After a 27-20 loss to USC marked the fifth-straight season-opening loss for LSU, Tiger fans are getting used to beginning the year with a letdown.
It was an entertaining contest that featured two top 25 teams battling in the final seconds, but USC made the plays it needed to win the game.
It was our first look at a few new elements for LSU, including new coordinators on both sides of the ball. On offense, LSU fans got to see what the offense looked like without [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag]
It was a bag of mixed results for LSU across the board. With the game in the rearview mirror, it’s time to take a look at some numbers that defined the loss for LSU.
It’s just one game, so the sample size here isn’t huge and who knows if these trends will stick throughout the season, but these stats should be able to offer some insight into who LSU is in 2024.
Three plays of 20+ yards
LSU had just three plays of 20+ yards all night. The Tigers were able to move the ball, but the lack of explosiveness put pressure on the offense to string drives together. That’s hard to do when an offense is struggling to run the ball like LSU was.
Regression was expected after the otherworldly explosiveness numbers LSU posted in 2023, but LSU needed a couple of more big plays than it got in the second half.
Nussmeier found [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] for a gain of 41 yards late in the fourth quarter, but that was LSU’s lone explosive pass in the second half.
-0.22 EPA/rush
LSU led the country in EPA/rush last year with 0.29 per run. Much of that is credited to Daniels, but LSU got what it needed from its running backs too.
The run game took a step back on Sunday night. Outside of John Emery Jr.’s 39-yard burst, there wasn’t much happening for LSU.
This is something that should work itself out in time. The offensive line is still one of the best in the country and the RB room is talented, but it was an issue last night.
27% success rate in the red zone
LSU put itself in a position to score but didn’t take advantage. Two drives, in particular, stand out,
LSU marched down the field on the opening possession but stalled inside USC’s 10-yard line and turned it over on downs. A score could have put LSU up and in control of the game early.
In the fourth quarter, LSU was inside USC’s 15-yard line again but had to settle for a field goal and a tie when it couldn’t finish the drive.
If LSU manages a TD on either of those drives, we are talking about a different result.
Garrett Nussmeier’s 88.1 QBR
We’ll take a look at a positive number here. Garrett Nussmeier’s 88.1 QBR was No. 16 in the country this week, a fine number for a QB making his second-career start.
He surpassed 300 yards and threw for two scores. In the first half, his connection with Kyren Lacy looked strong, connecting seven times for 94 yards. Nussmeier looked comfortable with Mason Taylor too.
The only knock was the previously discussed lack of explosive plays, but part of that is on LSU for not taking those shots.
Eight tackles for a loss
LSU struggled to get stops when it needed on defense, but the front seven played well,
LSU generated eight tackles for loss on Sunday night and held USC to 3.67 yards per carry and -0.21 EPA/rush.
There were concerns about LSU’s defensive line, but the Tigers held their own on the interior and remained competitive on the edge.
Tiger fans should feel better about LSU’s interior defensive line moving forward.
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