Both teams went 9-3 in the regular season and the program remains in good hands.
Gone are Jayden Daniels and both star WRs Malik Nabers & Brian Thomas.
All three were 1st round picks in the NFL Draft.
Before we look ahead, let’s look back at the unbelievable talent LSU just lost to the NFL.
LSU has Garret Nussmeier at QB ready to go and he can sling the football.
While he is nowhere near as mobile as Daniels, LSU will be fine at QB.
The WR corps is also damn good.
Look out for last year’s #3 WR Kyren Lacy to step into the lead role.
Chris Hilton has track speed and is going to be a game breaker down the field.
TE Mason Taylor is in his 3rd year starting and is excellent.
There is also plenty of depth.
RB Caleb Jackson flashed a lot of promise as a freshman and is not afraid to break some tackles.
He could be a star.
He earned this promotion after coaching Daniels up to a Heisman Trophy as QB coach the last two years.
- How much can the new staff improve the Defense?
LSU scored 77 points against Ole Miss & Alabama only to lose both.
This unit was ATROCIOUS.
The positives are that LSU did a damn good job with the defensive staff.
He is a great cultural fit.
LSU brought back legendary DB Coach Corey Raymond from Florida.
Kelly also brought highly regarded DL Coach Bo Davis over from Texas.
It makes literally no sense.
Just put him on the edge and let him wreak havoc.
There is all but a mutiny in the LSU fan base over this & rightfully so.
Other than Perkins, the rest of the unit is ROUGH.
It is shocking to see LSU have so little talent ESP at defensive back.
The 2025 recruiting class is currently #1 but that will not help this fall.
Def easier said than done ESP with a tough schedule.
- Can LSU break the Week 1 four game losing streak?
LSU has not won their opener since 2019.
They open as a 6 point favorite over USC in Las Vegas.
There’s gonna be a wild shoot out in the Vegas desert.
And I have no faith in the defense.
They fall to USC in a mild upset to pop launch the season.
That sets up a huge Louisiana Saturday Night Showdown in Death Valley vs. Ole Miss on Oct 12th.
I can already smell the bourbon in Tiger Stadium.
That atmosphere is gonna be bananas.
Luckily I have been wrong many many times before and hope this is another one.
The SEC Saturday Night home games in Baton Rouge are still a different deal than anything else in sports.
After their 2nd bye, LSU splits the home game vs. Alabama and the road game at Florida.
Prediction: LSU will barely miss the 12 team playoff.
