The Battle for the Boot is back in Baton Rouge on Saturday, but this time, LSU football is fighting for a victory and redemption.
The Tigers experienced several ups and downs this season — one of the most recent being the firing of former head coach Brian Kelly. Interim head coach Frank Wilson had hope for his first matchup versus Alabama, but the game didn’t end in favor of him and his team.
Now facing Arkansas, Wilson is preparing to shake things up to get a big win for the penultimate home game.
In his weekly press conference on Tuesday, he said both quarterbacks, Garrett Nussmeier and Michael Van Buren, will be used moving forward.
“They both brought something to the table that helped this team,” Wilson said. “They both have things that they need to continue to work on as well. I don’t think it’s just a clear separation where one is beyond the other. We’ll need both of them, and I know we’ll use both of them in this game.”
The change could be beneficial in a season riddled with chaos. Historically, LSU leads the series 43-23. Given how both teams’ seasons have played out, it could provide the momentum needed to push for a bowl game.
The two’s most drama-filled meeting is often considered the 2020 matchup. In Fayetteville, LSU took on Arkansas to secure a 27-24 win.
With less than four minutes on the clock, the Tigers scored a touchdown and blocked an Arkansas field goal attempt to secure the victory. The Tigers have won every matchup since.
The 2022 game stands out for its low-scoring offense and defensive slugfest.
LSU took on the Razorbacks in Fayetteville and came out on top 13-10. The game featured a freshman star-in-the-making, Harold Perkins Jr., who made a game-saving sack to keep the Tigers’ lead.
LSU’s offense only managed 248 yards, but the defense held the game to clinch the victory.
In 2023, the offense ran the game and clinched the victory for the Bayou Bandits.
The matchup in Tiger Stadium showed the Tigers’ grit and fight, and the matchup became a shootout. Former quarterback Jayden Daniels finished the game with a whopping 320 yards and four touchdown passes, and the offense kept piling on to secure the Golden Boot 34-31.
The game ended with a walk-off of sorts. LSU kicker Damien Ramos ended the game with a 20-yard field goal that shut down the Razorbacks.
The series has been riddled with drama in recent years, and this year is no exception. With two interim coaches going head-to-head, showcasing growth from week to week will be of utmost importance.
Wilson said that’s the goal for practice, and other than coming out on top, it’s the most important goal for the game.
It’s getting late in the season, and the hot seat has been on for many weeks. With the drama the Battle for the Boot brings, it could be a tell-all for LSU.
It all begins on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. in Tiger Stadium. Time will tell how much of an impact this game will have on the rest of the season.
