For both schools, this is the final non-conference game before jumping into conference play. LSU has one more non-conference game remaining on the schedule, Western Kentucky, on November 22nd.
It’s all Southland Conference games for Southeastern Louisiana after this one. The Lions are 2-1 as they’ve won their last two since opening the season with a shutout loss at Louisiana Tech.
LSU is ranked third in the Top 25 AP poll, and they are 3-0. This game will not help their strength of schedule metric in the eyes of the College Football Playoff Committee, but it is a big game for LSU to resolve its offensive issues before a stretch of six straight SEC games.
This is the third meeting between the two teams, and the first since 2018.
In 2018, LSU won 31-0, and Joe Burrow only threw for 151 yards and two touchdown passes in a game the Tigers were forced to punt six times.
I can’t remember the postgame talk after that game, but I wonder if some LSU fans were asking themselves if Burrow was the guy?
LSU is hoping to see a big performance from its current starting quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier. The big storyline all week has been whether the Tigers should play Nussmeier due to a torso injury that has affected his play, especially in the last two games.
But Kelly said this week Nussmeier is on the other side of this injury, and on Thursday Kelly said Nuss had his best week of practice.
“We had to limit a lot of the things we did the first three weeks, and he’s finally coming to practice feeling good and getting into a good rhythm,” Kelly said. “This is his best week of practice, so we wanted him to go and play the game at a level where he’s comfortable.”
This is also a game for the Tigers' offensive line to find its rhythm.
According to Pro Football Focus, three of the lowest graded players in last Saturday’s win over Florida were offensive linemen. Starting right tackle Weston Davis had the lowest grade. Starting right guard Josh Thompson had the fourth-lowest grade, and backup guard Coen Echols had the fifth-lowest grade.
Kelly remains bullish on this group and says the lack of experience and playing together has kept this group from performing at a higher level.
“We have five new starters on the offensive line, and with that comes so much technical work, communication, working together as one unit and that is the work in front of us, but they are willing, and they work their tails off,” Kelly said.
LSU tight end Trey’Dez Green could return this Saturday after missing the Florida win with a sprained knee. Kelly said on Thursday that Green was moving around at practice Thursday and is questionable for Saturday night.
Senior linebacker West Weeks is doubtful with a calf injury. If Weeks can’t play, that opens the possibility for playing time for Davhon Keys, who leads the team in tackles through three weeks with 26. Also for Tylen Singleton, who saw action last week after Whit Weeks was ejected and West Weeks was injured.
Southeastern Louisiana brings a two-game winning streak to Baton Rouge. They lost their season opener to Louisiana Tech 24-0, beat Murray State on the road the following week 45-24, and smashed Mississippi Valley State 56-3 in their home opener last week.
They play two quarterbacks, Carson Camp and Klye Lowe. Camp has the better passing numbers. The junior quarterback from Illinois is a transfer from Sacramento State. He’s 37 of 59 for 442 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Lowe is more of a running quarterback and leads the team in rushing with 145 yards on the ground and three touchdowns.
Jaylon Domingeaux caught three touchdown passes last week.
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And on defense, senior linebacker KK Reno is their leading tackler with 24 tackles.
Southeastern Louisiana Coach Frank Scelfo understands why they are playing this game. Yes, it’s the experience for his guys to play in Tiger Stadium, but the $750,000 check the Lions will receive for showing up will go along way for the SLU athletic department.
For LSU, this is a get right on offense game. The Tigers should win easily, and it’s also a chance for several players on offense to put up some numbers, including guys like Chris Hilton, Nic Anderson, and Harlem Berry.
I like LSU to win 42-3.