Whit Weeks – Syndication Server

LSU vs. Texas A&M: Preview and prediction ahead of Tigers’ pivotal Week 9 matchup

Here’s what to watch for when LSU and Texas A&M hit the field on Saturday night.

LSU and Texas A&M will battle for sole first place in the SEC on Saturday night. The two programs are the last remaining undefeated units in conference play and the winner enters the driver’s seat for a trip to Atlanta and the College Football Playoff.

Dating back to 2017, the Tigers and Aggies have traded wins. Texas A&M wins in College Station and LSU wins in Baton Rouge — that’s the script of the last six years.

LSU’s last win at Kyle Field was in November of 2016. It was the final game of Ed Orgeron’s interim stint before being named head coach, so it’s been a minute.

A&M is led by first-year head coach Mike Elko, a former assistant of Brian Kelly’s at Notre Dame. Elko had success at Duke and already has A&M on an upward swing.

Both teams are expecting to compete for the playoff late into November and a win on Saturday all but secures that.

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect when LSU and Texas A&M hit the field.

LSU vs. Texas A&M Betting lines

Spread: Texas A&M -1
Total: 54.5
Moneyline: Texas A&M -115

All College Football Odds via BetMGM.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

The line moved in LSU’s favor throughout the week. LSU was a field goal underdog at one point, but A&M is only getting a point now, per BetMGM.

Vegas is expecting a close one with an implied score of 28-27.

Despite a 6-1 record, Texas A&M is 2-5 against the spread. The two covers came against Florida and Missouri, but A&M failed to cover against Mississippi State last week.

LSU began the year 0-4 ATS, but has covered three straight spreads. LSU is rounding into form, but Kelly and Tiger fans will hope for another step on Saturday.

As for the total, it reflects the balance both teams are playing with. LSU and A&M are playing good football on both sides of the ball right now.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

When LSU has the ball

LSU’s offensive line vs. Texas A&M’s defensive front is the matchup to watch.

A&M’s front seven is loaded with talent and the duo of Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton off the edge is dangerous. But LSU’s line isn’t new to this challenge,

The Tigers faced one of the SEC’s top pass rushes when it faced South Carolina and another good one against Ole Miss. LSU QB [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] has taken one sack all year and I expect LSU’s protection to hold up again on Saturday.

The real test is in the run game. LSU’s offensive line doesn’t get a consistent push against top defensive lines. According to GameOnPaper.com, LSU ranks 99th in rushing success rate — a mark that won’t get LSU where it wants to go.

A&M will be able to keep LSU off schedule and stuff a few runs, but LSU’s offense knows how to operate in passing downs.

That’s what this matchup comes down to. Can A&M cover LSU or get to Nussmeier when the Tigers get in 2nd and 3rd and long?

When Texas A&M has the ball

Mike Elko tabbed Colin Klein to run the Aggies’ offense. Game 1 was rough as A&M struggled to score against Notre Dame. But since Week 1, there’s been a steady improvement.

A&M showcases a balanced attack that ranks above average in EPA/run and EPA/pass. Connor Weigman is averaging over 10 yards per attempt since returning from injury and RB Le’Veon Moss has proven to be a bellcow in the backfield.

The key for LSU’s defense: ensuring efficient plays don’t turn into explosive plays.

Nearly 65% of Weigman’s passing attempts travel nine air yards or less. A&M will get the ball out quickly and hope its skill guys make a play. It’s on LSU’s secondary to prevent those plays from getting mad.

A&M can take the completions that are there, but LSU must limit the catch-and-run opportunities.

The same can be said for Moss running the ball. Four to five yards per carry is fine as long as he’s not ripping off 15-yard runs. If LSU tackles well, A&M has to earn its points drive after drive. I’m not sure the Aggie offense is ready to do that yet.

LSU vs. Texas A&M Prediction

If this comes down to what offense makes just enough plays to win, I trust LSU. Nussmeier gives LSU a reliable QB to come through on third down and Durham has the elusiveness to rip off big runs.

I think LB [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] continues to lead a defensive renaissance and LSU keeps the Aggie offense in check.

I like to cover and win, 27-23.

Spread Pick: LSU +1

Total pick: Under

[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″]

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

3 LSU football players to watch ahead of Texas A&M’s Week 9 matchup

Here are three LSU players to watch ahead of Texas A&M’s Week 9 primetime matchup

Texas A&M (6-1, 4-0 SEC) has won six consecutive games after falling to Notre Dame in the 2024 season opener.

