After the bye week, LSU and South Carolina both entered this Week 7 matchup with something to prove.
The Tigers cracked under pressure and took a loss against Ole Miss, while the Gamecocks were already down 3-2 before Saturday’s game. They sought revenge for last year’s game, as LSU stole the lead away within the final minutes.
That didn’t matter for the Tigers though, who got the job done in a 20-10 win in Baton Rouge.
Defense saves the day, but still has weaknesses
LSU’s defense bent, but ultimately never broke against this South Carolina offense, holding it to just 10 points.
There was one big slip-up of the night, which was allowing a jaw-dropping 72-yard touchdown from Matt Fuller in the first quarter. The Gamecocks went ahead 7-3 and proved why the Tigers can’t solely rely on their defense.
“We’re not perfect,” Head Coach Brian Kelly said after the game. “We’re a work in progress. We’ll have to be better next week.”
After that, the unit was airtight when it mattered most. South Carolina’s QB, LaNorris Sellers, only passed for 124 yards and was intercepted once by Tamarcus Cooley. The Tigers’ pass rush was unrelenting, making five sacks, yet another season-high. They also completely shut down the red zone, not letting a single player make it past the 20-yard line.
Defense may not be able to win championships, but it played a large role in this win. However, this game showed LSU’s offense that it shouldn’t be dependent on the defense.
Nussmeier and O-line continue to stall progress
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’s performance was representative of this LSU team: talented but inconsistent. He passed for an impressive 254 yards and two touchdowns, but his mistakes made this a closer game than it should’ve been.
The offensive line continued to be up-and-down and struggled to keep creating running lanes. Yet, the running game saw slight improvements as LSU managed a season-high 166 rushing yards, and Nussmeier wasn’t afraid to carry, with his longest of the night being 23 yards.
The offense proved they have the ability to be explosive, but they had trouble capitalizing on any momentum with three turnovers and a battered Nussmeier visibly limping throughout the night. An injured QB is not a reliable one, but that’s exactly what LSU has on the table.
“There are some things that we just have to clean up,” Kelly said. “They’re very fixable, and if we can fix those things, this offense can play to the level of its defense, and that’s what we need to get to.”
Trey’dez Green is back big-time
Green hauled in eight receptions for 119 yards and one touchdown. His standout performance marks the first time an LSU tight end has gotten more than 100 receiving yards since 1994 and was responsible for some of the biggest plays of the night.
“Clearly, he’s a mismatch,” Kelly said. “You can throw fade balls to him. He can catch the ball on quick game. He’s a unique talent, and we need to continue to feature him in our offense. He’s got to be part of it.”
His touchdown catch in the second quarter made it 10-7 Tigers. Once back in front, LSU never let go of the lead again.
Green helped make the entire passing game function, and the sophomore’s return to form was a much-needed boost for this offense.
