LSU beat Vanderbilt 24-17, but for a brief moment on Saturday night, the spiral continued. LSU opened with a three-and-out vs. Vanderbilt before the Commodores scored on their first play from scrimmage.
It had the potential to get ugly. LSU was on its way to losing a fourth straight game. There were boos and chants for firings. But that didn’t last long.
LSU responded with an eight-play, 90-yard touchdown drive before forcing a three and out of its own. QB Garrett Nussmeier found a rhythm and the run game found life. The defense settled down. It bent at times but didn’t break.
Late in the second quarter, LSU capped off another touchdown drive. RB Josh Williams had a strong first half with two touchdown runs of 20+ yards. That matched LSU’s explosive rushing touchdown total on the season.
LSU entered the fourth quarter with an 11-point lead and found a way to close it out, something LSU has struggled to do in 2024.
LSU needed this one. Brian Kelly and the coaching staff needed this one. The fans needed it too.
It’s been a rough month for LSU. The Tigers lost three straight games, a streak that began at Texas A&M on Oct. 26. Over a month had passed since LSU’s last win.
One game doesn’t make up for the chaos of the last month and, yes, the opponent was Vanderbilt. But you can feel a collective sigh of relief. LSU’s last four-game losing streak came in 1999. A loss on Saturday would have marked a new low for the program.
The worst case scenario was avoided and LSU got back in the win column.
Key takeaway: LSU offense shows poise
LSU’s offense was plagued by turnovers and sacks throughout its three-game losing streak. Garrett Nussmeier threw three interceptions against Texas A&M and two more vs. Alabama. Last week, LSU allowed seven sacks.
On Saturday night, Nussmeier protected the football. He looked comfortable behind a bounce-back performance from his offensive line. When Nussmeier did face pressure, he did a good job getting the ball out to his check down. A few of those check-downs turned into big plays.
LSU had poise on offense. It didn’t panic. It played with confidence and took care of business.
Key Stats
Garrett Nussmeier: 28/37, 326 yards. 1 TD
Josh Williams: 14 carries, 90 yards, 2 TDs, 4 receptions, 61 yards
Kyren Lacy: 6 catches, 85 yards, 1 TD
Aaron Anderson: 6 catches, 65 yards
Next up for LSU
LSU will be back in Tiger Stadium next week for a home meeting with Oklahoma. The Tigers will look to end the regular season on a high note, but Oklahoma may be turning a corner. The Sooners upset No. 7 Alabama on Saturday night.