The Aggies came out of Starkville (MS) with a 34-24 win over Mississippi State in Week 8 and will now host 8th-ranked LSU on Saturday night for a primetime matchup with plenty of postseason implications on the line.

This week, head coach Mike Elko and select players took questions from the media, previewing what looks like one of the year’s biggest games. Both teams are 6-1 and undefeated in SEC play.

For the Aggies to earn a victory, starting quarterback Conner Weigman will need to play with more confidence and better footwork. In contrast, Texas A&M’s pass rush will need to pressure LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier to make quick decisions in the pocket.

Look at the top LSU players the Aggies will face on Saturday night.

LB Whitt Weeks

After it was announced that linebacker and top pass rusher Harold Perkins Jr. would miss the rest of the 2024 regular season, LSU’s defense had to step up in his absence, especially at linebacker. Enter sophomore backer Whitt Weeks, who is currently second in the SEC in tackles (68), including his 18-tackle performance in LSU’s 29-26 OT win over Ole Miss.

Weeks’ speed, instincts, and enhanced pass rush prowess (2.5 sacks) could be a problem for the Aggie running game.

RB Caden Durham

LSU’s offense has become more balanced over the last three weeks, mainly due to dynamic freshman running back Caden Durham’s physical running style, pairing well with what wide receiver Kyren Lacy brings to the passing game.

While I could have easily chosen Lacy as the player to watch, LSU head coach Bryan Kelly will more than likely want to run the football early, meaning Texas A&M’s improved run defense needs to plug holes and, most importantly, set the edge early to force QB Garrett Nussmeier to pass more than he’d like.

In six games this season, Durham has rushed for 382 yards and six touchdowns with an impressive 6.2-yard per carry average.

QB Garrett Nussmeier

Junior LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier stayed the course the last two years after playing behind current Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels when he could have easily transferred elsewhere.

Through seven games this season, the junior signal-caller is a clear Heisman candidate, throwing for 2,222 yards, 18 touchdowns, and six interceptions, consistently displacing impressive accuracy and ball placement, and is by far the team’s MVP and the main reason for the program’s 6-1 record.

Texas A&M’s secondary struggled in the first half against Mississippi State last Saturday, but it adjusted in the second half. However, facing Nussmeier and LSU’s bookend NFL-level tackles is by far the defenses’ most significant challenge this season.

Texas A&M will host LSU at home on Saturday, Oct. 26th, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ABC.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

5 stats that defined LSU’s Week 8 win over Arkansas

These five numbers defined LSU’s 34-10 win over Arkansas.

LSU fans are accustomed to anxiety filled battles with Arkansas. That wasn’t the case on Saturday night with LSU securing a 34-10 win in Fayetteville.

Brian Kelly said it after the game — LSU played to its standard for four quarters.

LSU was inconsistent to begin the year. The Tigers dropped the opener to USC and struggled to pull away from FCS Nicholls State in Week 2. In Week 3, LSU had to scratch and claw to get a win vs. South Carolina. The following week, LSU let a bad UCLA team hang around in Tiger Stadium.

Then LSU figured some things out. It played a complete game against South Alabama before upsetting No. 9 Ole Miss. The win on Saturday was further proof of this team’s upward trend.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said this is a good time to be getting better and it looks like LSU is doing just that.

Here are five numbers that defined LSU’s win over Arkansas.

Whit Weeks: 5 pressures and a sack

[autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] is turning into a star at linebacker for LSU. He’s taken a huge leap under first-year defensive coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] and proven to be critical for LSU’s defensive turnaround.

Weeks balled out again in week seven, notching five pressures, a sack, and a pick. Weeks is becoming a guy who opposing offenses have to circle.

He made five stops in the run game too and his 37 stops on the year lead all SEC linebackers.

Arkansas: -0.40 EPA/rush

The game plan for LSU was simple: stop Arkansas’ run game.

The Razorbacks’ identity over the first half of the year relied on creating explosive plays on the ground, whether it was QB Taylen Green scrambling for first downs or RB Ja’Quinden Jackson breaking tackles.

LSU neutralized the rushing attack, holding Arkansas to -0.40 EPA/rush, a number that put the Razorbacks in the fourth percentile.

Green was one of the SEC’s most explosive rushers entering the week but ended with three carries for 14 yards.

Nussmeier: 22/33 through the air

Nussmeier wasn’t explosive in this one, but he protected the ball and took what the defense gave him. You can’t go broke making a profit and LSU made a profit through the air on Saturday night.

