GREEN BAY, Wisc. — Within 60 seconds, LSU lost its star player to injury, had a player ejected and began the 2016 season with a loss.
In search of a open wide receiver junior quarterback Brandon Harris rolled out left, like he did many times in Saturday’s 16-14 loss against Wisconsin.
With a throw across his body, Harris found Wisconsin’s D’Cota Dixon.
Right after Wisconsin picked off Harris, senior offensive guard Josh Boutte clipped Dixon, neck-high, and was ejected from the game.
One Wisconsin kneel later, game over.
And Leonard Fournette watched from the sidelines
LSU coach Les Miles said Boutte told him that he didn’t realize that the play was dead and will wait to see the film until he makes a judgement.
“He’s not a malicious player,” Miles said after the fifth-ranked Tigers’ loss to unranked Wisconsin.
Boutte could be suspended for LSU’s next game against Jacksonville State, but the play will have to be reviewed by the Southeastern Conference office.
Just one play earlier, junior running back Leonard Fournette hopped off the field with a left ankle injury, the same one that sidelined him for a few days.
Miles said if needed, Fournette could’ve entered the ball game.
Fournette’s injury was one of the memories the Tigers would want to forget from the game.
The Badgers used a first half where they ran a total of 42 plays and gained 180 yards on offense compared to LSU’s 21 plays and 64 total yards.
Behind fifth-year senior quarterback Bart Houston, Wisconsin passed for 205 yards and ran for 134 yards on the ground.
LSU wasn’t able to establish a rhythm on offense as the Badgers dominated the time of possession, holding the ball for nearly 37 minutes, compared to LSU holding the ball for 23 minutes.
LSU’s passing offense struggled as Harris went 13-for-21 throwing for 131 yards.
The loss to the Badgers snaps the Tigers 52 game nonconference win streak and is the first LSU has lost a season opener under Miles.
“We knew what was at stake this season,” said senior cornerback Tre’Davious White. “ Our goal was to win it all and go undefeated. It’s a hurtful feeling.”
