Tag: Max Johnson

Instant Reaction: LSU creates foggy path to playoff for Florida after upset in The Swamp

LSU’s victory over the Gators not only showed a glimmer of hope for 2021, but created a much tougher road to the playoff for Florida.

It may be safe to assume nobody saw this one coming. LSU (4-5, 45 SEC) pulled off the upset of the day with a 37-34 win over No. 6 Florida (8-2, 8-2 SEC), proving to be a potentially devastating pothole on Florida’s path to an appearance in the College Football Playoff.

Aided by a poorly-timed penalty by Florida for throwing an LSU player’s shoe after a defensive stop, LSU knocked off the Gators with a 55-yard field goal off the foot of Cade York in a dense fog.

Florida had a chance to tie the game and send it into overtime, but a last-second 51-yard field goal attempt by Gators kicker Evan McPherson nudged wide left to secure the win for LSU.

LSU played arguably its best game of the season. Allowing 31 points at first glance doesn’t seem all that appealing, but this is an LSU defense that has been scorned all year long, and it was going up against one of the most potent offenses in the nation. And they did so a week after being beat-up by Alabama at home. Florida quarterback Kyle Trask may not have had reliable tight end Kyle Pitts to rely on, but LSU’s secondary took hit after hit and still managed to make plays when it needed them.

LSU was without cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (ruled out) and Cordale Flott, LSU’s other starting cornerback, was ejected in the first quarter for targeting. That’s why it was even more impressive to see Eli Ricks return a Trask interception for a touchdown and the secondary get an epic lucky bounce for an interception with Florida approaching the end zone.

WATCH: LSU CB Eli Ricks returns Florida QB Kyle Trask INT for go-ahead TD

LSU head coach Ed Orgeron also made a decision to start freshman quarterback Max Johnson on the road, and Johnson managed to lead the offense for the entire game without being replaced for any amount of time. Johnson threw three touchdowns and passed for 236 yards in the win. Kayshon Boutte led LSU with 108 receiving yards and scored one of the three touchdowns through the air. Jaray Jenkins and Tre Bradford (with the eventual game-winner in the fourth quarter) recorded the others on a foggy night in Gainesville.

Two trends have carried throughout the course of the relatively brief history of the College Football Playoff. First, no SEC champion has ever been left out of the four-team playoff field. Second, no two-loss team has ever been invited to the playoff. Florida will now hope that only one of those trends will continue. With two losses, it would appear Florida’s path to its first appearance in the College Football Playoff has been blocked.

Even if Alabama loses, the currently No. 1 Crimson Tide could still be in a pretty stable spot to receive a playoff invite even if they lose next weekend to the Gators in the SEC Championship Game. Ohio State has been granted a chance to play in the Big Ten championship game next week, which figures to help Ohio Strate’s playoff case if they remain undefeated.

And the ACC could be grabbing at least one spot between Notre Dame and Clemson. And a Clemson victory over Notre Dame in the ACC Championship Game could send two ACC teams to the College Football Playoff for the first time, and the second time a conference places two schools in the playoff (the SEC being the other, of course).

This may actually be great news for Texas A&M, who defeated Florida head-to-head and has one fewer loss after having this weekend’s game canceled.

But the bottom line is Florida will get one more chance to prove to the selection committee they are worthy of at least being considered for a spot in the playoff. As for LSU, a glimpse into the future may have been on display.

WATCH: LSU gets the luckiest bounce for INT vs Florida

LSU’s schedule will conclude next weekend with a home game against Ole Miss. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT as the Tigers have a chance to end this roller-coaster season with a .500 record.

What does LSU football’s bowl game history look like over the past 20 years?

HALFTIME: LSU shows new life, leads Florida 24-17

LSU was counted out of this one before the first quarter ever began, but the Tigers have shown life halfway through the contest.

This is not the dominant Florida performance that so many drew up ahead of the Gators’ meeting with LSU this weekend, thanks to goal line stops and a type of explosiveness on defense we haven’t seen all season.

With two games remaining on the schedule, LSU entered Saturday night’s matchup against the Florida Gators with the hopes of getting back on the right track to finish off what’s been a rough season on a high note.

LSU is without cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and one of its most solid receiving targets in tight end Arik Gilbert after he opted out ahead of the game this week.

