The LSU Tigers finished off 2024 with a 44-31 win over the Baylor Bears in the Texas Bowl. Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier looked like a Heisman candidate for 2025, by throwing for 304 yards and three touchdowns to finish with 4,043 yards passing on the season. The second most in school history.
LSU went into the game with three of its top four pass catchers, but you wouldn’t know the difference based on how Nussmeier carved up the Baylor defense.
Aaron Anderson had eight catches for 91 yards, Chris Hilton caught four passes for 113 yards and a touchdown and freshman tight end Trey’Dez Green caught six passes for 53 yards and two touchdowns.
Green was the only tight end available on the roster, replacing Mason Taylor, LSU’s career leader at tight end in receptions (129) and receiving yards (1,308).
Green showed off his pass catching abilities in the win over Baylor. But Coach Brian Kelly remains impressed with Green’s commitment to becoming a dominant tight end.
“The work he put in the bowl prep was second to none, his mindset, his want to, to go in there and mix it up and run block, we didn’t treat him like a wide receiver, we treated him like an attached tight end,” Green said.
Receiver Zavion Thomas also made his impact in the game as a return man, returning a kick-off 95 yards for a touchdown as Baylor was trying to get back in the game in the second quarter.
A re-shuffled offensive line also did its part. The Tigers did not allow a sack and as a team, LSU rushed for 114 yards.
LSU will go into the 2025 season with a returning starter quarterback who already has plenty of weapons and will add more, with the additions that will arrive through the transfer portal.
So once again looking ahead to next season for LSU, it will come down to the defense and can it do its part keep opposing offenses in check.
The Tigers allowed 507 yards against Baylor, but Kelly is encouraged by the young defensive players that are showing promise.
“There are just so many guys that have experience playing and now add some additions that have veteran experience and that’s really why we wanted to wait and give these guys some experience and add them to the mix and now you have a healthy roster,” Kelly said.
Sophomore Javien Toviano started at free safety and had five solo tackles. Sophomore cornerback Ashton Stamps had six tackles and three pass breakups.
Freshman cornerback PJ Woodland had five tackles, and a pass break up. Freshman linebacker Davhon Keys had five tackles and returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown.
Linebacker Harold Perkins and defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory are coming back from season ending injuries in September.
Linebacker Whit Weeks looks like he’ll recover, after sustaining a gruesome ankle injury in the second quarter.
“The early indication is a dislocation of the ankle probably, we’ll have surgery here quickly, I don’t want to give an exact timeline, but should have him ready to go sometime around spring ball,” Weeks said.
It appears the pieces are in place for LSU to be a playoff team next year, it’s up to the coaching staff and players to get it done.