Bob's Sports Blog

What's Fair Is Fair - But not in College Football - Mizzou, UT, Ole Miss but not LSU

2026-09-03T10:11:48.396-05:00

What's Fair Is Fair - But not in College Football - Mizzou, UT, Ole Miss but not LSU

Sterling Webb, Missouri DT

A judge in Missouri just ruled that Missouri Defensive Tackle Sterling Webb is eligible for a fifth year of college football despite having already played for four years. The NCAA when it established at the end of June this year that players had five years to play five years of football said that this policy did not cover players completing their fourth year this season. The NCAA reasoned that allowing a fifth year this year would unfairly impact an incoming freshman's, and other players, an opportunity to play. Sterling Webb took it to court arguing that this would impact his ability to not only play but would also adversely impact his income from revenue-sharing and NIL compensation. A judge in Missouri agreed with Webb. So far, there has not been even a hint that other teams might refuse to play Mizzou, or vacate wins by Mizzou, or kick Missouri out of the SEC. Maybe the college football powers that be had not had adequate time to consider this possibility. I mean this Missouri judge did just make this ruling yesterday.

Cole Hutson, University of Texas OL

This week UT head coach, Steve Sarkisian, said that it was immoral for an SEC team to play a fifth year senior that had the advantages of NFL experience. Sark explained that this type of player would unfairly displace hardworking college players. It must have slipped his mind that UT Offensive Lineman Cole Hutson went to court in July and convinced a judge that he should be granted a fifth year of eligibility. Hutson had taken part in NFL minicamps with not one, but, two NFL teams. However, he did not sign a contract so naturally his NFL experiences did not technically count. Hence, the NCAA or SEC are not considering expelling Texas from the conference, vacating wins, and teams are not considering refusing to play Texas. Hutson is listed at 6'5" and 308lbs, a ideal size for an NFL lineman. Still, maybe those stats and the fact that he has only a little NFL experience with two teams does not somehow give him an advantage that might displace another college player hopeful, at least in coach Sarkisian's mind.

Trinidad Chambliss, University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) starting QB

After replacing injured starter Austin Simmons in September of 2025 Chambliss went on to throw 22 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions. He threw for 362-yards against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl and lead his team to a second game in the NCAA playoffs. Chambliss finished 8th in the Heisman trophy voting. But even though he had played 5 years of college football, he wanted to come back for a 6th year so, he petitioned the NCAA to allow him a 6th year. The NCAA said NO. Eventually after lawyering up Chambliss got the Mississippi Supreme Court to extend his eligibility. Austin Simmons, the starter until he got injured in September, transferred to Missouri where he is expected to be the starter for Mizzou. Sure Chambliss displaced a good and deserving player but some might say that Mizzou is a whole lot better place to be than Ole Miss. And it is possible but not likely that Chambliss did not take a roster spot from a freshman or some other deserving college player. Consequently, Chambliss in his 6th year of college football has a really good shot at the Heisman and a very good chance to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft after the end of this college season. Hmmmm, maybe we should be totally fair and evaluate college players after their fourth year and not allow a fifth year to those that would likely be drafted in the first three rounds of the NFL draft. To me that seems more fair than the current situation of disallowing a fifth year for an undrafted free agent who is unable to make the permanent roster of an NFL team. I am getting ahead of myself. Back on track - Ole Miss, like Mizzou and UT, is not being punished in anyway for the court decision that allows Chambliss a 6th year. No, talk of expelling Ole Miss from the SEC, or vacating this year's wins, and not talk of teams refusing to play Ole Miss.

LSU

LSU's story needs not be retold. There are many stories surrounding LSU's plans to add fifth year seniors who attempted to but were unable to secure NFL team spots. Did any one of the players that LSU is attempting to add have more NFL experience than UT's Cole Hutson? Which of these additions is likely to have a better NFL career than Trinidad Chambliss? Only time will tell. Each of these players that hope to return to college football were unable to secure a living wage in the NFL but returning offers each an opportunity to earn through revenue sharing and potential NIL deals. While this arbitrary decision by the NCAA and SEC has placed the lives of these players in chaos, it has place the reputation and future of the LSU football program unnecessarily in a precarious position. LSU has recruited really good players from high school and from the transfer portal. And if a court has ruled that recruiting these players is legal, why, after refusing to draw the line with other SEC schools, is the SEC drawing the line here and in such an outspoken way?

Is this an indication that Missouri, Texas and Mississippi judges deserve some respect that Louisiana judges do not deserve?

And I don't really follow the Big 10 any more than I have to but how is it that Ohio State has two 7th year players? Ja'Kobi Jackson, seventh year running back and Hunter Welch, seventh year Tight End. Could they have transfer this year and played their 7th year somewhere else?

How much are SEC and Big Ten teams compensating student-athlete/professional football players? (Part 1: The SEC)

2026-08-26T16:22:06.309-05:00

The Big 10 and SEC have just passed policies that once again exclude 2022 high school graduates from playing college sports 5 years in a 5 year span. It is under the guise of not letting professional athletes have the opportunity to return to the college ranks. Several players who were attempting to but, were not likely to make NFL rosters and who also were not given time to take advantage of the NCAA 5-for-5 rule that came out in June, sued and won in a Louisiana court to have a fair shot at a 5th year of college football even though they had attempted to continue playing football in the NFL. When those players chose the NFL, they were faced with either not playing football or trying to play in the NFL. Two of these players had played for Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss and Lane snapped them up. Lane, who has been a villain since the time he literally ducked out of Tennessee for a better football opportunity at USC, is also the villain of this story. While Kiffin is an easy target, "justice" and "fairness" for the 2022 high school grads is being ignored. Not one of the players has played a single NFL professional down and what kind of standard is it anyway to not allow "professional athletes" to play in the SEC or Big 10? I thought with NIL we had already crossed that bridge.

We do not just have paid players in the SEC and Big 10, we have highly compensated players.

I asked Grok to provide me with a list of the highest compensated players currently on each Big 10 and SEC team. Grok examined 123 sources and reported these numbers.

These are estimated 2026 market values, not leaked contracts. Schools do not publish player pay. The figures below are from [The NIL Standard](https://thenilstandard.com/football/teams) (late August 2026), which prices every rostered player from production, draft projection, position market, and reported deals.

On3 (the usual media NIL ranking) is a different model — more brand/social than roster-market. It matches TNS on several stars (Jeremiah Smith, Dante Moore, Jordan Seaton, Josh Hoover, Bryce Underwood) but disagrees sharply on Arch Manning: TNS still has him at $6.80M; On3 had him around $2.5M in July after a down 2025. Trinidad Chambliss and Sam Leavitt are $5.0M / $4.5M on On3 vs $6.0M on TNS.

Ties are marked.

Texas:

Arch Manning, QB - $6.80M

Cam Coleman, WR - $3.00M

LSU:

Sam Leavitt, QB - $6.00M

Jordan Seaton, OT - $4.00M

Ole Miss:

Trinidad Chambliss, QB - $6.00M

Kewan Lacy, RB - $2.00M

Texas A&M:

Marcel Reed, QB - $3.00M

Wilkin Formby, OT - $1.50M

Oklahoma:

John Mateer, QB - $3.00M

David Stone, DT - $1.91M

Auburn:

Byrum Brown, QB - $3.00M

Da'Shawn Womack, EDGE - $1.22M

Alabama:

Keelon Russell, QB - $2.01M

Ryan Coleman-Williams, WR - $1.80M

Georgia:

Gunner Stockton, QB - $2.00M

Earnest Greene III, OT / Elijah Griffin, DT - $1.00M (tie)

Kentucky:

Kenny Minchey, QB / Lance Heard, OT - $2.00M (tie)

Mi'Quise Humphrey-Grace, EDGE - $1.02M

Missouri:

Austin Simmons, QB - $2.00M

Cayden Green, OT - $1.50M

Vanderbilt:

Jared Curtis, QB - $2.00M

Miles Capers, EDGE - $1.21M

South Carolina:

LaNorris Sellers, QB / Dylan Stewart, EDGE - $2.00M (tie)

Jacarrius Peak, OT - $1.00M

Florida:

Aaron Philo, QB - $1.81M

Jadan Baugh, RB - $1.30M

Tennessee:

David Sanders Jr., OT - $1.70M

George MacIntyre, QB - $1.60M

Arkansas:

KJ Jackson, QB - $1.57M

Quincy Rhodes Jr., EDGE - $1.07M

Mississippi State:

Kamario Taylor, QB - $1.50M

Kelley Jones, CB - $1.00M

SEC notes:

- Texas, LSU, Ole Miss are in a different tier. Manning, Leavitt, and Chambliss are the three highest-valued football players in either conference on this board.

- LSU is the only SEC team with two players at $4M+. Seaton is the highest-paid offensive lineman in the country (~$4M; CBS reporting put his market even higher).

- Tennessee is the rare Power 4 roster whose top earner is a tackle (Sanders), not the QB.

- Ryan Coleman-Williams is the former Ryan Williams; he changed his name and number for 2026.

How Many College Football Players are Currently Entering their 5th year ?

2026-08-24T14:34:43.267-05:00

I asked Grok: "How many current college football players are currently entering at least their fifth year?"

Here is what Grok said:

There is no precise, publicly available national total for the current (2026) season, but the number is in the thousands across all levels of college football, with a large share (likely well over 2,000) in FBS alone who are in at least their fifth year of eligibility/participation.**

Context on eligibility and why the number is high

- Traditional rules gave athletes four seasons of competition within a five-year window (often via redshirts). The COVID-19 extra year of eligibility, medical/hardship waivers, transfers, and other factors produced many sixth-, seventh-, and even eighth- or ninth-year players in recent seasons.

- In 2024, an AP report noted **hundreds of FBS players in their sixth season of eligibility and dozens in their seventh year or later**. Similar patterns continued into later seasons.

- Fifth-year players (classic redshirt seniors or those using a fifth season of competition) have long been common. Many “seniors” or graduates fall into this category.

- The National Football Foundation tracked a record ~3,695 graduates (already holding undergraduate degrees) playing college football in the 2025 season, including ~2,245 at FBS schools (averaging ~16 per team). Most of these are at least fifth-year players (some earlier graduates exist, but the bulk reflect extended careers). Similar figures applied in prior years.

Current landscape (2026 season)

- The NCAA adopted a new “5-for-5” (age-based) eligibility model in June 2026: generally five seasons of competition within a five-year window starting at full-time enrollment or the academic year after turning 19 (whichever is earlier). Redshirts and most injury/hardship waivers are largely eliminated going forward (limited exceptions for military service, religious missions, or maternity).