The Gators opened with an 11-play, 74-yard drive, only to be stopped at the goal line and give the LSU offense, led by Max Johnson for the first time, the ball at the one.

LSU’s initial offensive effort was dismal though, and the Tigers went out and were left punting at their own seven.

Things hardly got better for LSU from that point, losing cornerback Cordale Flott to a targeting call and allowing Florida to draw first blood with a drive that ended in a one-yard, punch-it-in touchdown run on third-and-goal from potential Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, Kyle Trask.

The score gave Florida a 7-0 lead with eight minutes remaining in the first quarter.

But then LSU did something it hasn’t shown a great ability to do recently — respond.

Johnson, partially off his own mobility, led the Tigers 75 yards down the field in a drive capped off with a five-yard touchdown to Jaray Jenkins that had the Tigers tied with the Gators, 7-7 at the bottom of the first quarter.

LSU was able to take the lead when freshman cornerback Elias Ricks stepped up with a 68-yard touchdown on an interception return to give LSU the lead, with fellow cornerback Jay Ward coming up with an interception of his own in second-quarter action.

Coming into the game, Trask had thrown for just three interceptions on the season, and these two come against the worst-ranked passing defense in the SEC.

In the same half of football, though, there was a particularly bright spot for Trask as he tied Danny Wuerffel’s single-season record for passing touchdowns (39) after finding wide receiver Jacob Copeland in the end zone.

But LSU wouldn’t lose the lead for long, as Johnson put another passing touchdown on the board after connecting with wide receiver Kayshon Boutte on the 34-yarder.

LSU continued making strong defensive plays, forcing its third turnover of the game when Trask was sacked by linebacker Ray Thornton, who forced a fumble recovered by defensive end BJ Ojulari to set up a 39-yard field goal just before halftime.

If LSU can keep the momentum through the second half, the Tigers will pull off the biggest upset in college football this week.

SEC QB Rankings, Week 12: Mac Jones, Kyle Trask in tight race for Heisman honors

Where do each of the SEC’s quarterbacks stand ahead of Saturday, and does Mac Jones or Kyle Trask deserve the Heisman Trophy more?

Things have hardly gone as planned at the quarterback position for multiple SEC teams this year, and it’s safe to say that no one drew it up quite like this ahead of the season.

Kyle Trask and Mac Jones were expected to be standouts within the conference and have produced, now both very much in contention to win the Heisman Trophy.

Outside of that, we’ve seen teams like LSU struggle to find a starter the offense can thrive with after Myles Brennan was sidelined due to injury, and programs like Mississippi State turn to a true freshman to take the snaps.

Nearing the end of what’s been an unprecedented season in the conference, here’s a look at where each SEC quarterback stands ahead out Saturday:

1. Kyle Trask, Florida.

The race between Kyle Trask and Mac Jones for the Heisman honors couldn’t be much closer, and with the SEC Championship game now only one week away, we’ll have a clearer idea of who the winner should be.

Trask continued to be as consistent and solid as we’ve seen him be this season in last week’s 31-19 win over Tennessee, completing 35-of-49 passes for 433 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

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Biggest pregame storylines ahead of LSU vs Florida

The LSU Tigers could start a new QB against Florida this weekend, while also using two new tight ends due to Arik Gilbert opting out.

The LSU Tigers travel to Gainesville to face the No. 6 Florida Gators (8-1), who have already locked up the SEC East division title, on Saturday.

LSU enters the game with a 3-5 record and rolls into Gainesville coming off a 55-17 beating from Alabama last weekend.

There’s a lot to look out for in what’s likely to be another lopsided matchup for the Tigers.

Here’s a look at the biggest pregame storylines ahead of Saturday’s match-up between the Tigers and Gators.

LSU without Arik Gilbert

Just as Terrace Marshall Jr. opted out last week before the Tigers faced Alabama. LSU tight end and former five star recruit Arik Gilbert opted out of the season earlier this week.

The freshman was second on the team in receptions with 35 catches for 368 yards and two touchdowns.

Gilbert, the highest rated tight end ever coming out of high school, leaves LSU with a void to fill at the position heading into the final two games.

The Tigers will use Kole Taylor and baseball star Nick Storz as the two tight ends against Florida on Saturday.

