This season for LSU has been a complex and challenging one.

After defeating UCLA last week 34-17, the Tigers improved to 3-1 on the season. They’ll take on South Alabama this Saturday before their bye week. LSU is favored by two scores and is expected to win this game, but they will need to set the tone not just against the Jaguars but for the rest of the season as well.

The theme for the season for LSU has been slow first halves and strong second halves. Whether it’s the offense failing to put up points and missing opportunities or the defense giving up big plays and failing to get off the field, one of these things seems inevitable every game for the Tigers. 

There are a few ways you can look at it. 

The first way is that this can hurt LSU for the rest of the season. We first saw this against USC in Week 1, where the Tigers came up short, losing 27-20. 

LSU only scored 10 points in the first half, but it could’ve been more if they converted a 4th-and-goal on the first drive of the game. There was also an unsportsmanlike conduct call on wide receiver Kyren Lacy after a touchdown that allowed USC to have good field position and added a field goal to their score. 

Another example is the first half against Nicholls. In a game where LSU was favored by roughly 46 points, the score was 23-14 at halftime. The defense couldn’t contain the Nicholls offense.

Even on the first possession of the second half, the Colonels scored, making it only a two-point deficit. Although the Tigers were able to pull away in the second, winning 44-21, it was concerning knowing the tougher tests that were to come.

In Week 3, LSU traveled to Columbia to take on South Carolina. Everyone expected it to be a hard-fought game, but it wasn’t even close at first: LSU trailed 17-0 early in the first half. 

The offense had three consecutive punts to start the game, and the defense allowed points in three out of its first four possessions.

With the inability to move the ball on offense and the defense having no answer for South Carolina’s offense, it looked like LSU was heading to a 1-2 record.

However, the tide shifted.

LSU responded, and with South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers going down to an ankle injury, the Tigers defeated the Gamecocks 36-33. 

It was yet another slow first and strong second half to save the season for the Tigers.

It was no different this past week against UCLA. LSU came out strong on offense scoring on the first drive of the game but turned the ball over on downs on the second drive. 

The defense had moments, but also gave up 17 points. Blown coverages to accommodate it made for another stressful half for the defense.

However, the Tigers made adjustments in the second and came out with the win, 34-17 after outscoring the Bruins 17-0 after halftime. 

Now why does all of this matter? 

LSU has played nowhere near the talent yet they will face down the road. There’s No. 6 Ole Miss, No. 21 Oklahoma, No. 4 Alabama and No. 24 Texas A&M. You also can’t forget the tricky games, like on the road at Arkansas and Florida. 

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If LSU continues this pattern of slow starts on either side of the ball, it can very well hurt them in these more challenging games. 

There may not be an opportunity to get back in the game if you’re down 17-0 against a team like Ole Miss or don’t have an answer on defense for a team like Alabama. 

And now with news that star defensive player Harold Perkins will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL, things get harder for this LSU team.

But as I said before, this problem for LSU is like a double-edged sword. There was another theme that was picked up throughout all those games, and it was the ability to have a strong second half. 

Against UCLA and Nicholls, LSU didn’t allow a single point and separated themselves by the end of the game. Against USC, LSU was able to get key stops on fourth downs and gave themselves multiple opportunities to win the game.

During South Carolina, LSU rallied back down 17 points, and the defense was able to force turnovers and get stops. Facing adversity, it prevailed and pulled out a tough win on the road. They also saw the emergence of freshman Caden Durham, which now gives them another option at running back. 

There are always two sides to a story. 

While the struggles of the first half can end up hurting them as they play more highly ranked teams, LSU has the experience and composure from coming back in games and tightening up in the second half.