- Implementation is phased and complex. Current players with remaining eligibility can often choose the more favorable of the old or new rules. Athletes who completed a fourth season by spring 2026 generally do not get a retroactive extra year under the NCAA’s approach (though lawsuits and some state/federal court rulings have created temporary exceptions or patchwork eligibility for certain Class of 2022 players and others).

- Rosters still feature many fifth-year (and some sixth-/seventh-/eighth-year) players. Articles on 2026 “All-Geezer” teams, experienced Power conference rosters, and individual school depth charts confirm this. FBS has a 105-player roster limit (~138 teams), so total FBS players number in the mid-teens of thousands; a substantial minority are upperclassmen in year 5+.

Exact counts are not tracked comprehensively by the NCAA or major outlets in real time (rosters list class years inconsistently, and “fifth-year” can mean different things depending on redshirts, COVID years, or medical waivers). Individual team sites, On3, ESPN, or The Athletic sometimes break down eligibility by school, but no single aggregated national figure for “at least fifth year” exists for 2026.

In short: thousands of players league-wide are beginning (or are already in) at least their fifth year, driven by the lingering effects of prior extra-eligibility rules, even as the new 5-for-5 model starts to limit longer careers.

Noteworthy:

Trindad Chambliss is beginning his 6th year. Diego Pavia played six years.

LSU, Clemson, and Georgia History Repeat

2025-08-14T11:23:00.002-05:00

LSU, Clemson, and Georgia History Repeat

I have been doing some deep thinking about the possibilities of the LSU - Clemson game, this time with no assists from any AI. I was looking over my July 31st post “Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Teams vs. the SEC” for a season that might resemble this year. I know that it is a real risk to predict a season before the first game is played, but, this is that time of year when sports writers and fans make fun and possibly wild guesses. It is so much more exciting at the end of the season when you have guessed right weeks before the first kickoff. What caught my eye in the Dabo vs the SEC post was the 2021 season. In that year Clemson had a team with a great Quarterback, a great team, with a proven potential to contend for a National Championship, and they opened the season against a highly ranked SEC team.

The opening game of 2021 for Clemson was against preseason #5 SEC opponent Georgia. Clemson’s Quarterback, D.J. Uiagalelei, had been the a 5-star, #1 QB, #2 overall national player out of St. John Bosco high school in California. Uiagalelei, who is currently on the roster of the Los Angeles Chargers, played behind Trevor Lawrence in his freshman year but managed to throw for 917yards with more than 100 attempts (117), with a 66.7% completion rate and 5 touchdowns to 0 interceptions. In 2021, his second year, he would throw for more than 2,000 yards and lead the Tigers to a 10-3 record with a victory over Iowa State in the Cheez-It Bowl. Before transferring to Oregon State Uiagalelei would throw for 5,681 yards, 36 touchdowns and 17 interceptions as a Clemson Tiger. As a starting Quarterback for Clemson Uiagalelei led teams went 22-6. 17 interceptions was far too many interceptions and Cade Klubnik replaced Uiagalelei. These are the points that Clemson fans will probably make when denouncing my guess that the 2021 season may be about to repeat for Clemson and their opening SEC opponent but I’m an LSU fan.

Clemson did not just have the heir apparent to Trevor Lawrence they had a solid team rank #2 in the USA Today and #3 in the AP preseason polls. Those rankings were earned for success the previous year, a great Quarterback and offense, and a really strong defensive line and defense altogether. Before the first game was played in 2021 Clemson had 8 All ACC players, Uiagalelei and wide receiver Justyn Ross were on the Maxwell award watch list, Ross was also on the Biletnikoff (Best WR) award watch list, 5 defensive players were on the Bednarik (defensive player of the year) award watch list, Cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. and Safety Nolan Turner were on the Jim Thorpe (top defensive back) award watchlist, and Running Back Lyn-J Dixon was on the Doak Walker (best college running back) award watch list. That description sounds a lot like the caliber of the Clemson 2025 team to me. That team, loaded with talent, went 10-3 in 2021. It is folly to argue that 10-3 is a bad or even mediocre season.

The 2021 season opened with the expectations of a national championship win. In the previous season, 2020, Clemson had only lost 1 regular season game to a Brian Kelly coached Notre Dame team at Notre Dame. They made it to the playoffs and lost to Ohio State in the CFP Sugar Bowl Semifinals. In 2019, Clemson went undefeated, 14-0, before losing 42-25 in the National Championship to LSU. After 2019 and 2021 it looked like that 2021 might be the charmed season that equaled a third Championship trophy on the shelf to go along with Clemson’s 2016 and 2018 National Championship trophies. Opening against Georgia, preseason #5 in both AP and the Coaches polls, would be a great way to show that this Clemson team was ready to dominate once again.

The opening betting lines for 2021 #2-3 Clemson vs #5 Georgia favored Clemson by 2.5pts, the Over/Under was 51.5pts, Money Line was Clemson -140, Georgia +120. The opening betting line for 2025 #4-6 Clemson vs #9 LSU favors Clemson by 2.5pts, the Over/Under is 57.5pts, Money Line is Clemson -137, LSU +114.

Had you bet on Georgia in 2021 or Under, you would have won. I think betting LSU or Under could be a winner in 2025.* By all expert prognostications LSU is going to get killed in Death Valley Jr. this year. Clemson has a 2021/2020/2019 type of team this year. LSU will have to have a team similar to their Joe Burrow led LSU team of 2019, the only team to defeat Clemson in 2019. That game was a closer game than the 42-25 score would suggest. I think it is possible that LSU may have that team this year. One of the big storylines for the Clemson vs LSU game is Heisman Quarterback hopefuls. While most analysts are pinning LSU’s hopes on QB Garrett Nussmeier, most analysts are also saying that Clemson QB Cade Klubnik is better. Also, Clemson has a lot of players on both sides of the ball on preseason awards and award watchlists; more than LSU.

I have been watching LSU’s preseason as closely as possible and I think that LSU’s defense is going to be really, really good this year. I think the strength of that defense is preparing LSU for the defense that they will face when they suit up for the opener against Clemson. The big question is when/how/if LSU’s offensive line will come together and play at a National Championship level. Most of the offensive linemen were high school blue chippers and all, with the possible exception of freshman Carius Curne (6’5” 320lbs per LSU.net roster, #3OT per 247sports.com ), have at least a year in the LSU program and some college game experience. In addition, two of the apparent O-line starters, Center Braelin Moore (from VaTech) and Guard Josh Thompson (from Northwestern) were starters on their previous Power4 conference teams.

I think that LSU’s preseason ranking is based on the fact while we know Garrett Nussmeier can pass and has both solid ball catchers that he has thrown to in big games and possibly even better ball catchers that have transferred in this year, we don’t know whether LSU has an offensive line that will protect him long enough to make those passes. LSU also has a really good returning running back and a solid running back rotation. LSU also has a collection of solid strong and experienced defensive players that have played for underachieving LSU defenses in recent previous years coupled with all stars from the transfer portal with proven playing experience. And it is Defensive Coordinator Blake Baker’s second year as LSU’s DC. Preseason indications point to a vaunted LSU defense of old but we will not know until the play in real games this year.

Clemson should have beaten Georgia in 2021 but neither team scored an offensive touchdown in that game. Both starting Quarterbacks threw an interception each in that game and neither threw or rushed for a touchdown. Did I mention that Clemson’s starting QB, D.J. Uiagalelei, eventually ran for 21 touchdowns in his college career? Unfortunately for Uiagalelei and Clemson his one interception in that opening game was run back for the only touchdown by either team. The ending score was 10-3 in favor of Georgia. Both teams score a field goal. The set up for the 2025 LSU vs. Clemson game is similar and I wouldn’t be totally surprised if the outcome this year was also similar. It is noteworthy that in 2021 Georgia went on to win all but one regular season game in an away game at Alabama. Georgia would finish the 2021 season avenging that one loss to Alabama by beating Alabama for a National Championship. I wonder if that is another possible scenario that might play out for the LSU Tigers this year?

*( Full disclosure: Don’t risk your money because of anything I write. For the record, I went to LSU; my younger brother went to LSU; before we existed my parents met as students at LSU. My mother was a freshman at the game when Billy Cannon had his famous touchdown run against Ole Miss. Should you read something that I write about Texas A&M or Mizzou you should know that I tutored the football team at Texas A&M when I was a graduate student at Texas A&M and I have a Masters degree from the University of Missouri. So I will be fan biased in favor of those three schools.)

Dabo Swinney's Clemson Teams vs SEC

2025-07-31T16:52:00.003-05:00

There is talk that an ACC team, either North Carolina, FSU, or Clemson, may join the SEC at sometime in the near future which makes the opening LSU vs Clemson game, "The battle for the real Death Valley", even slightly more interesting. If there is any college football fan at this point not totally focused on this game.

ESPN's Chris Low posted an article this morning titled “College football schedule superlatives for 2025 season” . In this article Chris Low rated Clemson as having the “toughest Power 4 nonconference schedule” because of LSU, South Carolina and having to play Troy the week after the Clemson-LSU game. Troy went 4-8 last season. Is it noteworthy that LSU faces Louisiana Tech immediately after the Clemson game? La Tech went 5-7 last season. That's better than 4-8, right?

I had to take a shot at Low's inflation of Clemson's schedule. Low slights neither Clemson nor a slight at the SEC or LSU. That was the minor point of interest to LSU vs Clemson fans. The more interesting paragraph in Low's article was this:

Dabo and the SEC

“Clemson's Dabo Swinney gets another shot at the SEC to open the season in the Battle of Death Valleys on Aug. 30 against LSU. Clemson is 18-12 vs. the SEC since the start of the 2012 season, but the Tigers have lost seven of their past 10 games to SEC opponents, beginning with a 42-25 loss to LSU in the 2019 national championship game.”

I am not sure why Low chose game since the start of the 2012 season or Clemson's past 10 games versus the SEC. This uncertainty prompted me to do a little research on Dabo Swinney's Clemson record versus the SEC.

