For the second time this season, LSU went toe to toe with a top ten opponent, only to see its offense stop scoring in the second half and the defense unable to come up with critical stops.
It happened in the season opener against Florida State, and it happened Saturday night in Tuscaloosa as the 14th ranked Tigers lost to 8th ranked Alabama 42-28.
LSU coach Brian Kelly said it was a good performance in Bryant-Denny Stadium, but that’s not good enough.
“You have to play elite when you go on the road and play a Top 10 team, good is not good enough, and we didn’t play at a high enough level,” said Kelly.
And it starts with LSU’s defense, who was missing one of its best defensive tackles, Mekhi Wingo and started two cornerbacks who are converted safeties, Sage Ryan and Javien Toviano.
LSU could not get off the field on third down. Alabama converted 11 times on 14 tries.
Alabama has given up the most sacks on the season, but LSU only sacked Bama QB Jalen Milroe twice. And the Tigers only had three tackles for a loss and two quarterback hurries. Just three pass break-ups.
Defensive tackles Maason Smith and Jordan Jefferson were non-factors, each recording one assisted tackle.
Probably one of the more surprising things on the night, LSU’s run game was a non-factor. Tigers running back Logan Diggs rushed for only 24 yards on eight carries.
So that left it up to LSU QB Jayden Daniels to try and do it all and he almost did.
Daniels rushed for 163 yards and a touchdown, and he threw for 219 yards and two touchdowns.
But this game turned in the third quarter when on second and long Daniels threw to a wide-open Mason Taylor on third down and the sophomore dropped the ball. Two plays later LSU punted for the first time and Alabama drove the ball down the field and took the lead for good.
Despite Daniels’ best efforts, LSU’s defense couldn’t slow down Alabama’s quarterback. Milroe rushed for 155 yards and set a school record with four touchdowns as LSU’s defense could not contain him. He also threw for 219 yards.
Daniels got knocked out of the game early in the fourth quarter on a vicious hit from Dallas Turner. It sure looked like helmet-to-helmet contact and/or targeting, but Kelly said the refs didn’t see it that way.
“Anytime there is contact to the head or neck area you’re thinking there must be some sort of targeting, they reviewed it, didn’t feel there was, so we moved on,” said Kelly.
And LSU moves on this season, with no chance of winning the SEC West or playing in a New Year’s Six Bowl game. If the Tigers win out, they’ll probably play in a bowl game in Tampa.
The most immediate question is the health of Daniels, who spent several minutes in the injury tent after taking that big hit.
Daniels has meant so much to this program the last two years. He’s put-up big numbers and you would like to see him finish this season strong. He can still get an invite to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York City, even though he will likely not win it.
But just like every season that LSU loses to Alabama, you also begin to think about the future. And Nussmeier is the future, so it would be good to see what he’s got, because next season the LSU offense and defense will both be question marks as Daniels, Malik Nabers and most likely Brian Thomas Jr will not be at LSU.
