No. 8 LSU spent most of final week’s recreation towards Ole Miss attempting to combat from behind and eventually succeeded, beating the Rebels 29-26 in time beyond regulation on a 25-yard landing go from Garrett Nussmeier to Kyren Lacy.
The Tigers’ reward for such an exhilarating win towards then-No. 9 Ole Miss? A street recreation towards harmful and rested Arkansas on Saturday evening in Fayetteville, Ark.
“That was one of some video games that I’ve had in my profession that it all the time felt like we have been one step behind, and we have been, and we have been all the time attempting to remain within the recreation,” LSU coach Brian Kelly mentioned.
The Tigers (5-1, 2-0 SEC) have received 5 straight video games since a season-opening loss to Southern California in Las Vegas. Nussmeier’s prolific passing is a major purpose. He is thrown for 1,989 yards and 18 touchdowns this yr, finishing 64.3 % of his passes.
Tight finish Mason Taylor has been his favourite goal with 33 catches, whereas Lacy has been his go-to when a landing is required with six scores amongst his 30 receptions. Aaron Anderson has 30 catches — 18 greater than he had all of final season.
All these choices and LSU’s capacity to guard Nussmeier have Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman involved. Nussmeier has been sacked simply twice, each instances in a Sept. 14 win at South Carolina.
“They’re actually good at sort out,” Pittman mentioned. “They’re good at (Nussmeier) with the ability to step up as a result of their guards and heart, they’re massive. However he eliminates the ball, eliminates it quick. Is aware of the place he’s on his reads.”
The excellent news for Arkansas (4-2, 2-1) is that it is had an additional week to prepare for this problem. Its most up-to-date recreation was Oct. 5, when it turned the primary workforce to gradual Tennessee’s explosive assault in a 19-14 upset towards what then was the nation’s fourth-ranked squad.
The Razorbacks have made critical enhancements on protection beneath coordinator Travis Williams, holding opponents to a median of 19.2 factors per recreation. They’ve additionally proven the willingness to be versatile, altering to an alignment towards Tennessee that featured six defensive backs.
It labored as a result of Arkansas mixed good protection with stress, logging 4 sacks and limiting quarterback Nico Iamaleava to 158 yards passing. It would not be shocking if the Razorbacks trotted out extra of that strategy for the Tigers.
However accidents may colour Arkansas’ efforts. Jaylon Braxton, who entered the yr because the workforce’s prime cornerback, may miss his fifth straight recreation with tendinitis. Quarterback Taylen Inexperienced sustained a bone bruise within the fourth quarter towards Tennessee, and his standing could possibly be a query till kickoff.
Inexperienced has accomplished 56.6 % of his passes for 1,502 yards and 5 touchdowns, with 5 interceptions. The primary weapon within the operating recreation has been Utah switch Ja’Quinden Jackson, who has rushed for 566 yards and 10 scores.
LSU owns a 44-23-2 document within the all-time sequence. The Tigers have received seven of the final eight matchups, together with 34-31 final yr.
–Area Degree Media