For those that do not follow Clemson Football or who just do not know the history:

Dabo Swinney took over as Interim Head coach of Clemson October 13, 2008 after the sixth game of the season. Previous head coach Tommy Bowden was fired after the 6th game of the season with a record of 3-3 for the season. Swinney’s first full season as head coach of Clemson was 2009. This is the record versus the SEC each year:

2009 1-1
@South Carolina 34-17 L
Post Season Music City Bowl vs Kentucky 21-13 W

2010 0-2
@Auburn 27-24OT L
vs South Carolina 29-7 L

2011 1-1
vs Auburn 38-24 W
@South Carolina 34-13 L

2012 2-1
vs Auburn 26-19 W
vs South Carolina 27-17 L
Post Season Chick-Fil-A Bowl vs #8LSU 25-24 W

2013 1-1
vs #5Georgia 38-35 W
@#10South Carolina 31-17 L

2014 1-1
@#12Georgia 45-21 L
vs South Carolina 35-17 W

2015 1-1
@SouthCarolina 37-32 W
Post Season National Championship vs #2Alabama 45-40 L

2016 3-0
@Auburn 19-13 W
vs South Carolina 56-7 W
Post Season National Championship vs #1Alabama 35-31 W

2017 2-1
vs Auburn 14-6 W
@South Carolina 34-10 W
Post Season Semifinal vs #4 Alabama 24-6 L

2018 3-0
@Texas A&M 28-26 W
vs South Carolina 56-35 W
Post Season National Championship vs #1 Alabama 44-16 W

2019 2-1
vs Texas A&M 24-10 W
@South Carolina 38-3 W
Post Season National Championship vs #1 LSU 42-25 L

2020 0-0
Did Not Play an SEC team

2021 1-1
vs Georgia 10-3 L
@ South Carolina 30-0 W

2022 0-2
vs South Carolina 31-30 L
Post Season Orange Bowl vs #6 Tennessee 31-14 L

2023 2-0
@ South Carolina 16-7 W
Post Season Gator Bowl vs Kentucky 38-35 W

2024 0-3
vs Georgia 34-3 L
vs South Carolina 17-14 L
Post Season CFB Playoffs Round 1 vs #5 Texas 38-24

All statistics were gathered by looking at the ESPN Clemson schedules for each year. Teams, like Oklahoma, were only include as an SEC team if they were a part of the SEC when they played Clemson.

On3 picks Clemson and LSU to win conference titles

2025-07-30T16:23:00.000-05:00

Griffin McVeigh of On3 predicted all conference matchups and winners in an article titled "College Football Predictions: Projecting Conference Championship finalists, winners".

Not surprisingly, Clemson was chosen to be the ACC conference champion this year. McVeigh believes that with the addition of Carson Beck at quarterback, Miami will be the runner up in the ACC. That is not surprising either. Miami was bumped out of the ACC championship and a likely playoff spot last year on a lost fumble to Georgia Tech that ultimately decided the game. At the time Miami was undefeated and ranked #4. While officially it was a loss two games later to Syracuse that setup a Miami absent ACC championship between SMU and Clemson, the "unforgivable mistake" late in the Georgia Tech game signaled the end of what was a storybook season for Miami.

McVeigh picking LSU to win the SEC championship is bit more surprising. It is no secret that I am an LSU homer but it is hard for me to say this early that Texas or Georgia or even Alabama are not more obvious choices for non-LSU homers. McVeigh predicts that LSU will beat Texas in the SEC championship game. Considering that I attended LSU and then Texas A&M, for graduate work, I couldn't be happier for Mr. Griffin McVeigh to make such a prediction. Now I am going to have to think long and hard about whether I think McVeigh is my favorite sports reporter or Conner O'Gara of Saturday Down South, who predicted that LSU would beat Georgia for the SEC championship and then win the National Championship this year!

Even if neither Clemson nor LSU live up to the lofty predictions that are being thrown their way during preseason, the opening game where LSU travels to Death Valley Jr. to face Clemson is a must see game.

While we are focused on the LSU-Clemson game there is one more thing that may give some pause for thought. I asked Grok, on one of my other blogs College Football's Big Game, to pick first week games that had a line of 6-points or less and Grok said take LSU and the points.

Clemson and LSU included in ESPN National Contender Article

2025-07-22T19:19:00.000-05:00

Clemson and LSU included in ESPN National Contender Article

Preseason predictions and even rankings during the early part of the football season are often more entertaining than accurate. I noticed in an On3 article this morning that Joel Klatt has ranked the top five teams that he is "buying stock" in this season. Klatt, a Fox Sports commentator and analyst, lists Clemson at #1 but LSU is not included at all in the list. Klatt's main points: last year Clemson was able to win the ACC Championship game, make it to the College Playoffs, and Clemson returns most of the team and especially key players. If you have read my July 19th article "Is Clemson really that good? Could LSU be much better?" you know the lingering questions that I have about Clemson. If, like Clemson, you only beat two teams with winning records and those wins are achieved by a combined total of 7points (3pts better than SMU, and 4pts better than a 7-6 Pitt team), then I wonder if you belong in a game with other contenders? Other contenders that Clemson played in 2024, Georgia and Texas, beat Clemson at the beginning and end of the season by a combined 45 points. Georgia beat Clemson by 31 points in a 2024 opener and Texas beat Clemson by 14 in the last game Clemson played last year. Clemson did play an outstanding game against Texas despite the two touchdown loss. Who knows, if Clemson were in the SEC or Big 10, they might even be the fourth or fifth best team in either of those leagues. Maybe even third?

What has me really interested today is an article posted on ESPN.com titled “Connelly's college football 'ifs' list: How contenders can come together” by Bill Connelly. Connelly makes the observation that "no national title winner over the past 24 seasons has begun the season with title odds longer than +5000. No matter the title format -- a BCS championship, then a four-team College Football Playoff and then, starting in 2024, a 12-team CFP -- the champ has come from a pool of about 14 to 18 favorites." Connelly then lists and discuss that chances of 14 teams that he considers to have a shot at a National Title this year. Both Clemson and LSU are included in Connelly's list. LSU faces five teams on the list: Clemson, Alabama, Texas A&M, Florida, and Ole Miss. Clemson, Alabama, and Ole Miss will all be road games for LSU. Clemson faces only one team on Connelly's list: LSU. And that will be in Clemson's home opener.

I read somewhere that some experts are touting Clemson's nonconference schedule. While Clemson does play strong SEC teams LSU and South Carolina. Composite rankings have LSU as ranked high as 3rd and South Carolina as high as 6th in the SEC. The other two nonconference team Clemson has scheduled are Troy and Furman.

I do understand that Clemson has a really good chance of obtaining a playoff slot at the ACC champion even if they have 3 regular season losses as they did in 2024. And once you are in the playoffs, you have a chance to be National Champions. Some a betting that Clemson is that good this year.

Connelly believes that Clemson see hope from last season. The hope includes Quarterback Cade Klubnik's four 20-plus yard passes thrown against an outstanding Texas defense in last year's playoff loss coupled with the fact that wide receivers Antonio Williams, Bryant Wesco Jr., and T.J. Moore are returning with more experience from last year. Another hope from last year is the return of T.J. Moore who registered 11 sacks last year coupled with NFL caliber defensive tackle Peter Wood's return and the addition of Purdue transfer Will Heldt to Clemson's d-line. Another hope is that Clemson is able to once again repeat their nationally 3rd best turnover rate. The final hope is that the addition of new Defensive Coordinator, Tom Allen, will remedy last year's run defense that ranked 113th in yards allowed. LSU is familiar with the need for defensive improvement.

LSU has been working on improving defense for a couple of years. Most will recall that LSU had an unstoppable offense that included Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels and was still not a national contender because of defensive needs. This year LSU is rebuilding in both trenches, offensive and defensive lines, and has brought in help not only on both lines but also in the defensive secondary. If these new starters and transfers blend in and shore up some of LSU needs, there is hope. Even more exciting is LSU's built up receiving corps both at Wide Receiver and Tight End. And finally if Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins Jr. are fully healed, LSU should have a return to a really good defense that was lacking in the last two seasons. This is LSU Defensive Coordinator Blake Baker's second year and while he slightly improved LSU's defense last year, this year LSU's defense may make a real leap ahead. That would give LSU a chance for a win in the season opener and maybe even for another National Championship. LSU's 2019 team is legendary and I think it is about time for another legendary LSU team.

Thoughts on Cade Klubnik and Clemson vs LSU

2025-07-21T11:40:00.009-05:00

Thoughts on Cade Klubnik and Clemson vs. LSU

I just read a disturbing article—disturbing from an LSU fan's perspective, that is. The article, published by On3, is titled: “Heather Dinich predicts Clemson will beat LSU in Week 1 matchup behind Cade Klubnik.”

Here’s the core of Dinich's prediction:

“Clemson will beat LSU in the season opener and be a serious contender for the national title,” Heather Dinich said. “I say that because Clemson is loaded. They return 80 percent of their production from last year, more than any team in the FBS.”
“Cade Klubnik will be better,” Dinich added. “He’s got another season under his belt with offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. He’s coming off one of the best seasons in school history and has his top three receivers returning.”

In 2024, Klubnik played in 14 games and completed 63.4% of his passes. He threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns with just six interceptions. He also rushed for 463 yards and seven more touchdowns.

This article inspired me to take a closer look at Cade Klubnik and consider whether Heather Dinich might be right. My initial thoughts: she’s right about Klubnik, probably wrong about Clemson beating LSU in Week 1, and possibly right that Clemson could be a national contender this year. I turned to ESPN for more data on Klubnik.

What Should We Know About Clemson Quarterback Cade Klubnik?

2024 Season Highlights:

Klubnik completed 92.3% of his passes vs. App State and 75% vs. The Citadel. He also had a 75.6% completion rate vs. Wake Forest.

He had two games in 2024 with completion rates under 50%: 47.1% vs. Virginia Tech and 48.4% vs. Stanford. Despite this, he threw 7 touchdowns to just 2 interceptions in those two games, and Clemson scored a combined 64 points.

Against SEC teams, Klubnik posted respectable completion percentages: 62.1% vs. Georgia, 66.7% vs. South Carolina, and 60.5% vs. Texas. However, he threw 0 touchdowns and 1 interception in the Georgia and South Carolina games. Against Texas, he threw 3 touchdowns and 1 interception.

In the ACC Championship Game against SMU (a narrow 3-point win), he completed 58.5% of his passes for 4 touchdowns and no interceptions.

In Clemson’s four losses, Klubnik was sacked an average of twice per game.

In two close wins—24–14 vs. Virginia Tech and 24–20 vs. Pitt—he was sacked a total of 9 times (4 vs. VT, 5 vs. Pitt).

In the four games where Clemson allowed 0 sacks, the offense averaged 56 points.

