LIVE Game Thread: FINAL - LSU 36, South Carolina 33

After a loss to Southern Cal in the final seconds of Week 1, LSU got in the win column with a victory over Nicholls in Week 2.

Now, the Tigers kick off Southeastern Conference play with a road game at South Carolina, which is set to kick off shortly after 11 a.m. CT in Columbia. The game will be televised on ABC and will be broadcast on radio on LSU’s network affiliates, including Eagle 98.1.

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Multiple starters are ruled “out” for LSU

Out: RB John Emery Jr., DT Jacobian Guillory, S Jordan Allen, WR Chris Hilton, EDGE Da’Shawn Womack

LSU lost running back John Emery Jr. to a torn ACL after a Week 1 loss to Southern Cal, then starting defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory went down with a season-ending achilles injury during LSU’s Week 2 win over Nicholls.

While starting wide receiver Chris Hilton will remain sidelined for the third time in three games, two more notable names on defense won’t play vs. South Carolina – including a starter in the defensive backfield. Jordan Allen, who started at safety for LSU the first two weeks, is listed as out, while backup EDGE rusher and former 5-star Da’Shawn Womack is listed as out after playing just four snaps in Week 2.

What it means: Emery’s absence saw the Tigers move defensive back Ju’Juan Johnson to running back, and he caught all three of his targets and scored a touchdown in the win over Nicholls. Still, the top two running backs on roster remain Josh Williams and Kaleb Jackson, and it’s a position the Tigers hope to get going as SEC play begins after struggling to run the football across the opening two weeks of the season.

LSU head coach Brian Kelly said the loss of Guillory will see LSU rotate a number of players in at defensive tackle, though freshman and former 5-star Dominick McKinley is battling turf toe and is not expected to be see the field, though he was not listed on the team’s injury report. Kelly said defensive end Paris Shand will slide inside defensive tackle, while the Tigers plan to rotate in a number of defensive tackles like transfers Gio Paez and Jay’viar Suggs, JUCO signee Shone Washington and players returning from the 2023 roster in Jalen Lee and Kimo Makane’ole. True freshman Ahmad Breaux also saw 16 snaps on the defensive line in Week 2’s win over Nicholls.

LSU will continue forward with the same wide receivers the Tigers worked with across the first two weeks, which includes the return of redshirt freshman Kyle Parker.

With Womack sidelined, Bradyn Swinson will get the start at the EDGE rusher position, and Kelly said true freshman Gabriel Reliford – who saw 25 snaps against Nicholls – is expected to be in the rotation on defense.

The most notable absence could be Allen, which leaves LSU in need of a replacement at safety after the Lafayette native started for the Tigers against Southern Cal and Nicholls. With the return of Zy Alexander at cornerback, Sage Ryan has moved back to safety. Kelly said the Tigers will bring more 4-3 looks on defense against the Gamecocks, which puts Harold Perkins, Whit Weeks and Greg Penn III on the field at the same time. That means the “STAR” position, a fifth defensive back spot occupied by Major Burns across the first two games, would come off the field. Now, the question becomes who starts at safety among a trio of veterans in Ryan, Burns and Jardin Gilbert and fast-rising true freshman Dashawn Spears.

The “Probable” and “Questionable” list for the Tigers

Probable: CB Zy Alexander

Questionable: LB West Weeks

Alexander played 34 snaps in Week 2 and was LSU’s highest-graded defender on PFF, which is great news given he’s returning from a season-ending knee injury after making eight consecutive starts during the 2023 season. While listed as probable, there have not been any reported setbacks with Alexander ahead of the SEC road matchup.

Weeks has been listed as questionable throughout the week, and his absence would leave LSU defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Blake Baker relying heavily on the trio of Harold Perkins, Whit Weeks and Greg Penn III at linebacker.

LSU offensive guard Garrett Dellinger, who sat out of the Week 2 win over Nicholls, is not listed on the injury report, meaning the Tigers will have the team’s five starting offensive linemen back against South Carolina.