If LSU’s defense looks like the best in college football through the first two weeks of the season, the statistics back it up.
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The Tigers enter Saturday night’s Top 10 showdown with Ole Miss ranked No. 1 nationally in total defense, allowing just 142 yards per game and 2.76 yards per play.
LSU has surrendered only two offensive touchdowns this season, with both coming in the fourth quarter after the Tigers had pulled their starters.
The dramatic turnaround is particularly notable considering where the defense stood before Blake Baker arrived as defensive coordinator. In 2023, LSU ranked 82nd nationally in total defense.
Former LSU linebacker Darry Beckwith believes this year’s defense is different, and he pointed to three reasons during an appearance on Tiger Rag Radio: team speed, discipline and maturity.
“These guys can flat out run, and the second thing, nobody tries to make a play if they are not supposed to make a play,” Beckwith said. “Everybody is doing their job, they feed off each other. They want each other to be successful.”
That discipline will be put to the test Saturday against Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who is one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the country.
Chambliss threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 22 touchdowns last season. Through two games this year, he is completing 71% of his passes for 561 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.
His ability to escape pressure may be his biggest weapon.
LSU pressured Chambliss eight times in last year’s meeting but failed to record a sack. Chambliss also ran for 71 yards in the game.
Senior defensive end Princewill Umanmielen, who transferred to LSU from Ole Miss, knows firsthand how difficult Chambliss can be to contain.
“We really just need to keep him in the pocket, be grindy and gritty, go hard, play each play, if something goes wrong, next-play mentality,” Umanmielen said.
LSU’s defense is likely to give up some big plays Saturday. Ole Miss has too many weapons, led by Chambliss, running back Kewan Lacy and wide receiver Deuce Alexander, who is averaging 18 yards per catch.
The bigger question is whether LSU can create enough negative plays of its own.
Can the Tigers pressure Chambliss, sack him and force turnovers?
If LSU can disrupt the Ole Miss quarterback and keep the Rebels from sustaining long drives, the Tigers could leave Oxford with a 3-0 record—and with a defense that has made a very strong early-season case as one of the best in the country.
