The Bengal Tiger LIVE Thread + Blog: Oklahoma vs. LSU
LSU takes on Oklahoma in the regular season finale on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT in Tiger Stadium in the first meeting for these two teams in the SEC. The Tigers and Sooner have met twice since 1950 with LSU winning in the 2004 Sugar Bowl and in the 2019 Peach Bowl, both leading to National Championships for the Tigers.
Now, the two teams meet outside of the playoff picture in conference play, looking to end the year strong as Brent Venables and Brian Kelly both end year three at their respective schools.
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The LIVE Game Blog: Oklahoma vs. LSU
LSU strikes first in Death Valley
11/30/2024 06:41:32 PMFresh off a 24-3 win over Oklahoma, the Sooners flew to Baton Rouge as 6-point underdogs against LSU in Tiger Stadium. Oklahoma won the toss and deferred to the second half, and after both teams traded punts to open the game, LSU struck first with a touchdown on a 7-play, 53-yard drive that ended with Garrett Nussmeier finding an open Kyren Lacy for the walk-in touchdown from 18 yards out.
Oklahoma scoop-and-score even its right away
11/30/2024 06:48:38 PMThe LSU defense gave up just 17 yards across five plays to force Oklahoma to punt twice in a row to open the game. For an offense that had run all over the Tide a week ago, it was a great start defensively for the Tigers. Unfortunately, the offensive line missteps continued when center DJ Chester got beat on third down, which resulted in not just a sack on Nussmeier, but a forced fumble, scoop and score from nine yards out. Just like that, the score was even at 7-7 as the first quarter came to a close.
Nussmeier heads to the injury tent, then locker room
11/30/2024 07:03:49 PMWith LSU and Oklahoma tied at 7-7 in the second quarter, a hit on Nussmeier sent him into the injury tent. He then left the injury tent not wearing his jersey or pads and headed to the locker room as the 2nd quarter got rolling. Backup quarterback AJ Swann, a former Vanderbilt starter who transferred in ahead of this season, is now in at quarterback.
LSU defense forces three straight punts to open the game
11/30/2024 07:09:22 PMWhile the offense punted, scored a touchdown and punted after Nussmeier’s injury, the defense stood tall once more to force a punt for the third time in three OU possessions. In 11 plays, the Sooners had just 23 yards and one first down. With Nussmeier out and Swann at quarterback for LSU, freshman running back Caden Durham broke free for 50 yards on the first play of the series, but Swann missed badly on his lone two throws of the drive while also taking a delay of game. That led to LSU kicker Damian Ramos hitting a 34-yard field goal to give LSU the 10-7 lead.
Oklahoma takes the lead with a 3-play scoring drive
11/30/2024 07:18:29 PMJackson Arnold hit on a 50-yard pass on LSU safety Major Burns to open the drive, and two plays later, Arnold took it himself for 28 yards to the goal line before the Sooners got into the end zone on a two-yard run to take the lead for the first time at 14-10.
Nussmeier gets loose as Aaron Anderson takes back the lead
11/30/2024 07:27:45 PMJust when it felt like Oklahoma was going to make good on LSU having a backup quarterback, the Sooners took the lead and Nussmeier jogged back out from the locker room and got loose on the sidelines during the TV timeout. But he wasn’t needed just yet. Oklahoma’s kickoff to LSU wide receiver Aaron Anderson saw the former Alabama signee turned transfer take the kickoff 100 yards for the touchdown to immediately re-take the lead for the Tigers. For Anderson, it was flashes of the head-turning plays on special teams he delivered as a Top 100 prospect coming out of New Orleans in high school. With seven minutes until half, Anderson’s 100-yard scoring run gave LSU a 17-14 lead.
Oklahoma ties the game as halftime nears
11/30/2024 07:32:13 PM45 yards in 11 plays gave the Sooners a long field goal to tie the game at 17-17 with 2:13 left in the first half as LSU’s defense stood tall once Oklahoma got near the red zone. The key play: a third down stop by Whit Weeks and a swarming LSU defense on a run by Arnold that forced OU to settle for the field goal.
Nuss returns to the game and delivers a TD strike to Hilton
11/30/2024 07:47:42 PMThe x-rays on Nussmeier’s shoulder came back negative following a trip to the locker room, and he returned to the game and delivered a 40-yard strike for a touchdown to Chris Hilton, the first on the year for the veteran receiver who was injured the first two months of the season. Oklahoma allowed the clock to run out on the half after LSU took the 24-17 lead with 45 seconds left in the second quarter.
HALFTIME: LSU 24, Oklahoma 17
11/30/2024 07:50:24 PMThe return of Nussmeier and touchdown drive with two minutes left until halftime gave LSU a touchdown lead in a half when the Tigers held Oklahoma’s offense to 0-for-4 on third down attempts.
Another deep ball TD from Nussmeier to Hilton
11/30/2024 08:24:09 PMConsider it the Chris Hilton Statement Game of the season. After battling back from injury to return to the field for the November stretch of the schedule, Hilton struggled the past few games with his timing and drops. On Saturday night, Hilton scored on back-to-back drives to close out the first half and begin the second half. Once again, it was a deep ball from Nussmeier to Hilton for the score, this time on a 45-yard touchdown strike. With that, LSU took a 31-17 lead into the fourth quarter.