Nussmeier’s week eight completion rate of 66.7%, the second-best of any SEC QB.

It was needed after Nussmeier’s shaky performance against Ole Miss. He looked comfortable from start to finish against Arkansas, a positive sign for LSU moving forward.

Caden Durham: 101 yards and three touchdowns

[autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] continued his emergence against Arkansas. Durham wasn’t a rotational piece — he was the feature back. His 21 carries were a career-high, well over his previous mark of 12.

Durham averaged 4.8 yards per carry and scored three times. With LSU behind the chains on its first drive, Durham ripped off a 22-yard touchdown run to put LSU on the board. That’s the element LSU was missing to start the year.

LSU’s run game remains a work in progress, but Durham has it pointing up.

LSU offense: 89% of available yards

LSU’s average starting field position was its own 42-yard line. That fact along with LSU picking up 89% of its available yards allowed the Tigers to control the game.

LSU remained on schedule and moved the ball all night long. LSU didn’t always cash in for a touchdown, but kicker [autotag]Damian Ramos[/autotag] did a good job of ensuring LSU got points.

The Arkansas defense didn’t have many answers as LSU averaged over 50 yards per drive.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Tigers see another boost in US LBM Coaches Poll after blowout win over Arkansas

The Tigers jumped Alabama after taking care of business against Arkansas.

It was a business-like win on the road for LSU in Week 8 against Arkansas.

The Tigers jumped out to a 10-0 lead early but allowed the Razorbacks to hang around into the second half before a [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] interception to set up a touchdown started to put the game out of reach. They ultimately pulled away to win 34-10.

They already ranked No. 8 in both polls entering the week, and now, they’ve moved up one spot in the US LBM Coaches Poll, jumping rival Alabama as the Crimson Tide fell at Tennessee. The Tigers are the third highest-ranked SEC team and one of four in the top 10.

In the AP Top 25, the Tigers didn’t move and remain No. 8. Here’s the full coaches poll entering Week 9.

Week 8 US LBM Coaches Poll

Rank	Team	Record	Points
1	Oregon	7-0	1,323 (51)
2	Georgia	6-1	1,238 (2)
3	Penn State	6-0	1,197
4	Ohio State	5-1	1,107
5	Miami (FL)	7-0	1,087
6	Texas	6-1	1,082
7	LSU	6-1	946
8	Tennessee	6-1	916
9	Clemson	6-1	907
10	Iowa State	7-0	829
11	Notre Dame	6-1	809
12	BYU	7-0	740
13	Indiana	7-0	651
14	Texas A&M	6-1	641
15	Alabama	5-2	554
16	Kansas State	6-1	488
17	Missouri	6-1	486
18	Ole Miss	5-2	444
19	Boise State	5-1	379
20	Pittsburgh	6-0	359
21	Illinois	6-1	347
22	SMU	6-1	249
23	Army	7-0	185
24	Navy	6-0	115
25	Vanderbilt	5-2	37

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

5 takeaways from LSU’s win over Arkansas in Week 8

Five takeaways from LSU’s blowout win of rival Arkansas.

With a trip to Arkansas sandwiched in between ranked contests against Ole Miss and Texas A&M, LSU’s meeting with the Razorbacks had “trap game” written all over it.

LSU avoided the trap on Saturday night. The last four meetings between these programs were decided by three points, but LSU got a comfortable win in this one. Despite being just 2.5-point favorites, LSU won 34-10.

If you’ve been paying attention to the SEC this year, then you’ll take a 24-point road win any day. For now, LSU is staying out of the chaos, and that’s good news for Tigers fans.

LSU led wire to wire in this one. [autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] put LSU on the board on the opening drive and LSU outscored Arkansas 18-3 in the second half to put the game away.

Durham led the way with 101 yards and three scores on the ground. CJ Daniels, in his return from injury, led LSU in receiving with 86 yards.

Here are five takeaways from a big SEC win.

LSU wins the turnover battle

LSU protected the football and forced three turnovers of its own.

The biggest one came with five minutes left to go in the third. LSU put pressure on Arkansas QB Taylen Green, with a tipped pass leading to a Whit Weeks interception.

The turnover set LSU up on Arkansas’ two-yard line and LSU needed one play to punch it in for a score.

That put LSU up 24-10 and in control of the game. On a night where penalties killed LSU, the turnovers were key.

