The LSU Tigers opened the 2020 season with a disappointing 44-34 loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
It was an unexpected one, considering the Tigers were 16.5-point favorites heading into the matchup. LSU is no stranger to unlikely losses though, save last year’s historical season.
Under Ed Orgeron during the 2017 season, LSU entered its matchup against the Troy Trojans as the favorite by three touchdowns. Instead, LSU recorded an embarrassing 24-21 loss that still stings for Tigers fans to this day.
With the victory, Troy became the the first team from outside the Southeastern Conference to win on the Tigers’ turf since UAB back in 2000.
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They also ended the Tigers’ streak of 49 consecutive home victories over non-league opponents.
The Trojans were dominant early on in the matchup, putting up leads of 17-0 and 24-7 before a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes from quarterback Danny Etling to Russell Gage and Foster Moreau brought LSU within a field goal.
But a failed onside kick and a Blace Brown interception at the Troy 42 with 11 seconds left in the game sealed LSU’s fate.
Troy forced four turnovers on the day, with Etling and fellow quarterback Myles Brennan each throwing an interception.
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Head coach Ed Orgeron said the Tigers didn’t downplay their opponent, and that it was more about overall team performance.
“We did not look past Troy,” he said after the game. “This was about us. We did not play well.”
The 2020 Tigers will look to redeem themselves as they travel to Nashville, Tennessee to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores at 6:30 p.m. CST on Saturday in Vanderbilt Stadium.
On thing that sticks out about this year’s Vandy team is that it looks stronger — and could have a similar type of sneaky upset potential that the Trojans proved to have three years ago.
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The Commodores came within five points of the Texas A&M Aggies last week, and the team has a respectable quarterback in Ken Seals, who completed 20-of-29 passing attempts for 150 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in the loss.
It will be interesting to see how this one shakes out as the Tigers have a lot of fixing to do moving forward this year.
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