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Could Max Johnson be named LSU’s starting quarterback vs. Florida?

Will Finley or Johnson take the reins for the Tigers at quarterback on Saturday vs. Florida?

It’s been a tumultuous season for LSU football to say the least, and the struggles have extended to the quarterback position.

LSU lost starting quarterback Myles Brennan to a lower-body injury after the loss to Missouri, and have had true freshman TJ Finley starting every game since.

But all of that could change Saturday as the Tigers travel to Gainesville to face the Florida Gators.

Head coach Ed Orgeron indicated in Monday’s meeting with the media that his other true freshman quarterback, Max Johnson, could go in as the starter instead of Finley.

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“I think that’s something we’re going to give consideration to this week and look at it,” Orgeron said Monday. “I thought Max played very well. Also TJ did some things. That is something we’re going to give consideration for this week.”

Finley posted a solid performance in the first start of his career, as he completed 17-of-21 passing attempts for 265 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the team’s 52-24 trouncing of South Carolina.

But he hasn’t been so steady since, and we’ve seen Johnson make some appearances frequently.

We don’t have a huge sample size on Johnson, but he appears to have gotten better as the season has progressed. Orgeron has noticed, too, noting that he thought Alabama was Johnson’s best showing yet.

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Finley started the game off strong against Alabama, but he and the offense eventually fell into a scoring drought, and Johnson entered the game in the third quarter.

He completed 11-of-17 passes for 110 yards, without a touchdown or an interception. In the previous week’s matchup with Texas A&M, Johnson showed some potential, completing on 14-of-22 of his attempts for 113 yards and a touchdown.

The touchdown may have come in garbage time, but it did help LSU avoid a complete shutout in what ended in a 20-7 loss to the Aggies.

It will be interesting to see which freshman quarterback gets the nod at starter on Saturday, considering how neck-and-neck the competition has been since Brennan’s injury.

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Report Card: Grading LSU after lopsided loss to Alabama

The LSU defense was ripped to shreds by Alabama, and the Tigers struggled to keep up the pace on offense in a blowout loss on Saturday.

The grades are in, and they aren’t particularly flattering for a second week in a row for LSU football.

The Tigers suffered their second-straight loss in SEC West play with a 55-17 setback against Alabama on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. The most lopsided loss for the Tigers against the Crimson Tide in series history ensured there were some negative reactions to what unfolded in primetime on national television.

Here is the report card for LSU after the 55-17 loss to top-ranked Alabama.

Quarterbacks: C

TJ Finley remained the starting quarterback for LSU, but Max Johnson also saw some playing time against the Crimson Tide. Finley completed half of his 28 pass attempts for 144 yards and a touchdown, and he avoided throwing any costly interceptions.

Alabama did not make things easy for Finley at times by getting pressure in the backfield and forcing Finley to lose 12 yards on six official rushing attempts. He was sacked four times.

Johnson, who saw more playing time as the game was all but officially declared, was slightly more efficient with his passing, but probably not by enough to suggest head coach Ed Orgeron should consider starting him over Finley next week against the Florida Gators.

Instant reaction: LSU rolled by No. 1 Alabama

Next: Running Backs Continue reading “Report Card: Grading LSU after lopsided loss to Alabama”

Who are LSU players of the week following loss to Texas A&M?

The LSU defense led the way in the 20-7 loss at Texas A&M, with Micah Baskerville recording 12 total tackles against the Aggies.

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LSU was defeated 20-7 at No. 5 Texas A&M last Saturday, but the Tigers defense continued to look impressive.

The defense held the Aggies to just 267 total yards of offense, including 105 passing yards to Kellen Mond, on a rainy night in College Station.

Despite the lack of offensive production, wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. showed why he was the top target on the team.

Here’s a quick look into the offensive and defensive players of the week following the Tigers’ loss to Texas A&M.

WR Terrace Marshall Jr. 

Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Marshall opted out of the season on Monday, but gave one last showing against the Aggies. The junior finished with 134 receiving yards on 10 receptions for one touchdown.

Likely to be a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft, Marshall left Tigers fans with one final quality outing at the wide receiver spot.