Tigers glad to have CJ Daniels back

Veteran receiver [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] was out against Ole Miss, but his return was welcome on Saturday night.

LSU got Daniels involved early. Nussmeier took a shot for Daniels on the opening drive that led to a pass interference putting LSU in position to score.

Daniels was critical in the quick game too, with LSU taking what the Arkansas defensive was giving it.

With seven catches for 86 yards, it was Daniels’ most productive night of the year.

LSU was efficient, but not explosive

The explosiveness element of LSU’s offense continues to be inconsistent, but LSU was efficient on Saturday, finishing with a success rate in the 88th percentile.

LSU kept the ball moving and picked up first downs as needed. Despite a lack of chunk yardage plays, LSU didn’t have to stress for yards in this one.

The Tigers finished with a success rate of 58% through the air. That’ll do after Nussmeier struggled to get comfortable last week.

Caden Durham is the feature back

With [autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] healthy again, LSU gave the true freshman the bulk of the work. He carried it 21 times while Kaleb Jackson and Josh Williams combined for just 10 carries.

On 22 touches, Durham totaled 108 yards.

It’s been a while since LSU’s had a true feature back, but Durham looks to be rounding into form. There will be some more growing pains, but LSU has a home threat with Durham in the backfield.

He’s given this run game the jolt it needed after struggling to start the year.

Win sets up showdown with Texas A&M

LSU has another big one next week with a road trip to College Station. Just like LSU, Texas A&M opened the year with a loss but has rolled since then.

The winner of next week’s game should control its own destiny on the way to a potential SEC title and playoff appearance.

If LSU wins, the Tigers will add another significant win to its resume, allowing LSU room for error in November.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Stock Up, Stock Down: LSU gets a big win over Arkansas

The Tigers impressed on the road, taking care of business against Arkansas in Week 8.

LSU took a trip to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks in a game where a lot of analysts picked the Hogs to win. Unfortunately for them, that was not the case.

[autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] came back for the Tigers in this one and [autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] also had a great game as LSU ran away with a 34-10 victory. The only real negative I could find from this game is that LSU had more penalties than Arkansas.

Let’s look at who saw their stock rise and who saw their stock fall in the Tigers’ win over the Razorbacks in Week 8.

Stock Up: CJ Daniels

[autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] had seven catches for 86 yards in his first game back from injury. He provided a spark for the offense and got some heat off of [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag].

Stock Up: Caden Durham

Once again, [autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] served as the bell cow for the Tigers as he carried the ball 21 times for 101 yards and three touchdowns. He was a breath of fresh air for the Tigers offense.

Stock Up: Whit Weeks

[autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] led the team in tackles for the second game in a row. He finished the night with nine tackles and an interception for the Tigers.

Stock Down: Penalties

LSU finished with more penalties than Arkansas with 11 to the Hogs seven. I had to look for a downside to the win tonight so here it is.

Stock Up: Big win on the road

LSU went into hostile territory in Fayetteville and came out with a big 34-10 win over the Hogs. The Tigers move to 6-1 and could move up in the standings after a loss by Alabama and either Texas or Georgia.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Ranking LSU’s 5 most impactful players at the midway point of the 2024 season

At the midway point, which five players have been most critical to LSU’s success?

With six games in the books, LSU is 5-1 at the midway point of its regular season. LSU is one win away from bowl eligibility, but the Tigers have much bigger goals than that.

LSU notched its biggest win of the year on Saturday, upsetting No. 9 Ole Miss in front of a packed Tiger Stadium crowd. The win jolted LSU back into the playoff discussion while delivering a blow to the Rebels’ title odds.

Here, we’ll take a look at LSU’s five most impactful players through the first six games. A few names on this list are playing as expected. We knew a guy like [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] would have a big year. But we’ll also look at the defensive side of the ball, where stars have emerged.

If LSU wants to make the playoff and compete for the SEC, it will need these five players to continue to play like stars.

1. QB Garrett Nussmeier

Nussmeier had big shoes to fill stepping in for Heisman winner [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], but he’s delivered so far.

Nussmeier is nearing 2,000 yards on the year and surpassed 300 yards in five of six starts. Nussmeier’s thrown 18 touchdowns and ran for two more.

The play isn’t perfect and Nussmeier lacks the rushing ability Daniels had, but Nussmeier’s best moments are brilliant.

He makes NFL throws, showcasing arm strength, accuracy, and anticipation. Nussmeier struggled early against Ole Miss but was flawless late in the fourth quarter and in overtime. LSU has a QB that can the plays to will its team to a win.

