Tag: LSU Tigers

Jul 22, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Florida State defensive end Patrick Payton speaks to the media during ACC Kickoff at Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

LSU lands FSU transfer DE Patrick Payton

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Patrick Payton, the consensus top edge rusher in the transfer portal, committed to LSU on Saturday, according to multiple media reports.

Payton is leaving Florida State with a year of eligibility remaining.

He adds to a strong transfer haul joining the Tigers, a group that includes former Virginia Tech cornerback Mansoor Delane plus two wide receivers, Barion Brown (formerly of Kentucky) and Nic Anderson (formerly of Oklahoma).

LSU also added two more edge rushers, Jack Pyburn (formerly of Florida) and Jimari Butler (formerly of Nebraska).

Payton, a Miami native, recorded 35 tackles (11 for loss) and four sacks this season.

In 2022, Payton was named the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Defensive Rookie of the Year after he had 31 tackles and five sacks. Across the past three seasons with the Seminoles, he produced 110 tackles, 31.5 for loss, 16 sacks and 13 passes defensed.

LSU (8-4) is set to face Baylor in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 31. The Tigers had a late-season, three-game losing streak before rebounding to close the regular season with wins over Vanderbilt and Oklahoma.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver CJ Daniels (4) is chased after a catch by Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. (2) during the first quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Garrett Nussmeier tosses 3 TDs as LSU rolls past Oklahoma

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Garrett Nussmeier threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns, coming back from a first-half injury to lead LSU to a 37-17 win over Oklahoma on Saturday in Baton Rouge, La.

The Tigers (8-4, 5-3 SEC) finished the regular season with a two-game winning streak after dropping three consecutive games.

The Sooners (6-6, 2-6) couldn’t maintain their momentum from last week’s stunning home upset of Alabama.

Nussmeier was knocked from the game early in the second quarter, when he was hit from the blindside by R. Mason Thomas on a sack.

But after X-rays to his clavicle were negative, Nussmeier returned with the game tied late in the second quarter and quickly made an impact.

He hit four consecutive passes, the final one a 40-yard touchdown to Chris Hilton Jr. to put the Tigers ahead at the break.

Then Nussmeier directed a nine-play, 88-yard touchdown drive on LSU’s first drive of the third quarter, capped by a 45-yard touchdown to Hilton.

Hilton, who had been limited due to injury for much of the season, did not have a touchdown this season going into the game.

LSU struck first, on Kyren Lacy’s 18-yard touchdown reception from Nussmeier about eight minutes into the game.

Thomas helped the Sooners tie it two drives later.

Oklahoma defensive tackle Gracen Halton broke through the line of scrimmage and knocked the ball loose from Nussmeier.

Thomas scooped it up and returned it 9 yards for a touchdown.

It was the Sooners’ third consecutive game with a defensive touchdown and their fourth of the season.

Oklahoma took its only lead of the game midway through the second quarter on Xavier Robinson’s 2-yard run to cap a quick three-play, 75-yard scoring drive.

But that lead was extremely short-lived, as Aaron Anderson returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.

The Sooners tied the game 17-17 on a field goal with 2:13 left in the first half before Nussmeier returned to orchestrate the drive that turned the tide toward LSU for good.

LSU outgained Oklahoma 395-277 and held the Sooners to just 4 of 11 on third downs.

Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold ran for 75 yards and was 14 of 21 for 110 yards through the air.

Freshman running back Caden Durham, a one-time Sooners commit, had 11 carries for 80 yards and four catches for 32 yards.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators linebacker Derek Wingo (15) looks to tackle LSU Tigers tight end Mason Taylor (86) during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

DJ Lagway helps Florida topple No. 22 LSU

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DJ Lagway passed for 226 yards and a touchdown and Florida handed No. 22 LSU its third consecutive loss, 27-16 Saturday in Gainesville, Fla.

Lagway returned from a one-game absence due to a strained hamstring to complete 13 of 26 passes and the Gators (5-5, 3-4 Southeastern Conference) moved within one victory of bowl eligibility with two games to play. Elijhah Badger caught six of Lagway’s passes for 131 yards and a touchdown.

Garrett Nussmeier completed 27 of 47 passes for 260 yards and touchdown for the Tigers (6-4, 3-3), but he was sacked seven times.