In games against Georgia, Texas, and SMU (two losses and one close win), Klubnik’s rushing was effectively neutralized: 0 rushing touchdowns, sacked 2–3 times per game, and held to under 2 yards per rush: -4.3 (UGA), 0.4 (Texas), and 1.5 (SMU).

Notably, Clemson has lost four games in each of the last two seasons.

Klubnik in 2022:

According to ESPN’s game logs, Klubnik played in only two games where he completed more than four passes. Clemson went 1–1 in those games.

In the ACC Championship win over North Carolina, he posted an 83.3% completion rate, 279 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown, no interceptions, and added 30 rushing yards and a rushing TD. UNC had 0 sacks.

In the Capital One Orange Bowl loss to Tennessee, he completed 55.6% of his passes for 320 yards, 0 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and 51 rushing yards with 1 rushing touchdown. Tennessee recorded 4 sacks.

Klubnik in 2023:

Klubnik’s completion percentages were more stable than in 2024, ranging from 50% (vs. Notre Dame) to 75.7% (vs. Charleston Southern).

In Clemson’s four 2023 losses, opponents had at least two sacks: Duke (2), Florida State (3), Miami (5), NC State (2).

In the 38–35 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl win over Kentucky, Klubnik had a 73.2% completion rate but threw 0 touchdowns and 1 interception. Kentucky sacked him 9 times, and he ended with -12 rushing yards.

Clemson beat both SEC opponents in 2023: Kentucky (by 3) and South Carolina (by 9), making them 2–3 against SEC teams over the past two seasons (2–2 in regular-season games).

Is Heather Dinich Right?

Dinich’s assessment of Cade Klubnik is fair. Over the last two seasons, Klubnik has been consistent in completion percentage (63.9% in 2023, 63.4% in 2024), improved in TD-to-INT ratio (from 19/9 to 36/6), and increased his QB rating (from 126.3 to 148.2).

Dinich might also be right that “Clemson will beat LSU in Week 1” and “be a serious contender for the national title.” These predictions aren’t outrageous. I personally disagree with her Week 1 call, but Clemson may very well make the playoffs again this year.

Still, even if Clemson defeats LSU in the opener, they will not likely be favored in a playoff matchup against a Big Ten or SEC powerhouse. Over the last three years, teams like USC and FSU have beaten LSU in Week 1 and failed to win a national title. FSU even went undefeated and was still left out of the playoff, then got obliterated in their bowl game. That playoff snub arguably deflated the FSU program.

So no, Clemson winning this game doesn’t guarantee a playoff berth. And even if they make it, beating teams like Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Penn State, Ohio State, or Michigan remains unlikely. That’s just the reality for even the best ACC teams in the current playoff landscape.

On the flip side, if LSU wins, they’ll gain a massive confidence boost heading into tough road games against Ole Miss and Alabama. If LSU beats one of those teams and takes care of business against Texas A&M and South Carolina, they’ll have a legitimate case for the national title.

LSU’s schedule is playoff-worthy. Clemson’s is not. That reality might warrant changes to college football’s structure in the future, but for now, that’s the truth.

What Have We Learned About the Clemson/LSU Opener?

LSU’s defense must do two things:

Sack Klubnik and limit his mobility.
Find a way to force two or more turnovers—ideally interceptions.

Harold Perkins Jr. and Whit Weeks have experience chasing down mobile QBs, but it remains to be seen how their speed and agility hold up post-injury. LSU also added strong edge rushers via the portal: Patrick Payton (FSU) and Jack Pyburn (Florida).

Generating two interceptions against Klubnik will be tough. A better plan might be to focus on pressure and airtight coverage, especially with safety help over the top.

And of course, basic DB 101 still applies: keep receivers in front, make solid tackles, and attack the ball at every opportunity.

If LSU’s defense can channel some of that Nick Saban or Les Miles era dominance—well, that would be awesome.

Is Clemson really that good? Could LSU be much better?

2025-07-19T17:02:00.023-05:00

Is Clemson really that good? Could LSU be much better?

Clemson is a really good football team this year with some future NFL stars but a lot of the projections for this year and predictions for their opener versus LSU are based on success last year's success. Dabo Swinney teams historically have been title contenders and even National Champions (2016 and 2018). I do not follow Clemson football and admit that I had to look into how they faired in 2024. When I started trying to recall anything about Clemson last year, all I could recall was that Dabo duked it out with a Clemson student in social media after Clemson fans had reached a rare frustration point and started complaining. I also remember that Clemson beat SMU by 3 points to make it into the playoffs and then played a respectable first round; but, ultimately lost that game by two touchdowns to a solid Texas team. With so little to go on in my evaluation of Clemson's 2024 season, I did a little research that left me asking why are the "experts" expecting Clemson to be so good this year?

As an LSU fan: I could not help but thinking about LSU's opening losses the last three years and more specifically last year loss. Last year USC (California not Carolina) was expected to be in the hunt for a playoff spot. Clearly USC came into the season opener believing their hype and maybe LSU players believed the hype about USC as well. As it turns out USC was better than LSU in the opener but would have finished the season 6-6 without the opening win. Make no mistake perceptions and emotions play a huge roll in college sports. Remember we are talking about players in their teens and twenties. I think Brian Kelly has realized that this has been a missing element of LSU's strategy the last three years and he has now instituted a 1-0 strategy. The game that we are about to play is the only game. Hopefully it will be "1-0" each and every game before LSU looks back to count to all 1s (wins) and 0s (losses). Eyes forward focused on the task at hand.

When I was considering this first game, LSU vs Clemson, an article penned by Pete Fiutak for College Football News, "Clemson Football Preview 2025: Are the Tigers For Real? Did Dabo Do This Right?" made me sit up and take notice.

In this article Fiutak noted that as good as Cade Kulbnik was all last season and as interesting as the Clemson/Texas playoff game was, Clemson still lost to Texas by two touchdowns. I have to quote what was written next because this is what has me thinking that Clemson may be receiving more preseason praise than they have earned. In 2024:

"Clemson lost at home to South Carolina. It got run over by Louisville in an 11-point loss in Death Valley. And it all started with a 34-3 uggo of a defeat to Georgia for the third opening week loss in the last four years.

It beat SMU, but that, and a 24-20 win over Pitt - who finished 7-6 - were the only two wins over teams that finished with winning records.”

What?! in 2024 Clemson only beat two teams with a winning record?! In those two games Clemson only beat SMU by 3 points while allowing SMU to score 31 points, pass for over 300 yards, and 3 touchdowns. Clemson only beat Pitt by 4 points. Pitt passed for 350 yards in that game. To Clemson's credit they did record an interception in both games. But, to emphasis my main point, these are the only two teams that Clemson beat last year that had winning records. It is not that hard to look really good against teams that cannot win more than half of their games. Most team's openers and early season cream puffs prove this point.

In summary in 2024 Clemson only beat two teams with winning records, lost 4 games and all 3 of the games that they played against SEC teams (Georgia, South Carolina, and Texas). It is no shame to lose to Georgia and Texas in this day and age but to lose to Georgia by a score of 34-3, and to be bested by Texas by two touchdowns is a different story. And I know that most of you are wondering about how LSU and Clemson played against the only common opponent that both played last year: South Carolina.

In 2024 LSU played South Carolina in Garrett Nussmeier's first game as a started in an opponent's stadium. The stadium was packed and the atmosphere was electric. Both returning starters for 2025, QB Nussmeier passed for 285 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception and RB Caden Durham ran for 98 yards on 11 carries and 2 touchdowns. Aaron Anderson, also a returning starter for 2025, caught 5 receptions for 96 yards. Though there were some close controversial calls in the game, LSU won and managed to score 36 points against a very good South Carolina defense. South Carolina ended the season by traveling to Clemson and limiting Cade Klubnik and Clemson's offense to 14 points and held Clemson to zero points in the first and fourth quarters. Klubnik did pass for 280 yards but threw no touchdowns and one interception. Clemson's defense did hold South Carolina's freshman sensation Quarterback to only 164 yards passing and one interception in his first Clemson-South Carolina rivalry game but Sellers managed to run for 166 yards and 2 touchdowns on 16 carries.

Okay LSU only beat South Carolina by 3 points and Clemson only lost to South Carolina by 3 points. And LSU's Nussmeier is highly unlikely to rush for even 100 yards when LSU travels to face Clemson. Also worth mentioning is that Clemson/South Carolina is a big end of the year in state rivalry. With all of the aforementioned in consideration, LSU still beat a team that Clemson lost to. It is also noteworthy that while Clemson only played 3 SEC teams last year, LSU is in the SEC and plays mostly SEC teams. Clemson only beat two teams with a winning record last year 12 of the 16 teams in the SEC had a winning record. It begs the question of how Clemson or their NFL caliber players would do in the SEC. If Clemson's players want to be the best, why aren't they playing in the SEC or the Big 10?

To be fair both Clemson and LSU beat a team that was ranked in the top 10 when they beat that team in 2024. Both Clemson (34-31W over #8SMU) and LSU (29-26W in OT over #9 Ole Miss) only won by 3 points.

With all that I have been reading and researching about Clemson and LSU it is my very biased opinion that while Clemson is a quality opponent that very well end up in the National Championship at the end of the season, LSU should enter this expecting to win and they should leave with a win: 1-0 Eyes focused on the task at hand!

Where does 2025 LSU rank? Connor O'Gara of SDS predicts LSU will win a National Championship this year.

2025-07-18T14:54:00.021-05:00

Where does 2025 LSU rank? Connor O'Gara of SDS predicts LSU will win a National Championship this year.

I was disappointed yesterday after reading a Saturday Down South article by Adam Spencer entitled "We asked Grok to fill out its All-SEC first-team ballot" . Not one LSU player was listed on Grok's first team All-SEC ballot. Not one! I hesitated to even go back to the Saturday Down South (SDS) site again today. I am glad that I did.

Today SDS's Connor O'Gara, who was probably as shock as I was that Grok couldn't find a single LSU player to include in it's All-SEC ballot, posted an article entitled “How I filled out my 2025 preseason All-SEC ballot”. O’Gara’s First Team SEC preseason ballot included LSU players at the QB, RB, WR, LB and Return Specialist positions. However, no LSU players were picked for TE, OL, DL, DB, Punter or Placekicker. But even better news was included after his ballot. O'Gara predicted where teams would finish in SEC standings this year. This is his ranking order:

Connor O'Gara's predicted order of finish

LSU
Georgia
Texas
Alabama
Ole Miss
Texas A&M
Florida
South Carolina
Mizzou
Tennessee
Oklahoma
Vanderbilt
Auburn
Arkansas
Kentucky
Mississippi State

O'Gara even goes one step further at the conclusion of his post. He repost a video from his X account with the words "LSU is winning a national title in 2025".

