After suffering its worst loss in nearly 14 months to Georgia last week, No. 10 ranked LSU lost out on the opportunity to not only earn a Southeastern Conference Championship title, but represent the conference in this season’s Nokia Sugar Bowl.
Despite the loss, LSU (10-2, 6-3 SEC) will now have the opportunity to square off with No. 9 Miami (9-2) on Dec. 30 in Atlanta in the Peach Bowl at 6:30 p.m. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN.
According to coach Les Miles, getting one more opportunity to send this year’s seniors off with a win is important to the team.
“We look forward to putting this 21-member senior class back on the field with the opportunity for victory,” Miles said. “[Atlanta] is a great place to play. We look forward to going back to play better.”
LSU’s most previous loss of a higher margin than their 34-14 loss last week came last season when the Tigers fell to Georgia in Athens, 45-16.
For senior offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth, who started in both Georgia losses the past two seasons, playing in his final game holds a high level of value among the team as a whole.
“It means a lot for us to go out there and play the way we need to play,” Whitworth said. “This game will be very important to all of the guys on this team.”
Miami comes into the matchup having won its regular season finale 25-17 over Virginia. The Hurricanes’ trip to Atlanta marks the second-straight season Miami will take part in the Peach Bowl. Miami blew past in-state rival Florida last year, 27-10.
Senior offensive tackle Eric Winston, who missed last year’s Peach Bowl because of a knee injury, said Miami must play to its full potential in its return to Atlanta.
“We’ve been here,” Winston said. “We have to go in there like it’s a new opportunity, a new place and we have to play like it.”
Statistically, both LSU and Miami rank close in several defensive categories.
In total defense, the Hurricanes rank No. 3 in the nation while LSU sits just two spots behind at No. 5. Both teams also rank in the nation’s top 20 in passing and rushing defenses.
“They’ve played in big games before, they play in a great conference and they have a lot of great players,” Winston said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun to play a team that probably has just as much talent as we do. There is a lot to play for.”
Several questions surround LSU after quarterback JaMarcus Russell went down late in the third quarter last week with a shoulder injury.
Following Russell’s injury, backup quarterback Matt Flynn came in to go only 3 of 11 with two interceptions and one touchdown.
While Flynn is the second string quarterback, Miles said LSU could explore other options in terms of who will be leading the offense.
“Skyler [Green] played quarterback in the last game, and his snaps averaged over 10 [yards a carry],” Miles said. “We might have to give him a bigger piece of the pie.”
Green made two appearances at quarterback against Georgia, rushing for 26 yards on two carries. Yet Green is not the only athlete being given consideration at quarterback.
“There are a number of guys on the roster who have experience at that position,” Miles said. “Chris [Jackson] would certainly be of consideration.”
Jackson, who’s averaging 41.5 yards per kick as LSU’s punter, played some as a quarterback at John Curtis High School.
Despite the questions at quarterback, as well as having nearly a month off with final exams, Miles appeared confident his team, with the seniors in particular, will come ready to play.
“I think [the seniors] look forward to playing the best opponents,” Miles said. “I don’t see this senior class worrying about anything else than representing LSU and playing football.”