On its first possession of the third quarter, LSU drove to Damian Ramos’ 45-yard field goal to take its only lead of the game at 13-10. On the ensuing possession, Florida dove to Trey Smack’s 55-yard field goal to tie the score.

Lagway’s 36-yard completion to Badger set up Ja’Kobi Jackson’s 1-yard touchdown run that gave the Gators a 20-13 lead with 13:58 remaining.

The Tigers converted a third-and-11, a fourth-and-three and a fourth-and-four to reach the Florida 21-yard line before stalling and Ramos kicked a 38-yard field goal to trim the lead to 20-16 with 5:18 left.

On the third play after the ensuing kickoff, Jadan Baugh ran 55 yards for a touchdown and a 27-16 lead.

LSU reached the Gators’ 31 on the ensuing possession, but turned the ball over on downs.

Lagway threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Badger to give the Gators a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. The score stayed that way through the end of the period after Ramos was short on a 52-yard field-goal attempt.

The Tigers tied the score midway through the second quarter when Nussmeier threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Anderson on third-and-nine.

Smack kicked a 49-yard field goal to give Florida a 10-7 lead. LSU drove to the Gators’ 25 before Nussmeier was sacked and Ramos kicked a 50-yard field goal that tied the score at halftime.

–Field Level Media

Nov 9, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) hands the ball off to Alabama Crimson Tide running back Jam Miller (26) against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Jalen Milroe, No. 11 Alabama run all over No. 15 LSU in 42-13 win

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Jalen Milroe rushed for a career-high 185 yards and ran for four touchdowns as No. 11 Alabama never trailed in a 42-13 victory against No. 15 LSU in an Southeastern Conference showdown Saturday night in Baton Rouge, La.

Milroe, who also passed for 109 yards, matched his best single-game rushing touchdown total and surpassed his previous rushing yardage high of 155, both of which came in a 42-28 victory against LSU last season. The Crimson Tide (7-2, 4-2 SEC) strengthened their College Football Playoff chances with their first conference road victory of the season.

Garrett Nussmeier passed for 239 yards and a touchdown, threw two interceptions and lost a fumble as the Tigers (6-3, 3-2) suffered a major blow to their already slim playoff hopes.

Alabama outgained LSU 420-343 overall and held a 311-104 advantage in rushing yards.

Trailing 21-6, the Tigers drove to the Crimson Tide 4-yard line on their first possession of the third quarter, but Deontae Lawson intercepted a Nussmeier pass in the end zone on second down. Alabama then drove 80 yards, the final 19 of which came on Milroe’s third rushing touchdown.

The score held at 28-6 until the first play of the fourth quarter, when Milroe ran 72 yards for his final score. Richard Young added an 8-yard touchdown for the Crimson Tide with 2:07 left before Nussmeier threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Kyren Lacy with 11 seconds remaining.

Alabama opened the scoring less than five minutes into the game. The Crimson Tide received the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards, with Milroe running off the final 39 to make it 7-0 with 10:49 left in the first quarter. Milroe completed all three of his pass attempts for 38 yards on the drive.

Zavion Thomas returned the ensuing kickoff 50 yards and LSU drove to a first down at the Crimson Tide 5-yard line before settling for Damian Ramos’s 23-yard field goal.

Alabama responded by marching 75 yards on 15 plays and went up 14-3 on Justice Haynes’s 1-yard run. Ramos’s 43-yard field goal trimmed the lead to 14-6 midway through the second quarter, but the Tigers would creep no closer.

One play after LSU stopped the Crimson Tide on a fourth-and-1, Tim Smith recovered a Nussmeier fumble at the Tigers 32. Three plays later, Milroe ran 10 yards for a touchdown and a 21-6 lead that held up through the end of the first half.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Tyrone Broken (5) attempts a catch as LSU Tigers cornerback Zy Alexander (14) and safety Sage Ryan (3) defend at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

No. 8 LSU rides balanced offense in rout of Arkansas

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Caden Durham ran for three touchdowns Saturday night and No. 8 LSU limited Arkansas to 38 yards on the ground in a 34-10 Southeastern Conference win in Fayetteville, Ark.

Durham rushed for 101 yards on 21 carries as the Tigers (6-1, 3-0) earned their sixth straight win. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was an efficient 22-of-33 through the air for 224 yards, spreading his completions around to eight different receivers.

