Momentum is everything in college football.
If a team gets hot enough to keep the fire burning, it can blaze through any opponent in its path. And LSU roasted some Razorback in Fayetteville on Saturday, creating its sixth straight win of the season.
Arkansas, coming off a bye week and upset win over Tennessee, had all the tools to take down the Tigers. But LSU didn’t let those factors stop it from continuing its winning streak. The Tigers defeated Arkansas 34-10.
“Nothing seems to phase this group,” head coach Brian Kelly said. “Whether they’re down 17-0 on the road or struggling to put together a great drive, they just keep playing… Now they’re playing cleaner, and I think that’s a sign of a team that’s really coming together.”
After LSU’s thrilling win over Ole Miss the prior weekend, the Tigers continued to stay hot in the Battle for the Golden Boot. LSU left Arkansas wih its flames fueled for the upcoming SEC matchups, which will not be easy.
Here are three takeaways from the Tigers’ win.
The defense stepped up and shut down
Late in the third quarter, it was a one-possession game, and the Razorbacks began their drive, aiming to close the gap.
But linebacker Whit Weeks came flying past the offensive line and deflected quarterback Taylen Green’s pass. As the ball came down, he grabbed it and set the LSU offense up at the two-yard line. The Tigers scored on the first play and increased the lead by 14.
This was just one of the three turnovers the LSU defense created, and the Tigers held Arkansas to just 277 total yards and 38 rushing yards.
“We’re getting those big plays, and now we’re turning those into turnovers,” Kelly said. “There were some physical hits out there. We jarred the ball loose.”
Weeks led the defense with nine total tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, one interception, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry.
“I think what stands out is he’s active in virtually all of the plays … He’s an elite player in this league,” Kelly said about Weeks.
Running game on the rise
On the opening drive of the game, running back Caden Durham rushed the ball for 22 yards into the endzone, setting the tone for the Tigers’ dominance in Fayetteville.
Durham went on to have 101 rushing yards and three touchdowns. LSU had a total of 158 rushing yards, and running back Kaleb Jackson was also a part of the success.
Jackson had five carries for 30 yards, averaging six yards per rush.
From start to finish, LSU powered through the Razorbacks’ defense, allowing quarterback Garrett Nussmeier to operate with greater ease. Because the Tigers could rely on the run game, Nussmeier only threw the ball 33 times, which was his least amount this season.
“For us to run the football and close out the game with a drive of eight minutes and 20 seconds, virtually running the ball every down, those are the things that you look for in a football team that is emerging as a contender,” Kelly said.
The Tigers showed growth in the running game. After only managing 84 rushing yards against Ole Miss, LSU created a new balance on the offense.
CFP hopes are alive and well
From a season-opening loss to winning six games in a row, the Tigers are improving as SEC play continues.
LSU faces Texas A&M next week for the sole lead in the SEC. A win over the Aggies would allow the Tigers to lose one game and still qualify for the conference championship.
Winning the SEC championship would then put the Tigers in the College Football Playoff with an automatic bid.
“I think they can now sense that they have put themselves in a pretty good position,” Kelly said about his team. “Now they’ve gotta go earn it on the road, but there is clearly a different way that they perceive the next six weeks.”
LSU’s only loss was to USC, a team who is now 3-4 and No. 16 in the Big 10, which could hurt the Tigers in the future as the loss looks worse each week. But winning these next few matchups would put LSU in a great position for the SEC championship game.
Defeating Arkansas on the road was a challenge the Tigers can now cross off their list. Playing A&M in Kyle Field will be a whole new test where LSU will have to rise to the occasion.
“By their standards they believe they are getting better, and I believe they are getting better each and every week,” Kelly said. “This is a good time to get better later in the year.”
