LSU's offense ranks among NCAA's best entering Week 4

LSU started the season ranked No. 5 in the AP Top 25 poll, but a week one loss to Florida State in a matchup of Top 10 teams slid the Tigers backwards.

After dropping to No. 14 following the FSU loss, LSU moved two spots up to No. 12 with an impressive showing in Starkville to start Southeastern Conference play.

The Tigers jumped on Mississippi State early and didn’t let up in a 41-14 win, which brought with it an impressive display on both offense and defense.

While LSU dropped the opener to the Seminoles, one thing is becoming clear after three weeks of the season.

The Tigers have one of the best offenses in college football.

LSU’s offense is off to a fast start to 2023

LSU offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock was able to yield some impressive results for the Tigers during his first season in 2022.

With a transfer quarterback and a new system being installed, Denbrock and the staff put the pieces in place for LSU to finish with one of the Top 25 scoring offenses in the country.

One year later, Denbrock is joined by the same four on-field staffers the Tigers had coaching up the offense in 2022. Beyond coaching cohesion, there’s returning talent on the field.

LSU brought back not only quarterback Jayden Daniels, but also five offensive linemen, three wide receivers, a tight end and multiple running backs who made starts for the Tigers en route to winning the SEC West a year ago.

After three weeks, it’s clear the Tigers are moving in the right direction in Year 2 of the Brian Kelly era.

LSU’s averaging 537 yards per game on offense, which ranks No. 1 in the SEC and No. 6 nationally. A year ago, the Tigers averaged 453 yards per game, which ranked No. 6 in the SEC and No. 28 nationally.

LSU also enters Week 4 of the season as one of the NCAA’s Top 10 scoring offense with 45.7 points per game, which is good for No. 2 in the SEC behind Ole Miss (52.7). The Tigers finished the 2022 season with the NCAA’s No. 24 scoring average with 34.5 points per game.

As a team, LSU ranks No. 10 in the NCAA in passing offense with an average of 344.3 yards per game.

Jayden Daniels making waves in his final season

One of the keys to the success of the offense is quarterback Jayden Daniels, who entered the year with the third-most starts among any quarterback in college football.

He was one of the NCAA’s best dual-threat quarterbacks in 2022, and Daniels set a number of LSU single-season records – including the most rushing yards and rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in program history.

Now, Daniels is flashing because of not just his legs, but also his arm.

Denbrock said this offseason that Daniels was working towards taking more downfield shots in the passing game, and he had a breakout game in that department in the win at Mississippi State when he finished with 361 passing yards. After going 30-for-34 passing against the Bulldogs, his completion percentage (88.2%) was the best single-game mark by any quarterback in LSU history (minimum 25 throws).

With four quarters played against FSU, two quarters against Grambling State and three quarters against Mississippi State, Daniels is proving to be one of the best quarterbacks in college football.

Across the three-game stretch, Daniels is 70-for-95 passing (74%) for 976 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception.

How do those numbers stack up?

Daniels’ 325 passing yards per game ranks No. 1 in the SEC and No. 4 in the NCAA.

His 10.3 yards per attempt is the second-most in the conference behind Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart (12.5), and eight touchdown passes are tied for most in the SEC among teams that have played three games.

Then, there’s the threat LSU’s starting quarterback brings with his legs.

Daniels has logged 157 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. The rushing total ranks No. 11 among all players in the SEC and No. 2 among quarterbacks, and he’s tied with Dart for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback entering Week 4.

Nabers, Thomas are an impressive 1-2 punch at WR

LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers put on a show in Starkville when he hauled in 13 catches on 13 targets for 239 yards and two touchdowns.

It’s the best single-game showing of Nabers’ career, and it’s put him firmly in the conversation for the most productive receiver in college football.

After three weeks, Nabers ranks No. 1 in the SEC and No. 3 in the NCAA in receiving yards with 393.

His 24 catches ranks inside the Top 10 nationally and No. 2 in the SEC behind fellow Louisiana native Will Sheppard, though Vanderbilt has played in four games.

And he’s not the only LSU wideout making his mark.

Brian Thomas Jr. also ranks in the Top 5 in the SEC in yards per game with 93.3. The fast start puts the junior inside the Top 25 nationally for receiving yards per game, and his three touchdowns, the same number as Nabers, is tied for fourth-most in the SEC.