Meanwhile, the Razorbacks (4-3, 2-2) couldn’t replicate the success they had in their 19-14 upset of then-unbeaten Tennessee in their last game two weeks ago. Quarterback Taylen Green connected on 19 of 28 attempts for 239 yards with a touchdown and an interception but absorbed three sacks.

Arkansas drew within 16-10 at the 9:57 mark of the third quarter when Matthew Shipley drilled a 51-yard field goal, but made a big mistake on its next possession. Green’s first down pass over the middle was picked off by Whit Weeks and returned to the Razorbacks’ 2.

Durham scored on the next play and a 2-point conversion pass turned a tight game into a 24-10 LSU advantage. The Tigers pulled away in the fourth quarter via Damian Ramos’ 47-yard field goal with 11:57 remaining and a 1-yard touchdown run by Durham with 2:20 left.

LSU got off to a fast start, taking the opening kickoff and scoring less than five minutes into the game when Durham ripped off a 22-yard touchdown run. Ramos capped a 14-play drive on the Tigers’ next possession with a 33-yard field goal, the first of his four field goals on the day.

Ramos made it 13-0 by bombing a 48-yarder with 13:04 left in the first half, six plays after Rashod Dubinion lost a fumble. The Razorbacks finally got something going on their next possession as Green found Andrew Armstrong for a 25-yard strike with 8:25 remaining in the half.

But another ball-control drive for LSU restored a two-score lead when it chewed up 5:15 of clock prior to Ramos’ 33-yard field goal at the 3:10 mark, giving it a 16-7 cushion at halftime.

–Field Level Media

Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier 13 scores a touchdown as the LSU Tigers take on the South Alabama Jaguars at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.

No. 13 LSU touting balance ahead of SEC showdown vs. No. 9 Ole Miss

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The SEC season is just getting started, but already all but three teams have at least one conference loss.

That means the margin for error has shrunk for several contenders seeking a trip to the SEC championship game as a path to the college football playoff.

Two potential CFP contenders meet when No. 9 Ole Miss (5-1, 1-1) visits No. 13 LSU (4-1, 1-0) on Saturday night in Baton Rouge, La.

“We know where we’re at in terms of having SEC opponents in the next seven weeks,” said Tigers coach Brian Kelly, whose team is coming off an open date. LSU is joined by No. 1 Texas (1-0) and No. 15 Texas A&M (3-0) as teams undefeated in SEC play.

The Tigers, who lost a non-conference game to USC to start the season, saw their CFP hopes all but vanish last season when a 55-49 loss to the Rebels dropped them to 3-2. Another loss to Ole Miss could have a similar impact on this team’s hopes.

LSU allowed 706 yards to the Rebels and couldn’t keep up in the shootout, even with eventual Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels.

“Last year clearly we were tilted to one side of the ball and unfortunately we had to play the game that way,” Kelly said. “I didn’t like it, but that’s what we had. … That’s not the right way but it was the only way to play.”

The Tigers started this season with similar defensive struggles but have shown improvement in their last two games: a 34-17 victory against UCLA and a 42-10 victory against South Alabama.

“I think there’s much more balance in our football team,” Kelly said. “We’re much further along. This isn’t the same defense.”

Ole Miss has been known mostly for its offense during head coach Lane Kiffin’s five seasons, but the defense has played very well this season. It kept the Rebels in the game while the offense struggled in a 20-17 loss to Kentucky Sept. 28 and was dominant in a 27-3 victory at South Carolina last week.

The offense might have to play without star wide receiver Tre Harris, who left last week’s game with a lower leg injury late in the first half and didn’t return.

“He certainly wouldn’t be playing (Monday),” Kiffin said of Harris’ availability this week.

Harris leads the country with 885 receiving yards and is second with 52 receptions.

“We’ve got to perform better than we did in the second half without him when we had three points,” Kiffin said. “(His absence) makes us move people to different spots, so we’re preparing to do that and preparing to play without him.”

Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. is second to Harris with 371 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns. Jordan Watkins is next with two receiving touchdowns.

The improved defense can make everyone’s job easier if Harris isn’t available.

“It’s a different feeling just knowing that you don’t have to go out there and score every drive, just having that ability to not be stressed out,” Watkins said. “We’ve got a really good defense that flies around. They play together and they play sound.”

–Field Level Media