Maason Smith reacts to missing game vs. Florida State

LSU had one big disadvantage in its season opener against Florida State and it’s that star defensive tackle Maason Smith wasn’t available due to suspension.

Smith was serving a one-game NCAA suspension for receiving impermissible benefits stemming from an autograph signing he did in the summer of 2021. He had to watch as his team ultimately caved in the second half of a 45-24 defeat.

“It was real tough,” Smith said. “I mean just having to sit out against them, knowing that I hurt myself last year against them and didn’t really get to finish what I started against them. But at the end of the day got to keep going, keep pushing and just worry about the next opponent.”

Smith’s absence was a blow for the Tigers, who seemed to wear down in the trenches late.

He was suspended because he suffered a season-ending injury against Florida State in the season opener a year ago, which prevented him from serving the suspension during the 2022 campaign, like teammate Kayshon Boutte, who also took part in the autograph signing.

But that’s neither here nor there now.

Smith is back eligible and ready to roll after missing an entire year. He has battled an ankle sprain in fall camp, so he might not quite be 100%. He should be ready to roll, though.

And like many of his LSU teammates, Smith is ready to move on from the opening week disappointment.

“Honestly we are really trying to forget about that and just put it behind us, because we do have a very long season ahead of us and you can only take this week by week or you might get overwhelmed with the schedule that we’ve got coming up,” he said. “But yeah, just trying to leave everything that we had going on in Orlando, just leave it in the past and focus in on the next week, next opponent, next matchups.”

LSU will get one week to tune things up before SEC play begins with a road trip to Mississippi State.

The Tigers are set to host Grambling this weekend in a game that will be played under the lights in Death Valley. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET with a broadcast on ESPN+.