While I hate the Grok assessment that Adam Spenser posted; I love what O'Gara is predicting. I will give O'Gara a pass on the omissions of LSU players from key positions of his SEC ballot because I kind of have to agree with him. The most important battle of any game begins in the trenches. LSU O-line is made up of good sized, athletic, extremely talent men but they have not all played on the same field at the same time. I believe that they will be a surprisingly better O-line than last year but we do know until we see it. LSU's defensive line also has something to prove. Defensive linemen that LSU retained from last year were for the most part young and inexperienced and LSU lost two talented and very experience defensive ends. With a year of SEC experience and with outstanding portal acquisitions LSU's defensive line ought to be able to go toe-to-toe with the best offensive lines in college football and may likely dominate this year. Yet, once again, LSU's defensive line has something to prove. I hope both lines play with a chip on their shoulders all year. O'Gara missed the call on Tight Ends - the Greens (Trey'Dez and Donovan) and Bauer Sharp are all three All-SEC caliber and I would be surprised if at least one of them did not have a NFL hall of fame caliber career. Freshmen DBs D.J. Pickett is the next Patrick Peterson, D.J. Stingley, to be added to future all world DBs from the true DBU, LSU. This year marks the beginning of the return of DBU at LSU. Punter Grant Chadwick is new to LSU but you might want to take a look at his numbers and given the chance Aeron Burrell can kick a field goal from almost anywhere on the field. There is no way that O'Gara could have made an objective judgement based on any of this.

I have to admit that I was trying to decide where LSU fits into the overall picture this year. While I can talk about the merits of individual LSU players and coaches for a very long time, it still does not answer my question: Where does LSU rank as a team this year? The games are played for a reason and ultimately the answer will be definitively answered on the field. I think it still might be interesting to try to make an educated guess. For the record, my uneducated guess would be that LSU will finish #1, Texas A&M #4, and Mizzou #7. My bias is that those are the schools that I went to and got a couple of degrees from. I went to games as a student at LSU and then as a graduate student that was also a football team tutor at Texas A&M. I earned a masters at the University of Missouri (main campus/COMO) but have not stepped foot on the campus or seen a football game live. My Mizzou masters was earned 100% online. Enough about me, let's try to get somewhere close to an educated guess at where LSU ranks with expert opinions accounted for.

Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and Althon Sports all have ranked LSU as the 3rd best team in the SEC this year. The ESPN ranking that was penned by Mark Schlabach ranked all NCAA teams and noteworthy: Clemson was ranked #2 and LSU was ranked #6 of all NCAA teams in 2025.

More recently USA Today ranked LSU #4 in the SEC and a top 10 ranking by College Football News ranked LSU #4 in the SEC and #8 overall. College Football News ranked Clemson #9 overall in that same article.

Objectively, without any clear way to know how all the new transfer pieces will fit into key positions at LSU this year, the experts are guessing that LSU is likely the 3rd or 4th best team in the SEC and probably a top 10 team overall in 2025.

Using the five sources listed and linked above I came up with this top 12 ranking of SEC football for 2025:

Composite 2025 SEC Top 12 (SI, USA Today, ESPN, CFN, and Althon Sports)

Texas
Georgia
LSU
Alabama
Florida
South Carolina
Ole Miss
Texas A&M
Oklahoma
Tennessee
Missouri
Auburn

Left out: Vandy, UK, Ark, Miss St.

The preseason ranking are fun, interesting, and totally meaningless. Once again,

for the record, my uneducated guess would be that LSU will finish #1, Texas A&M #4, and Mizzou #7.

Geaux Tigahs! Gig'em Aggies! and M-I-Z! I am ready for some football!!!

Pro Football Focus’ Top 50: LSU & Clemson

2025-07-17T16:00:00.004-05:00

Pro Football Focus’ Top 50: LSU & Clemson

Link to PFF Article: https://www.pff.com/news/college-football-pff50-ranking-50-best-players-2025

“ Using PFF’s exclusive data and grading, we’ve identified the most dominant and valuable players in the country, based not on hype but on proven production and projection. Whether it’s a future first-round quarterback or a breakout edge rusher primed for a monster year, these are the 50 names every college football fan needs to know this fall.”

These are the players that are on that list from LSU and Clemson. Clemson has 4 players on the list, 3 on defense and 1 on offense. LSU has 2 players on the list, 1 on defense and 1 on offense. This highlights one of the big storylines of this monumental opening game: This is the old school system represented by Clemson of not many transfers being added to the mix. That should make it an easier program to prepare for because of the known elements. What LSU coaches know is that Clemson is really good on both sides of the ball. On the other side of the storyline is LSU, a school that hit the transfer portal hard and brought in pieces that should strengthen LSU on both sides of the ball but, despite good reports coming out of LSU, no one will really know until they take the field in August. The other thing that is harder to guess is exactly how to prepare for LSU. Clemson QB Cade Klubnik indicated that he is preparing for a Blake Baker coached defense. That’s probably a good idea and a good indicator of how Clemson is preparing for the LSU game. However, I am not sure a scheme can account for Jack Pyburn, Patrick Payton, and Bernard Gooden, and Sydir Mitchell being added to the mix of LSU’s defensive line. What is that going to be like when added to the d-line rotation that includes 2nd year, experienced linemen: Gabriel Reliford, Dominick McKinley, and Ahmed Breaux, as well as a healthy returning Jacobian Guillory. I know that Clemson is bringing in a bit of a not entirely known mixin coach, new DC Tom Allen, but, LSU has a new d-line coach that should impact the culture of intensity and knowledge from experience of successfully playing defensive line at the NFL level (Kyle Williams). If you follow the media and known data, LSU is clearly the underdog. That historically inspires LSU and with many many unknowable factors this game is shaping up to very very interesting. Below is the promised list from PFF’s Top 50 list:

3. DI Peter Woods, Clemson

Woods spent most of his sophomore season playing out of position at edge defender, yet he still earned an impressive 83.3 PFF overall grade. Over his first two years of college football, he is both the highest-graded and most valuable returning Power Four defensive tackle, according to PFF WAA.

Woods leads all returning Power Four interior defenders in PFF run-defense grade (89.7) and pass-rush win rate (14.9%) since 2023. His combination of power and agility, at 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, makes him a nightmarish matchup for opposing offensive linemen.

7. QB Cade Klubnik, Clemson

There may not have been a more improved quarterback in college football this past season than Klubnik. After placing 102nd among FBS signal-callers in 2023 with a 63.9 PFF passing grade, he ranked fifth in 2024 (87.7). Only Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders threw more touchdowns than the junior (36). Klubnik also ranked fifth in big-time throws (28).

The top quarterback recruit in the 2022 class is finally starting to live up to the hype and has the potential to take a loaded Clemson roster to the promised land as a senior.

10. EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson

Between Parker and Peter Woods, the Tigers currently project to have the first edge defender and defensive tackle selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. Parker's 12 sacks in 2024 led all returning Power Four edge rushers, and he is one of three who posted 80.0-plus PFF grades both as a pass rusher and a run defender.

Parker brings a devastating bull rush, thanks to his power at 6-foot-3 and 265 pounds. He has the makings of a top-10 selection next April if he can put together a similarly strong junior year.

23. QB Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

After sitting on the bench for three years, Nussmeier finally received his chance to start for the Tigers as a redshirt junior. He extended the flashes of brilliance he had as a backup across a full season, finishing the year with the fifth-most passing yards in the nation (4,043) and tying for seventh in big-time throws (26).

Nussmeier is still a bit of a gunslinger, as he ranked in the bottom 20 in turnover-worthy plays (18). He also adds virtually nothing as a runner, with his 93 rushing yards in 2024 being easily the fewest of anyone on this list. But he’s still a tough quarterback who is fearless in the pocket and capable of making almost any throw on the field.

27. CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson

The younger brother of Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell, Avieon is projected to follow in his brother’s footsteps from Clemson to the first round of the NFL draft. The younger Terrell is a much better run defender, placing fourth among cornerbacks in PFF run-defense grade this past season (90.7). He also forced three fumbles, tied for the second most. Terrell is excellent in coverage, as well, leading all Power Four cornerbacks with 14 forced incompletions in 2024.

He stands at just 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, but Terrell plays with outstanding physicality for the position and has the speed to stick with receivers in man coverage.

44. LB Whit Weeks, LSU

While Harold Perkins Jr. drew most of the preseason hype at LSU last year, it was Whit Weeks who emerged as the breakout star.

Weeks was a disruptive force as a sophomore, consistently making plays behind the line of scrimmage. His 21 tackles for loss or no gain ranked fourth among all linebackers nationally, and his 25 quarterback pressures placed him in the top 15 at the position. His quick trigger and closing speed make him one of the most instinctive defenders in college football.

LSU vs Clemson 2025: Linebackers

2025-07-16T15:48:00.003-05:00

LSU vs Clemson 2025: Linebackers

LSU and Clemson have two of the best Quarterbacks in college football and both LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik should go very high in the NFL draft after their final seasons this year. A lot of the success or failure for Clemson and LSU will squarely fall on the shoulders of these two quarterbacks. However, LSU fans will recall that you can have a Heisman trophy winning quarterback (Jayden Daniels) and still not make the playoffs. Defense wins championships and the quarterback of the defense is very often a linebacker. In this article I will be taking a deep dive into LSU’s and Clemson’s linebackers.

I just added PFF to my “Best Sports Links” selection in the right column of the desktop version of this site. According to the Pro Football Focus article “College Football: Top 10 linebacker units entering the 2025 season” LSU’s linebacker unit, Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins Jr., are the number 2 linebacker unit this season and Clemson’s linebacker unit, Wade Woodaz and Sammy Brown, are number 9. Both are top 10 units this season and expected to play key roles in their teams’ success.

Being an LSU fan, I thought that this is great news for real tiger fans: LSU is clearly ranked well above Clemson in the category of linebacker unit. It is good news!

