LSU reminds everyone why its still a contender with bell-clubbing of Mississippi State
LSU laid down in the second half against Florida State, leading many to overreact about the Tigers’ 2023 potential as a national title contender.
Perhaps that had more to do with the Seminoles’ potential this fall.
LSU looked every bit like one of the better teams in the country Saturday, impressively answering the bell on the road at Mississippi State by going full-clanga on the Bulldogs in a 41-14 blowout win.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels was sensational, accounting for 425 total yards and four touchdowns. The Arizona State transfer had the best game of his career, throwing with precision (30 of 34) and deep-ball accuracy (five completions over 25 yards). Daniels started the afternoon with his hair on fire, going 21 of 22 for 255 yards and two scores in the first half — his lone incompletion was a throwaway.
He targeted ex-Bulldogs wideout Malik Nabers 13 times for 13 catches, as Nabers torched his former team on fades from the slot and double-moves out wide. He finished the game with 239 yards and two scores — out-gaining Mississippi State by 38 yards by himself.
Defensively, LSU completely suffocated Mississippi State’s new-look offense. The Bulldogs’ transition from the Air Raid to a pro-style attack ain’t it, as the Tigers loaded the box and dared State to beat them on the perimeter.
The Bulldogs barely tried.
Before garbage time, LSU forced five 3-and-outs and had four sacks and seven tackles for loss. Savion Jones, Whit Weeks and Mekhi Wingo all made plays in the box, as the Tigers stuffed the Bulldogs’ ground game (94 rushing yards allowed — 52 of which came on one run). Defensive coordinator Matt House finally unleashed Harold Perkins Jr. a bit as an edge rusher, as the sophomore phenom recorded his first sack of the season.
It was a complete performance. A dominating effort. The complimentary football Brian Kelly has been pinning for.
This version of LSU is capable of winning the SEC West for the second straight season. This version of Jayden Daniels is the best quarterback in the SEC.
The Tigers face many more tests ahead, starting with Arkansas next weekend, but Brian Kelly’s team needed this performance. The reason so many were high on the Tigers entering the season was because of their high-end talent and coaching continuity (one of two SEC teams with the same head coach, starting QB and both coordinators). Both were on display in Starkville.
An ugly season-opener loss to Florida State remains on the resume. LSU still has no margin for error. But if the Tigers play like they did against Mississippi State the rest of the season, they might just find themselves in a rematch with the FSU come January.