LSU’s devastating loss comes after unfathomable failure that no one could’ve predicted
The LSU Tigers fell to the Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford on Saturday night, dropping their first game of the year 24-19. LSU was favored, and our experts thought the Tigers would prevail despite an injury to star back Caden Durham. Instead, the Tigers couldn’t move the ball at all, and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was […]
The LSU Tigers fell to the Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford on Saturday night, dropping their first game of the year 24-19. LSU was favored, and our experts thought the Tigers would prevail despite an injury to star back Caden Durham. Instead, the Tigers couldn’t move the ball at all, and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was stifled throughout the game.
While Ole Miss may have been undervalued, especially at home, the incredible failure from LSU was the prevailing storyline. Brian Kelly’s revamped defense lost some of the zest that had carried the team until this matchup, giving up 319 passing yards to backup Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.
This LSU team seemed different, and the offense was supposed to be high-powered enough to avoid this disaster. Instead, the offense whimpered despite boasting a Heisman-caliber quarterback and speedy playmakers around him.
LSU offense struggles mightily again in Ole Miss loss
After investing heavily in transfers like Barion Brown and Nic Anderson, this LSU offense was supposed to be better than the 2024 unit that was overly reliant on the passing game. Nussmeier, dealing with injury, was supposed to transcend his hot-and-cold nature and steady out with experience. Instead, his rhythm has been absent, and his field vision has been lacking.
The big plays haven’t hit, and Durham’s absence exposed a passing game that hasn’t been explosive or consistent enough to win a national title. This was the time for Nussmeier to overcome that. Instead, no back totaled more than 22 yards, and Nussmeier completed only 21-of-34 attempts for 197 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
Converting only two-of-11 third downs, reaching 57 rushing yards, and losing to a team that committed 14 penalties for 109 yards is unfathomable. It’s a complete failure of the offense, and despite Kelly’s defense of offensive coordinator Joe Sloan, the second-year coach should take the brunt of the blame.
A unit with so much speed and raw talent shouldn’t still be limping through games as October arrives. Kelly needs to immediately address this, or else LSU’s season will be put on the ropes with another loss.