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Grading the performances of each quarterback in LSU’s loss to Texas A&M

How do Kellen Mond, TJ Finley and Max Johnson grade out after Saturday’s performance?

True freshmen will be true freshmen and rainy conditions will always make for tougher football.

Such was the tune of LSU’s 20-7 loss to Texas A&M in a game where no team looked particularly good and no one quarterback (of three) stole the show.

LSU coach Ed Orgeron still hasn’t come to a rock solid decision on a quarterback in Brennan’s absence, though Finley has started all four contests since Brennan’s injury.

“We’re going to see this week,” Orgeron said this week. “We’re going to practice both of them, then make that decision at the end of the week according to the game plan and what we need to get done on offense.”

Here’s a look into how Finley, Johnson and Mond grade out after Saturday’s showing.

TJ Finley, LSU

It’s been a rollercoaster of ups-and-downs for the true freshman quarterback — but let’s put some emphasis on the experience level for a moment, as well as the situation Finley has been thrust in.

He hasn’t played a down of college football in his life until this year, and he was unexpectedly thrown into the fire in a year after LSU lost nearly all the makings of its national championship team from 2019.

Finley was pulled in the second half for good after he completed 9-of-25 passing attempts for 118 yards with two interceptions. He did have a touchdown pass the was called back (highly questionable call by the refs here, eh?), throwing an errant interception that took anything resembling momentum away from LSU on the very next play.

Finley may have gotten chewed by his coach while when he was replaced by Johnson, and rightfully so, it’s hard to excuse decision-making like that. But there is a world of potential to work with here, and he’s already shown flashes as well as a rare sense of composure in the pocket and comfort in the offense, especially for his level of experience.

Grade: D

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Alabama Week: Everything LSU coach Ed Orgeron said in his Monday press conference

LSU coach Ed Orgeron fielded a host of questions on Monday surrounding the upcoming matchup against Alabama.

The LSU Tigers aim to get back to the win column as they face a top-ranked Alabama team after falling 20-7 to Texas A&M on Saturday.

But that won’t be an easy task, considering that Alabama hasn’t dropped a game and is quite rightfully favored by four touchdowns over LSU.

LSU head coach Ed Orgeron fielded a host of questions on the upcoming matchup, what went wrong against the Aggies and the general state of the team when he met with the media on Monday.

One of the biggest topics of the week was wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., who opted out of the remainder of the season and declared for the 2021 NFL Draft the day after the loss to Texas A&M.

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Orgeron said he had heard nothing of Marshall planning to opt out until Sunday morning but that he handled the business decision “like a man.”

Orgeron also said the Tigers would be without fullback Tory Carter when they face the Crimson Tide this weekend.

Orgeron also said wide receiver Racey McMath would likely be missing.

The original date for the Alabama game was postponed after COVID-19 concerns surrounding the LSU football program, and Orgeron had a candid response when he was asked if the Tigers were a better football team since Nov. 14, when the game was supposed to be played.

Orgeron had praise for his offensive line, a unit that struggled toward the beginning of the season, and spoke to the defense’s improvements as well.

We saw both quarterbacks — TJ Finley and Max Johnson — make an appearance on Saturday. The only reason Johnson entered the game was to try some quarterback runs with Johnson, which didn’t work.

LSU and Alabama are set to kick off at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday in Tiger Stadium.

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Report Card: Grading LSU after difficult loss to Texas A&M

LSU received some tough grades following its 20-7 loss to Texas A&M. The defense earned some high marks, but that was not enough for LSU.

The grades for LSU are in after the Tigers lost Saturday night against Texas A&M. And those grades are not particularly pretty this week. While there are at least a couple of bright spots to highlight in LSU’s loss, the review of this game was not too kind to the Tigers.

Here is the report card for LSU after its 2-0-7 loss to the Aggies this weekend.

Quarterbacks: D

It can be really easy to be incredibly down on TJ Finley after the kind of performance he had against Texas A&M. Two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown and completing just nine of 25 pass attempts would certainly seem to be a slam dunk case for a failing grade. However, we’ll give Finley a slight pass because he was up against one of the best defenses in the country, on the road. There wasn’t much to be proud of, but perhaps this is just one stumble that serves as a learning experience.

MAx Johnson did come into the game and led LSU to a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to avoid being shut out by the Aggies.

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