In keeping with my mission to incorporate AI in my posts, I prompted Chatgpt to “compare LSU’s linebackers to Clemson’s linebackers”. I expected to have a confirmation of the PFF article but noticed that Chatgpt did not even include the PFF article, or many LSU sites, in the sources consulted. Chatgpt concluded that “Clemson boasts a more seasoned, battle-tested linebacker group with strong leadership and fewer injury risks. LSU offers a higher long-term upside in athleticism (particularly with Perkins), but both of their top players are coming off of significant injuries, making their immediate impact less predictable. In short, Clemson’s job-ready linebackers likely give them an edge in 2025, while LSU’s pair has a higher ceiling - but carries more health risk.” My thoughts: Wow! Just, wow. I have issues with Chatgpt’s analysis. I should mention that the analysis of Clemson linebackers predominantly used the Clemson Tigers Offical Athletics Site and Big Blue View while Chatgpt’s analysis of LSU’s linebackers relied mostly on Wikipedia. I put a lot more stock in the PFF rankings.

Here is my take on LSU’s linebackers versus Clemson’s linebackers. First, the point Chatgpt makes about LSU’s top two linebackers recovering from injuries is a point well taken. All reports point to both Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins being ready to play at 100% but we will not know for sure until they suit up against Clemson.

Another thing to consider is the defense that surrounds the linebackers and particularly the defensive line. According to all reports Clemson has a strong defensive line anchored by likely next year NFL players T.J. Parker and Peter Woods. While LSU’s current defensive line is largely unproven, many returning players have gained valuable experience and LSU has brought in solid defensive linemen from the portal.

Finally, it is noteworthy that LSU’s defensive coordinator, who is entering his second year as LSU’s DC, is also the linebackers coach. Baker started for 3 years at linebacker for Tulane (2000-2004); worked with linebackers as a graduate assistant at Texas (2010-2012); was DC and linebackers coach at LaTech (2015-2018), at Miami (2019-2020) and was linebackers coach at LSU in 2021 before becoming the DC for Missouri (2022-2023). I think it is safe to say that Baker probably knows a thing or two about the linebacker position. Likewise, first year Defensive Coordinator for Clemson, Tom Allen, is the linebacker coach for Clemson and has a keen understanding and focus on the linebacker position. Allen was the DC and linebacker coach at Penn State last year and in his 7 year tenure as head coach of Indiana University (2016-2023) coached 3 first team all Big Ten linebackers. Allen was the linebackers coach for Ole Miss from 2012-2014 and coached 2 all SEC linebackers. In addition, Allen’s son, Thomas Allen, is a defensive analyst and assistant linebackers coach for Clemson. Thomas Allen played linebacker for Indiana University from 2017-2021.

Setting aside important considerations of past injuries, defensive line play, the linebacker experience and focus of two relatively new defensive coordinators, let’s take a closer look at linebackers that will likely start and play in the LSU-Clemson game this year.

Clemson Linebackers:

Sammy Brown was a 5 star linebacker prospect in the class of 2024, he was ranked number 2 at the position; was ranked the number 2 player in the state of Georgia, and the number 14 player nationally in the class of 2024. Brown just completed his freshman year at Clemson. Brown started 6 games; recorded 80 tackles (47solo/33asisted), 11.5 tackles for loss, 3 pass breakups and 3 passes defended. In short, so far Brown has lived up to his five star billing. I have learned that Brown is a high-motor, sideline-to-sideline player. LSU fans, this sounds similar to a Whit Weeks or Harold Perkins Jr type player. Here is a good highlight video of Sammy Brown versus N.C. State last year.

Wade Woodaz was listed as a 3 star, #61 safety from the class of 2022; but, Woodaz has developed to be much better than advertised as a linebacker. Woodaz has started at linebacker in 18 games totaling 131 tackles (68solo/63 assisted), 21.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 8 pass breakups, 3 interceptions, 11 passes defended, and 1 touchdown. Here is a good highlight video of Woodaz.

The supporting cast of Clemson linebackers include:

Jeremiah Alexander, a transfer from Alabama. Alexander is listed at 6’2” and 232lbs and was a 5 star, number 5 ranked edge rusher as well as the #1 high school player in Alabama in 2022 but only registered 9 tackles in his 3 year/27 game stint at Alabama. Clearly Alexander was brought in to provide outside pressure from an edge position.

Dee Crayton out of high school was a 4 star, #9 linebacker that was also ranked as high as 8th among all players from Georgia in 2023. Crayton has played in 19 games but started in 0 games at Clemson and registered 24 total tackles (11solo/13 assisted) and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Kobe McCloud has started in 2 games, racked up 18 total tackles (7 solo/11 assisted), 3.5 tackles for loss and 1 forced fumble.

And finally, Jamal Anderson, a 4 star/#12LB from the class of 2022, has started 1 game; been responsible for 11 total tackles (3 solo/ 8 assisted), 1 tackle for loss, and 1 sack.

It will be interesting to see how different LSU tight ends and wide receivers match up when these linebackers are slated to drop back in coverage. I think Sammy Brown may be the hardest matchup and honestly, the Clemson linebackers are all around the ideal 6’2” to 6’3” tall and 220lbs to 235lbs range. LSU’s tight ends are all in the 6’4” to 6’7” range and 240lbs to 250lbs range. Tight ends Bauer Sharp, Trey’Dez Green, and Texas A&M transfer Donovan Green all are fast, agile, and strong but it is anybody’s guess as to whether their athleticism and slight height and weight advantages will make a decisive difference. LSU also has probably the fastest wide receivers in college football. Barion Brown and Jelani Watkins are two of the fastest players in college football according to EA sports. Zavion Thomas and Aaron Anderson are also super fast and Chris Hilton Jr. runs a 4.31 forty.

Clemson’s strategy will probably be to send the linebackers in blitzes frequently and try to overload an almost completely new LSU offensive line which may work or open up some quick passes with potential for many many yards after the catch. I can’t wait to see what happens! Clemson and LSU are two really good teams! But that’s not all folks!

Let’s take a look at LSU’s linebackers!

LSU Linebackers:

Harold Perkins Jr. - 5 star class of 2022, #1 linebacker in class, #1 overall player from Texas, #5 player nationally in 2022. Sammy Brown and Harold Perkins Jr. had similar billing and similar results their freshman years. Both were hyped in the media guides and both delivered. Bryan Kelly’s staff Perkin’s sophomore year had clear vision for how they planned to use Perkins and that vision could not have been more wrong. Perkins started 4 games the next year and got hurt. He has had a long time to heal and reports are that he is 100% and this LSU defensive staff know his strengths and how he best fits into LSU’s defensive plans. At LSU Perkins has started 25 games executed 164 total tackles (87 solo/ 77 assisted), 27.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 7 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 7 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, and 9 passes defended. One last thought on Perkins: Blake Baker was LSU’s linebacker coach when Perkins had his stellar freshman year. Here is a good Perkins highlight video.

Whit Weeks out of high school was a 4 star, #8 linebacker, #9 Georgia player in the class of 2023. Weeks was injured in the bowl game of last season but represented LSU at SEC media days and when asked about it said that he has never felt better in his life and the he is eager to play. Weeks is known for his speed and high motor, never quit style of play. While at LSU Weeks has started 14 games, completed 174 tackles (76 solo/ 98 assisted), 13.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 3 pass breakups, 1 interception, and 4 passes defended.

Whit’s older brother West Weeks, who transferred to LSU from Virginia, is a regular in the linebacker rotation. West has 90 total tackles (36 solo/54 assisted), 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 5 pass breakups, and 5 passes defended.

Davhon Keys, a 4 star from the class of 2024, started 4 games, totaled 31 tackles (11 solo/ 20 assisted), 1.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 3 pass breakups, 1 interception, 4 passes defended and 1 touchdown. Davhon Keys and another 2024 4 star linebacker, Tylen Singleton, were likely not going to see action in 2025 to provide another year of development. Tylen who was the 12th ranked linebacker in the class of 2024 was redshirted and is likely ready to see action this year.

LSU also has a strong group of true freshmen linebackers. All 4 freshmen are blue chip 4 stars of the class of 2025. Charles Ross II was ranked #2 linebacker in the class and the 13th best football player in the state of Texas. Jaiden Braker was ranked the 12th best linebacker and 20th best football player in the state of Georgia. Nearly all of the LSU linebackers fall into the 6’1” to 6’3” height range and weigh in the 215lbs to 230lbs range.

It will be interesting to see how LSU linebackers match up particularly with Olsen Patt-Henry, the heir apparent of NFL departed all time Clemson leader in receptions by a tight end - Jake Bringingstool. Josh Sapp, Banks Pope, and Christian Bentancur are all solid at blocking and passing catching. It is also noteworthy to mention that PFF ranks Clemson’s receiving unit as number 3 this year. Bryant Westco, T.J. Moore, and Antonio Williams are all among the best wide receivers in college football.

I am biased but I do agree with PFF’s ranking of linebacker units. LSU’s linebackers are better than Clemson’s linebackers. We can argue that LSU has played against much better competition in the SEC or that Clemson benefits more greatly from an established NFL caliber defensive line but Pro Football Focus ranks both linebacker units in the top 10 this year and LSU is #2 and Clemson is #9. Talk of the linebacker units is barely a whisper compared to the talk about Clubnik and Nussmeier. Thinking about linebackers makes you consider the over/under total score bet. It leaves no doubt that we will see the clash of two titan teams August 30/6:30cst - 7:30 est - primetime on ABC!

LSU transfers that have faced Clemson

2025-07-14T11:05:00.001-05:00

LSU transfers that have faced Clemson

I find it fascinating that six LSU transfers were on teams that faced Clemson last year or the year before. I think one really interesting storyline for this year’s game is how well Barion Brown did versus Clemson in the Taxslayer Gator Bowl at the end of 2023. I’m considering doing an article on all of LSU’s transfers. The video links included in this article should get LSU fans hyped up about the possibilities of the transfers included in this article.

Barion Brown WR transfer from UK

Then-Kentucky wide receiver Barion Brown put on an electrifying performance against Clemson in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on December 29, 2023. Although Kentucky ultimately lost a high-scoring game to Clemson 38-35, Brown delivered several highlight-reel plays.

Here's a summary of Barion Brown's performance against Clemson:

Scored three touchdowns: Brown scored via a 22-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter, a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown in the second half, and a 60-yard receiving touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Set a Gator Bowl record: His 100-yard kickoff return touchdown was the longest in TaxSlayer Gator Bowl history.
Totaled 226 all-purpose yards: This included yards from kickoff returns, rushing, and receiving.
Showcased elite speed: Brown demonstrated his exceptional speed on multiple occasions, especially on the long kickoff return and the 60-yard receiving touchdown.

