Playoffs or Bust for Tigers

By Jim Gazzolo

The Tigers haven’t been in the national title picture since they dominated college football in 2019.

With one of the best seasons of all time, LSU rolled to the championship behind quarterback Joe Burrow, winning it all in New Orleans for a storybook ending.

Since then, the Tigers and their faithful have suffered only tales of woe.

This season, in Brian Kelly’s fourth year as head coach, there is a belief that this could be the year.

“This is the best roster I have had at LSU,” Kelly has said.

Kelly has gone so far as to guarantee a playoff spot for his Tigers, going at times as far as adding that they will be in the title game. That puts even more of a target on his back after three seasons of less-than-championship endings.

There is definitely hope for this season, though.

The Tigers’ SEC schedule is relatively easy compared to others, and they open with a national game against Clemson that could bring both attention and confidence. That is, if they win.

In each of his first three seasons with LSU, Kelly’s team has lost the season opener to a nonconference opponent. Wasted chances in winnable games were the difference. 

Now, they get a fresh start.

“We are playing for a national championship,” said Kelly. “That is always our goal here.”

LSU enters the season ranked ninth, making them on the bubble, but with a chance. The Tigers are 0-3 in season openers under Kelly, with all three games coming on national television against opponents from other Power conferences at neutral sites.

Twice, Kelly’s team has lost to Florida State, and last season, it fell to Southern California in Las Vegas. Now they will get their toughest opener, traveling to No. 4 Clemson on Aug. 30 for a night game in the other place known as Death Valley.

“It is a big game for us,” said Kelly. “We want to get off to a good start this year.”

While there is pressure on Kelly and his staff, the spotlight is clearly on fifth-year senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. The Lake Charles-born quarterback decided to stay in Baton Rouge throughout his career and now has the opportunity to be a true star.

After a big season last year, his first as a starter, Nussmeier is considered a Heisman Trophy contender and a possible No. 1 pick in next year’s NFL draft.

“I think we all know about his background," Kelly said, "He's the coach's son. He's somebody who’s been around the game. So, I think when you look at quarterbacks, you want to see that kind of football IQ. He's a learner of the game. He's always looking to be curious about something new. Then he's got arm talent and anticipation. He can make those tight window throws that NFL coaches really, really like."

Over his career, Nussmeier has completed 62.6 percent of his passes for 5,772 yards, 7.8 yards per attempt, 40 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions. Last year, he posted a 64.2% completion percentage, 4,052 yards, 7.7 yards per attempt, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.

After losing four of their top five receivers from last season, Kelly’s staff hit the portal hard and picked up three receivers and two tight ends for Nussmeier. The newcomers will join Aaron Anderson, Nussmeier’s top target last year.

In his two seasons at LSU after transferring from Alabama, Anderson has 73 catches for 934 yards and five touchdowns. Anderson hopes to become a breakout star this year and the next big LSU receiver.

To go with Anderson, the Tigers added almost 3,000 receiving yards (2.970) through the portal. Barion Brown leads the group with 1,528 career yards. 

One player to watch is Chris Hilton. He missed seven games last year with an injury, but looked good when he played and finished strong.

Hinton had TD catches of 40 and 45 yards against Oklahoma and pulled down nine passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns in the Texas Bowl against Alabama.

Sophomore Caden Durham returns after earning All-SEC Freshman honors last year. He ran for 753 yards and six touchdowns. He was also a part of the passing game, grabbing an 80-yard TD pass as well. 

On defense, the Tigers picked up a lot of talent through the transfer portal, starting with Patrick Payton, who moved over from Florida State. Payton is a defensive end who played a big part in the Seminoles' two victories over LSU.

He will now join the Tigers after blocking a field goal last season over Clemson, so he should be well prepared for the opener. Over the previous two seasons, Payton has collected 31.5 tackles for loss, something LSU lacked from the defensive line group a year ago.

Payton was considered by many to be the top defensive end available in the portal.

Safties Tamarcus Cooley and A.J. Hauley were also considered top portal gets at their positions. 

The strength of this defense is at linebacker. A pair of juniors led the way, led by Whit Weeks, who had a breakout season a year ago.

Weeks was an All-SEC player who led LSU in tackles with 125. He also recorded 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Weeks suffered a dislocated ankle in the Texas Bowl, but expects that to be no problem.

Harold Perkins returns after missing most of last year with a knee injury. Perkins burst onto the LSU stage as a freshman in 2022, when he tore up the SEC. However, he looked misused in Kelly’s first season leading the Tigers as his numbers fell off. 

Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers sports in Southwest Louisiana. He is also the host of Poke Nation, which airs weekly on CBS-Lake Charles.