.”
Miles said the LSU defense has been tested against a variety of offensive styles and can easily adjust to fit the opponent.
“Playing different quarterbacks gives you certain things and challenges that must be met,” Miles said. “I think that we’re very comfortable.”
Also on the line Saturday is LSU’s 13-game winning streak in Tiger Stadium. The Tigers’ last home loss was in 2009 when then-No. 1 Florida beat No. 4 LSU, 13-3.
The 2009 matchup featured two highly ranked teams with national championship-sized desires. The same is true of Saturday’s game, but the outlook is much different.
In 2009, Florida arrived in Baton Rouge undefeated, with Heisman winner Tim Tebow at quarterback and aspirations of defending its 2008 National Championship.
This season, the Gators put the game in the hands of an inexperienced Driskel.
The loss of Brantley doesn’t leave the Gators without any playmakers, however.
Mathieu said that senior running backs Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps, Florida’s two leading rushers who both missed last season’s game against the Tigers, are the focus of the defense going into Saturday.
“Florida has a different type of speed,” Mathieu said. “Rainey and Demps, those guys are track stars.”
 
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