In the weeks leading to LSU’s week-one bout with then-No. 3 Oregon, the Tigers continually said the key to success was preparation.
The mindset is the same this week as LSU approaches its second duel with a top-25 opponent. The only difference is the Tigers have just five days of preparation as opposed to five months.
LSU’s Southeastern Conference opening matchup Thursday in Starkville, Miss., against No. 25 Mississippi State throws a wrench into the team’s normal game-week planning.
“We turned our attention to Mississippi State early on Sunday, so we would be prepared to game plan and go from there,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “We had all of our young coaches breaking down the film and had the film put in there. We’ll be in position to do everything we need to Thursday.”
The matchup marks the second non-holiday Thursday night game in LSU history.
The last time the Tigers played a Thursday night game was in 2007, when LSU opened their national championship run with a 45-0 victory over Mississippi State in Starkville.
Sophomore defensive tackle Michael Brockers, who snagged a rare interception last weekend, put worries aside and expressed confidence in the tenacious Tiger defense.
“It’s a challenge,” Brockers said. “Playing on Thursday instead of Saturday is a challenge, but we’ve focused really well. If we play our technique in the game and in practice we’ll be