This performance highlighted Brown's abilities as a dynamic playmaker, both as a receiver and a return specialist. He later transferred to LSU for his senior season.

https://youtu.be/Mo_WNDjgFoM?si=iECjuU33_Dfwmvzf Barion Brown YouTube 2024 Kentucky Highlights

Patrick Payton DE transfer from Florida State

Patrick Payton, formerly a defensive end for Florida State and now at LSU, has played against Clemson during his college career.

In the 2024 season, while still at Florida State, Payton blocked a field goal attempt against Clemson. He also recorded two tackles for loss in that same game. In another game against Clemson that season, he had 4 tackles.

In 2023, while at Florida State, Payton recorded 1.0 sacks against Clemson on September 23rd.

https://youtu.be/gFY2QWmmPCU?si=J0JzCVIiQUou8Sob Patrick Payton 2024 ACC Digital Network Youtube Video Highlights

Mansoor Delane CB transfer from Virginia Tech

Mansoor Delane, a cornerback formerly with Virginia Tech, played against Clemson in a game on November 9, 2024, where Clemson won 24-14. In that game, Delane recorded five tackles and one pass deflection. Clemson's quarterback, Cade Klubnik, also had a notable performance, throwing for a touchdown and a 41-yard pass to T.J. Moore.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

The Game: In the November 9th game, Clemson defeated Virginia Tech 24-14.
Delane's Performance: Delane, then playing for Virginia Tech, had five tackles and one pass deflection in the game.
Clemson's Offense: Klubnik led Clemson's offense, throwing for a touchdown and a long pass to Moore.

https://youtu.be/q7j-7-kPKyQ?si=_2bwI4wgQhuUJE1Q Mansoor Delane ACC Digital Network Youtube Video Highlights

TaMarcus Cooley transfer from N.C. State nickel back/safety

Tamarcus Cooley S transfer from North Carolina State

Cooley appeared in all 13 games, starting 9 times at nickel. Recorded 39 tackles, three INTs, two forced fumbles, and six pass deflections.

Here is a video link that shows Cooley making a very Honey Badger type of move:

https://youtu.be/c-ACYyT0jxA?si=QU7c0kNmhVuTmTy_

I could not find any stats for Cooley vs. Clemson in ESPN’s game-by-game stats for Cooley; so, I asked Google Gemini “Has Tamarcus Cooley ever played against Clemson?”

This is Gemini’s answer (note: AI responses may include mistakes.):

“No, based on the provided search results, Tamarcus Cooley has not yet played against Clemson. He is expected to face Clemson as part of the LSU Tigers' schedule on August 30, 2025.

Cooley has previously played for the NC State Wolfpack and the Maryland Terrapins. He transferred to LSU in January of 2025.”

Braelin Moore OL/Center transfer from Virginia Tech

Hard to evaluate Moore’s impact as a center but former LSU center T-Bob Hebert and LSU running back Jacob Hester provide the best analysis that I have found from OTB(Off The Bench): LSU. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/uGwcPTDNwJg?si=YB5Calawg5GUkrAm

Destyn Hill transfer WR from Florida State

Hill was struggling with injuries in 2023 and missed 2024. Also, LSU is packed at wide receiver. However, like all of the players listed in this post he not only watched FSU play Clemson but has the advantage of having sat in on the Clemson game preparation from his former coaches.

It has been noted in several sources that Cade Klubnik, and Clemson, has experience playing against several of LSU’s transfers. That is true and rightly pushed aside Klubnik for his LSU preparation in favor of doing a deep dive on Blake Baker coached defenses. That is probably good thinking. Clemson probably would be wise to not focus their prep on individual players. On the other hand, 6 LSU transfers from 4 different schools (UK, VT, FSU, and NCST) have previously prepared for and/or played against Clemson. I am guessing that LSU coaches are at least picking the brains of the 3 defensive transfers and possibly gleaning some advantages from the 3 offensive transfers. Note: Clemson has a new Defensive Coordinator this year, Tom Allen who was Penn State’s DC last year. So, hopefully LSU’s offensive analysts are focusing on how Allen coached defenses operate and then on how to block Clemson’s NFL ready defensive linemen.

LSU Football 2025 - 7 YouTube Videos, Notebooklm, and Bob

2025-07-10T15:53:00.001-05:00

LSU Football 2025:

7 YouTube Videos, Notebooklm, and Bob

I loaded 7 YouTube Videos into Notebooklm and asked Notebooklm to provide a brief based on the content of these 7 videos. With the exception of misspelling almost every name, Notebooklm provided a fairly good summation of the combined 7 videos. In this post I provide cleaned up Notebooklm content along with my own thoughts. The links to the videos will be at the end of this post. They are good videos that I highly recommend. I hope you enjoy this post and Geaux Tigahs!

LSU Football 2025: Season Briefing

I. Overall Outlook & Expectations:

LSU enters the 2025 season with high expectations, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, aiming for a College Football Playoff berth after a 9-4 finish in 2024. The sentiment is that with improvements, this team could be "better than it was a year ago" and even surpass the Heisman-winning Jayden Daniels era if defensive needs are addressed. However, the team's ability to reach its ceiling hinges on the performance of several key "swing players" and a significant defensive turnaround.

Bob: I am not sure that I would describe Jayden Daniels two years as an "era" but, okay. In the glossary that Notebooklm created this is how it defined "swing player".

Swing Player/X-Factor: A player whose performance has a significant, high-variance impact on the team's overall success. Their play can either elevate the team's ceiling or hinder its potential.

II. Offensive Prowess: Quarterback, Skill Players, & Offensive Line

The LSU offense is projected to be "EXPLOSIVE" and "better this year for Garrett Nussmeier than they were a year ago," despite losing significant talent on the offensive line.

Quarterback: Garrett Nussmeier

Heisman Contender: Nussmeier is the "odds on favorite in a lot of places to win the Heisman this year." There's a strong belief he can make a "Burrows, Daniels year one to year two jump" as a full-time starter.

Gunslinger Mentality: Nussmeier is a "gunslinger" with an "NFL caliber arm" who "throws it into tight windows" and "will challenge the defense no matter what the coverage is." While this leads to "spectacular throws," it also comes with "mistakes."

Areas for Growth: The key will be for him to "clean up" little mistakes, improve timing, pre-snap reads, and comfortability reading over the middle. He needs to incorporate more "scrambling for five yards" rather than always trying to make a big play, a common development for quarterbacks from year one to year two.

Bob: Wouldn't it be fun to see Ju'Juan Johnson, Michael Van Buren or Colin Hurley in a running back slot and provide a really interesting RPO situation?! Handoff to the QB/RB who then can run, throw, flea flicker to Nuss, or run laterally and throw laterally to Nuss who then passes etc. Probably too many possibilities to execute well. If there is time, this would be a truly unique RPO scheme.

"Coach's Son": As the son of an NFL offensive coordinator, Doug Nussmeier, Garrett is described as "cerebral" and possessing a deep understanding of the game's "why."

Wide Receivers:

"Embarrassment of Riches": LSU boasts a talented and diverse wide receiver corps, described as an "embarrassment of riches" with "different skill sets," making it difficult for defenses to key on one player.

Key Players:

Aaron Anderson: "Lead leading receiver," "shifty," and a "trustworthy guy." (61 catches, 884 yards, 5 TDs in 2024).

Chris Hilton Jr.: A "freak of the week" recipient in preseason. He is the "deep threat" with "real burners" speed (one of the "fastest 10 people on the NCAA video game"). He "was thriving" at the end of last year (9 catches, 27 YPC, 3 TDs) and is expected to be "massive for how far this team goes." His main challenge is "can he stay on the field" and avoid injuries.

Barion Brown (Transfer from Kentucky): Also one of the "fastest 10 people on the game." He "stole the show" in spring practice and is highly touted, with "all the physical tools." He's also a "utility weapon" and "tied for the record all time for touchdowns on special teams."

Nic Anderson (Transfer from Oklahoma): Provides "size" and is a "big body target who can go up and make contested catches." He had a "really long average yard per catch when he was healthy in 2023."

Bob: Zavion Thomas, Kyle Parker, Jelani Watkins, Destyn Hill, TaRon Francis???? I think LSU has enough really good wide receivers to field several playoff contender teams.

Tight Ends:

"LOADED TE Room": LSU lost a "second round draft choice" at tight end but the current room "could be better than it was a year ago" due to increased depth and diverse skill sets.

Key Players:

Bauer Sharp: Received the first "Freak of the Week" award for 2025 offseason. A "red shirt senior" and transfer from Oklahoma who has "played a ton of football." He's a "mixture" who can do "a little bit of everything," including H-back and pseudo-fullback roles. He's described as "OU's leading receiver this past year after every receiver on the team including Nic Anderson got hurt."

Trey'Dez Green: A "freak athlete" who played receiver last year and is now moving back to a "true F" tight end role, creating mismatches "Alia Antonio Gates Travis Kelce." He is a "matchup nightmare" and is "impossible to defend," with 4 touchdowns on only 13 catches last year. The coaching staff needs to ensure he does "some blocking in the run game to be effective" to avoid "tendencies."

Donovan Green (Junior Transfer from Texas A&M): More of a traditional "Y role" tight end with his "hand in the dirt connected to the offensive line, kind of inline blocking." He played extensively as a true freshman at A&M under Jimbo Fisher, who highly praised him. He's considered a potential "pleasant surprise."

JD Lafleur (Freshman): A "big guy" at 6'7", 263 lbs, adding to the room's depth.

Versatility and Formation: The coaching staff plans to utilize multiple tight ends on the field simultaneously (e.g., "Bauer Sharp and Green on the field at the same time") to create "matchup problems" and avoid "creating tendencies."

Bob: One of the YouTube videos that I include as a resource focused on LSU's Tight Ends. I seem to recall that Brian Kelly's Notre Dame teams had big sure handed tight ends that were an important part of ND's offense. The Nortre Dame TEs were big and seem slow, in the mold of typical Big 10 TEs. While Bauer Sharp and Trey'Dez Green are big, 6'5" and 6'7", both men can are agile and can run. LSU could open with a bomb pass to the end zone on their first play of the season or they could play it safe and dink and dunk to the tight ends virtually the whole game.

Running Back: Caden Durham

Sophomore Sensation: Durham was "really good as a true freshman," second among all Power Four true freshmen in rushing yards (749) and leading in receiving yards (261).

Need for Balance: The team needs Durham to "really perform even better as a true sophomore" to alleviate pressure on Nussmeier. LSU's offense was more dangerous when they had "balance" and a strong run game, as seen in their comeback against South Carolina.

