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By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
Following a nervy 36-33 comeback victory @ South Carolina, Brian Kelly's LSU Tigers take on first year Head Coach DeShaun Foster's alma mater UCLA Bruins in a 2021 rematch, this time within the stark-raving confines of Tiger Stadium's continued 100th anniversary celebrations.
Back in week 1 of the 2021 campaign, then-Head Coach Chip Kelly's Bruins erased former LSU Head Coach Ed Orgeron and the Tigers at the Rose Bowl 38-27, marking one of the program's most embarrassing defeats of the past decade, although a brilliant display by WR Kayshon Boutte made the scoreline appear much closer than it was on the day.
Due to the presence of some key LSU Tigers remaining on roster from that ill-fated 2021 squad, such as starting QB Garrett Nussmeier, DE Saivion Jones, OL Garrett Dellinger, WR Chris Hilton Jr (if available), DBs Sage Ryan and Major Burns among others....an eye for revenge isn't out of the realm of possibility.
These are two very different programs, now, on completely separate trajectories.....when Chip Kelly beat LSU, it appeared to be the start of something for the Bruins.....instead, they've been set back, now in rebuilding mode under debutant Head Coach DeShaun Foster, one of, if not the youngest Head Coach in all of college football.
Back in 2021, though many didn't know it, Ed Orgeron was in the twilight of his LSU tenure, with the embarrassing defeat against UCLA standing as the igniting catalyst for his firing by October.....helming a team that finished an ungodly 6-7 before current Head Coach Brian Kelly took the reins.
His line about UCLA's "sissy powder blue" uniforms will of course be recounted & echoed over the next few days, all in fun and games....however, Coach Brian Kelly's team should be ready for a 4 quarter massacre after their 3 games in 13 days gauntlet to start the campaign.
From the 107 degree desert heat of Las Vegas, back to Baton Rouge amidst Hurricane Francine's landfall, and then over to South Carolina for a noon eastern time kickoff, live on ESPN, College GameDay in attendance, amid a wild, vicious environment in Columbia all in 13 days, it'll be great for the Tigers to settle back home for nearly a month:
At Tiger Stadium against UCLA, followed by Southern Alabama next weekend, then a generous bye week, and finally, an intense showdown many have circled on their calendars between LSU and Ole Miss on October 12th.
But there's no looking ahead for Kelly and Co, as they navigate their rough schedule, recent injuries, media noise (John Talty's controversial & baseless CBS.com article making the local Baton Rouge media rounds), plus a highly coveted recruit & current 2025 class commit attending the game (5 star DJ Pickett), there's always pressure every Saturday for the Tigers to deliver.....although highly favored, this weekend vs UCLA will be no different.
Could we see LSU come out flat vs UCLA's 1-1 squad.....an opponent throwing for a mere 207 yards per game while rushing for just over 85, a program that just became chicken feed for Indiana, beaten last weekend 42-13???
I'm betting LSU will come out firing for the first time in 4 games, seize control, and never let go, although one thing we've learned about this team through 3 games???
They're survivors....willing to battle until the final snap, putting forth far more effort and will to win on defense than we witnessed last fall......QB Garrett Nussmeier forgetting a few earlier errant throws & making the biggest plays of the game to ice an opponent, an anonymous rushing game that later found its wheels behind freshman Caden Durham and may have given his offensive line much needed confidence.
Whatever UCLA throws at LSU, I have a feeling the Tigers will ride the wave, dominate UCLA, and grab their 3rd victory on the season.
While both Durham & Anderson were close to the century mark vs South Carolina (98 and 96 yards respectively), LSU's offense must make it a priority to notch their first 100 yard rusher & receiver of 2024.....not having a single Tiger hit the century mark in rushing or receiving through 3 games is depressing.
I understand, it's mostly due to our offense having more "mouths to feed", but sometimes our attack is bogged down in thar pursuit rather than riding the hot hands.
By no means will this be a "gimme game", as our 2024 Tigers seem to make it a hallmark to start games slowly, but I expect LSU's squad to be ready to put on the performance they should have against Nicholls State:
Build your confidence, continue making plays, forcing turnovers (now that our defense has a taste for it finally), get your sacks, rake in the TFLs, try & grab a defensive score.....but more than anything, keep UCLA's points total under 20....for the first time this campaign, allowing 27 to USC, 21 to Nicholls State, and now 33 to South Carolina's pisspoor offense, it's time for Blake Baker's defense to take every element they succeeded in from each game (overall performance in week 1 vs USC, strong second half & positive lineup changes vs Nicholls State, alongside turnovers / havoc creation against South Carolina) and put 'em all together into a full 4 quarter display of LSU standard defense.
On offense, we must see Nussmeier adding to his 2nd nationally ranked 10 TD passes (1st in the SEC), Cortez Hankton's cache of receivers busting out & cashing in explosive plays, Frank Wilson's trio of running backs pushing each other towards greatness, with freshman Caden Durham potentially setting himself apart in a room containing a 2019 Tiger and a sophomore carrying game experience as well as massive expectations into the season....
Most of all, just like our defense, Joe Sloan's offense need to drop a proper bloodbath beatdown of Foster's UCLA....a proper thrashing....get that blood pumping, the good vibes bubbling, and have some fun with this game.
Surely, if John Talty is to be believed, if there is proper dysfunction among the team, we'll witness its ugly face rip off the mask once and for all during a mortally insane Saturday afternoon loss to UCLA.........otherwise, LSU will move to 3-1 and Brian Kelly's Tigers will continue in this upward trajectory, operating under the radar, and, getting better each game.
However...one last thought:
There was some pure craziness & berserk moments during this past Saturday @ South Carolina that are becoming a pattern of the Brian Kelly era......scenarios where LSU truly lose control of the game, left at the mercy of individual brilliance, magical comebacks, and even luck from the football gods......
Yes, it was probably just another wild Saturday in the SEC, yet I can't help myself from sensing a pattern if this in-game chaos continues against UCLA, a very manageable opponent for Coach Kelly's LSU.
PREDICTION
LSU 52
UCLA 6
By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN
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