2. EDGE Bradyn Swinson

LSU needed a star to emerge in its front seven and that’s exactly what Bradyn Swinson’s done in 2024.

Swinson is tied for the SEC lead with 25 pressures and leads the conference with seven sacks. He’s strong against the run too, notching 16 stops.

Swinson’s best moments come right when LSU needs them. He did it against South Carolina and he did it again vs. Ole Miss, shooting the gap to make a stop on fourth and one and force a turnover.

Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart was under pressure all night and Swinson’s efforts deserve most of the credit.

If LSU keeps getting this level of play from Swinson, the defense will continue its upward trend.

3. WR Kyren Lacy

Kyren Lacy isn’t putting up the numbers Malik Nabers did last year, but he’s giving LSU what it needs from a No. 1 receiver.

Lacy went over the 100-yard mark in each of his last two games. His biggest moment of the year came in overtime against Ole Miss, where Lacy won a one-on-one battle with an Ole Miss DB to secure the game-winning touchdown.

On the year, Lacy ranks fifth in the SEC with 463 receiving yards. His six touchdowns are tied for the most in the conference.

4. LT Will Campbell

Campbell is LSU’s best player and should be one of the first players off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft. He’s in his third year as a starter after winning the left tackle job as a true freshman.

Campbell is in the midst of another all-conference campaign. Campbell is yet to allow a sack and his PFF pass-blocking grade of 84.9 is one of the best in the SEC.

Few QBs are kept as clean as Garrett Nussmeier and Campbell plays a large part in that.

5. LB Whit Weeks

LSU’s linebackers struggled last year. When DC [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] arrived at LSU this year, there wasn’t just excitement about what he’d do with the defense, but also the impact he’d make on the linebacker room.

Baker developed Damone Clark into one of the SEC’s best linebackers at LSU in 2021 and now Weeks is making a similar jump in 2024.

Weeks’ 32 stops lead all SEC linebackers and his 10 pressures are tied for second among the same group. LSU knew Weeks was talented, but a breakout campaign of this magnitude, this soon, is a pleasant surprise.

Few players were as critical to LSU’s success in the Ole Miss win than Weeks.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

3 LSU players earn weekly honors from SEC after big-time win over Ole Miss

Three LSU players received weekly SEC awards, including Offensive Player of the Week Garrett Nussmeier.

In the biggest game of the week on the SEC schedule in Week 7, LSU emerged victorious over Ole Miss.

It wasn’t a perfect game for the Tigers, who battled offensive inefficiency all night and never led until the final whistle. But they hung around to get the game to overtime, and after giving up a field goal, [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] ended the game with a touchdown pass to [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag].

As a result, Tigers players headline the SEC Players of the Week. In total, three LSU stars were honored.

Nussmeier has been named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 337 yards and three touchdowns. He had a pair of interceptions and completed just 22 of 51 passes, but he made the big plays when it mattered late in the game.

Meanwhile, [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] is the SEC Defensive Player of the Week after totaling a career-high 18 tackles, two of which were for loss, and a sack. [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag] is the Defensive Lineman of the Week totaling eight tackles (also a career-high for him) with 2.5 for loss and a pair of sacks.

The Tigers are continuing to improve and now find themselves back in the College Football Playoff race. They’ll look to keep things rolling when they travel to face Arkansas in Week 8 on Saturday night.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

5 takeaways from LSU’s overtime win over Ole Miss

Here are five takeaways from LSU’s thrilling win over Ole Miss.

LSU didn’t run a single play with the lead on Saturday night, but the Tigers led when it mattered the most — after the final play.

Down three, needing a touchdown to win, QB [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] found [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] in the endzone to upset No. 9 Ole Miss in front of a packed Tiger Stadium crowd.

LSU needed this win. A season-opening loss to USC trimmed the margin for error, but with this victory, LSU adds a signature win to its resume.

As for Ole Miss, it was the Rebels’ second loss of the year. Lane Kiffin’s group will most likely have to be perfect from here on out to remain in the playoff discussion.

LSU is right back in the thick of the national picture as SEC play heats up. The Tigers will play back-to-back road games at Arkansas and Texas A&M. Both will be tests, but LSU proved it is ready to compete on the big stage with Saturday’s win.

Here are five takeaways from LSU’s 29-26 overtime victory.

Garrett Nussmeier makes the play when it matters

[autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] didn’t play his best football on Saturday night, but he made the plays when it mattered the most. With regulation winding down, Nussmeier delivered a strike to [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] to tie the game. On the first play of overtime, Nussmeier found Lacy for six.

Nussmeier was just 22/51 on the night, but when you look back at this performance, you’re going to remember the throws to Anderson and Lacy.

Equally important, was a throw to [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] on fourth down to keep LSU alive on the final drive in the fourth.

LSU got resiliency from its senior quarterback on Saturday night.

Defense delivers

LSU opened its checkbook to land defensive coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag]. The reasons why were evident on Saturday night.

Even as the offense got off to a slow start, the defense got the necessary stops. Ole Miss’ success rate on the night was just 37%, putting the Rebels in the 30th percentile.

LSU struggled on third down, but that’s about the only complaint. LSU was aggressive and made life hard on the ground and through the air. The unit made the necessary adjustments throughout the night to come up with stops in the fourth quarter.

The secondary played well and LSU’s young corners made plays in man coverage. That’s what LSU needs if it’s going to reach the playoff.

LSU’s run game is still an issue

LSU didn’t get much from its run game. The Tigers averaged -0.25 EPA/rush, far below an acceptable mark. 50% of LSU’s runs were stopped for two yards or less and that led to trouble on later downs.

[autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] carried it 12 times for 37 yards and [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] ran it nine times for 34 yards. Both backs didn’t get much help from the offensive line as Ole Miss did a good job of plugging the holes.

We knew Ole Miss had a strong defensive front entering the night, but LSU looked outmatched when it tried to run the ball. That’s not a good sign with the defenses LSU has on deck.

LSU defense creates havoc

LSU got the big plays it needed from its defense. On the night, LSU generated 11 tackles for loss and six sacks.

[autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag] and [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] were active all night, getting pressure on Jaxson Dart and getting runs stops near or behind the line of scrimmage.

LSU knew it needed to keep Ole Miss off schedule to have a chance in this one. The big plays from the front seven prevented Kiffin’s offense from establishing a consistent rhythm.

LSU is back in the playoff race

LSU took a back seat in the playoff discussion these last few weeks, but a win over a top-10 opponent should move the needle.

It’s a long season, but this game had major playoff implications no matter the winner. LSU remains in control of its own destiny with the win while Ole Miss will need some help.

This win buys back some room for error for LSU. The Tigers can lose one down the stretch and still make the playoff at 10-2.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Stock Up, Stock Down: LSU beats Ole Miss in overtime classic

Let’s look at who saw their stock rise and who saw their stock fall in the win over the Rebels.

LSU welcomed Ole Miss into Baton Rouge for one of the biggest games of the season. The No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels were looking to remain in the top 10 and deep in the hunt for a college football playoff spot. To do that, they would have to beat No. 13 LSU under the lights of Tiger Stadium.

The Rebels led this game from the start of the second quarter until Aaron Anderson caught a touchdown pass to tie it with 27 seconds left in the fourth quarter. That led to this game going to overtime. In overtime, the Rebels got the ball first and were backed up to 4th and 25. Ole Miss hit a 57-yard field goal to give them a 26-23 lead.

On the Tigers’ first play in overtime, [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] found [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] on a 25-yard touchdown pass to win the game 29-26.

Let’s look at who saw their stock rise and who saw their stock fall in this game.

Stock Up: Aaron Anderson

[autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] had another big game as he caught a touchdown pass late to tie the game at 23. He finished the night with three receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown against Ole Miss.

Stock Down: Run Game

Once again, LSU was unable to run the ball in a big game. The Tigers finished the night with 84 yards on 24 carries. That is an average of only 3.5 yards a carry. That will not get the job done in the biggest games. With the offensive line the Tigers have, they should be able to get over 100 yards on the ground.

Stock Up: Whit Weeks

(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

[autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] had the best game of his career against Ole Miss. He finished the night with a team-high 18 tackles. 10 of those tackles were solo. He was almost ejected from the game for targeting but after a review, the call was overturned.

Stock Down: Turnovers

SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The only downside I can see from this game is Nussmeier throwing two interceptions. Those two interceptions led to LSU losing the turnover battle against South Alabama. Again, it did not matter in the end, but it is something to improve on.

Stock Up: Sacks

LSU spent a lot of time in the backfield against Ole Miss. The Tigers ended the night with six total sacks compared to Ole Miss having zero. [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag] led the way with two sacks of his own.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.