Bob: First I think Caden Durham is positioned to have a thousand yards rushing and double digit touchdowns as LSU's featured back this year. But it seems odd that only one running back appeared in this Notebooklm briefing. It could be that LSU did not have a great running game last year and the year before the great running game was based on QB Jayden Daniels' elusiveness and speed. It should be noted that Caleb Jackson may have only experienced the common "sophomore slump" last year because he looked to have really potential his freshman season. I do not think we have heard the last from Caleb Jackson. I took a look at LSU's official roster just a moment ago and notice Trey Holly, who did not play last year because of legal issues, is still on the team and made "Academic Honor Roll in 2024". Holly only got a couple of touches in 2023 but wow! did he look good! Trey Holly hold Louisiana's all-time rushing record (all divisions) with 10,523 yards during his high school career. Holly is the next Warwick Dunn. But he may have trouble getting touches because in addition to Durham and Jackson, true freshmen Harlem Berry and J.T. Lindsey are that good. According to On3's composite rankings Berry was the 2025 class No. 1 running back and J.T. Lindsey was the class No. 9 running back. LSU has a wealth of running backs and there offensive line is more than likely going to be much better at run blocking this year.

Offensive Line:

Major Question Mark: This is arguably the "biggest question mark" on the team, as LSU "lost four of five starters from that elite offensive line," including a "top five pick at left tackle in Will Campbell." They "were expected to be dominant, overtly dominant" last year but "could not run the ball consistently."

New Faces: They've brought in transfers like Josh Thompson (Northwestern) and Braelin Moore (Virginia Tech), who is likely to start at center.

Swing Player: Tyree Adams: He is tasked with replacing Will Campbell at left tackle, "defending Garrett Nussmeier's blind side." He played well in the bowl game and "hasn't started much during his career," making him a high-variance player. His performance will be crucial for pass protection and establishing a physical run game.

Talent but Unproven: While Brian Kelly is known for O-line recruiting and development, and players like Weston Davis (former five-star at right tackle) are talented, they need to "get out there and show it" against top defensive lines. The true test will come in "that first snap against Clemson."

Bob: You may recall that Will Campbell and Emery Jones both started as true freshmen at the OT positions for LSU. There are 17 players collectively listed as either OT or OL. 14 of those players are Freshmen, Redshirt Freshmen or Redshirt Sophomores. I have noticed that even though LSU has had awesome offensive linemen in the past, like Andrew Whitworth and Will Campbell; blue chip offensive linemen have been lining up to play for LSU in even greater quantities since the arrival of Brian Kelly. The talent should be there and the coaching is solid. The question is "have these guys matured into a unit?". If LSU's o-line is gelling, there will be a feast of tiger bait this year.

III. Defensive Improvement: The Key to Playoff Hopes

LSU's defense "once again plagued the Tigers" in 2024, ranking "82nd in the country in EPA per play" and "ninth worst defense in the power four in EPA per play" over the last two years. A significant turnaround is required for playoff contention.

Bob: Historically, LSU has had some of the very best defensive teams and it is time we return to defensive dominance again this year.

Defensive Line/Edge Rushers:

Need for Havoc: Blake Baker's scheme "wants to create havoc," requiring players who "are going to get into the back field."

Swing Player:

Patrick Payton (Transfer from Florida State): He is LSU's most prominent defensive end addition with "the most pass rush pedigree," having 7 sacks and 9 passes defended in 2023. However, his production dropped in 2024. He "has got to be the player that he was two years ago" to "raise the floor of what this team is able to accomplish."

Jack Pyburn: Described as an "edge setter" and bringing "swagger" and "nastiness" to the defense. Expected to be involved in "camp skirmishes."

Bob: Dominick McKinley, Ahmad Breaux, Bernard Gooden (Transfer USF), and Sydir Mitchel (Transfer Texas) will anchor a defensive front that has something to prove and should be a big improvement over last year. It would also be a huge mistake to overlook Gabriel Reliford at defensive edge.

Linebackers:

Strength of the Team: LSU has the "number two linebacker unit in college football" due to Harold Perkins Jr. and Whit Weeks.

Heart and Soul: Whit Weeks: Described as the "clear leader of this defense" and the "heart and soul." He is "terrific" in run defense and a "good blitzer," offering "a little bit of everything." His continued development and leadership are crucial.

Swing Player: Harold Perkins Jr.: A "swing player" recovering from an ACL injury. After a breakout freshman year, his performance has been inconsistent due to being "out of position" and not "utilized to the best of his skill set." If Blake Baker can "harness and utilize his athleticism" and get him playing "fast" and disruptive, the defense "could be very very good." However, if he remains a "tweener player," it will "limit something else successful."

Bob: "Heart and Soul" - Wit and Harold. I think a good strategy in the Clemson game would be to have Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins on the field at the same time. Have Whit blitz the QB and Perkins spy the QB. If Whit does not get to the QB, the QB gets flushed right into the arms of a ready and waiting Perkins. Many will make the point negating Nussmeier is a key for Clemson's D, but may miss or think it too big of a task for LSU to negate Clemson's QB, Cade Klubnik. I think Whit Weeks could even disrupt a quick handoff or quick throw.

Secondary:

Remaking the Unit: LSU is "really remaking this whole secondary" and needs "consistency." They have struggled with "subpar play to the LSU standard" in recent years.

Key Transfers:

Swing Player:

Mansoor Delane (Transfer from Virginia Tech): An "experienced guy who can bring consistency" and "lock down one side of the field." He was third in the ACC in interceptions (4) and had 11 passes defended last year. He is a "more physical player than he gets credit for" and not afraid to get "down and get dirty in run support."

AJ Haulcy (Transfer from Houston): A "productive tackler" who adds to the safety competition. LSU has "struggled with tackling in the secondary" recently.

Tamarcus Cooley (Transfer from NC State): Adds to the safety depth.

Depth and Competition: There are questions about who will start at safety, with Jardian Gilbert and Javien Toviano also in the mix. The unit has "so much length" with players like D.J. Pickett (6'4").

Bob: I have confidence that Corey Raymond remember what DBU players look like and how to coach them.

IV. Coaching and Schedule:

Brian Kelly: While some feel Kelly is on the "hot seat" due to unmet playoff expectations despite 10-win seasons, his job is likely secure given his contract. He is considered a "top 10 coach in college football."

Opening Matchup vs. Clemson: This "marquee early matchup" is seen as a "hell of a game" with returning Heisman-contending quarterbacks. It's a "win-win" for LSU, as even a loss "could look really really good on the resume" due to the strength of the SEC schedule. However, LSU fans are "sick of losing openers."

Bob: What?! "a loss could look really really good on the resume"?! No. An early loss can be overcome with a perfect rest of the season which would mean beating Alabama and Ole Miss in away games. But a loss is never good. A win in the opener puts either team in a great position.

Key Matchup: LSU's new offensive line against Clemson's strong defensive line (with NFL players like Peter Woods).

Bob: Trust me Will Campbell is not the last great LSU offensive lineman. This game will hopefully be an opportunity for a coming out party for the next great LSU linemen. Clemson will be the first but certainly no the last opportunity for LSU's young offensive linemen to show their stuff against future NFL defensive linemen.

Red Zone Efficiency: A historical "bugaboo" for LSU, converting red zone trips into touchdowns will be critical.

Bob: I would not have used the term "historical", too strong. Last year and maybe the year before red zone touchdowns were not as plentiful as they should have been. I have read that Ju'Juan Johnson may be the QB in a package designed for improving that stat. LSU has two or three very mobile backup QBs. And if LSU has a better run game and short passing game this year there may not be a need for the backup QB solution.

Shootout Potential: Both teams have high-powered offenses. LSU's defense has struggled with "giving up explosive plays."

Bob: I would have to double check, but; I think in the last two years LSU tends to win shootouts. LSU has certainly picked the transfer portal to increase scoring potential. One of the storylines for the Clemson/LSU game might be old school Dabo (not utilizing the transfer portal or NIL inducements as much) versus Kelly (using every old and new tool at his disposal).

Schedule Impact: LSU's SEC schedule (including Florida, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Alabama, Arkansas, and Oklahoma) is tougher than Clemson's ACC schedule. This means LSU "can afford to lose this game more than Clemson does" from a playoff survivability standpoint.

Bob: LSU does have a tougher schedule. The SEC is by far more challenging than the ACC. However, Clemson made it to the playoffs last season because they were the best ACC team not because they had proven themselves against any SEC teams. In 2024 Clemson lost to Georgia (34-3), South Carolina (17-14), and Texas (38-24). While they lost to Texas in the second round of the playoffs, they also lost to the same South Carolina team that LSU beat last year. A close, controversial win but still, a win.

V. Verdict on 2025 Season:

The potential is high, but there are significant variables, especially on defense and the offensive line. Some predict an "under" on the 8.5-win total, citing concerns about defensive transfers hitting and O-line stability. Others predict an "over," banking on Nussmeier's Heisman-level play, the loaded skill positions, and a slight defensive improvement. Ultimately, the season's success will hinge on whether these "swing players" and transfer additions can elevate their play and provide the necessary balance to complement the explosive offense.

Bob: Less than 10 wins would be a disappointment for me, most LSU fans, and Brian Kelly. Naturally, that is a lot of pressure that the even Kelly is putting on himself and his team. I wonder if Kelly could persuade Nick Saban to be part of the staff for just the opener. Saban is by far the best coach ever at preparing for one team when given just a little extra time. Super analytical football brain and newest inductee to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Below are links to the YouTube videos that Notebooklm evaluated to create much of the content of this briefing.

YouTube links:

https://youtu.be/R-PhKA8eyTw?si=FzUSXimYSOsMtpHO On3

https://youtu.be/pIAvLauG13U?si=LEOwVxdy8l-HssiJ Crain&Company

https://youtu.be/9mH4TcUQbqA?si=L6hSWqLkjtcfGcyo PFF

https://youtu.be/iYPY-zqRbpI?si=t1_uTO6pACogzo4O After Further Review

https://youtu.be/rWn4pPeEZt4?si=1PMZk8FmP6NmkCVg Off the Bench

https://youtu.be/9GpKuktrB_g?si=zHDkoeZAhHx95l9a Nola.com

https://youtu.be/XDkPN2S56Cg?si=cda6Q6fVO7_98pBt Off the Bench

LSU's Offense vs. Clemson's Defense: Part 2 of 2

2025-07-07T16:44:00.007-05:00

LSU's Offense vs. Clemson's Defense: Part 2 of 2

I asked Gemini’s Deep Dive two questions: “How does Tom Allen’s Defensive philosophy mesh with projected defensive starters for Clemson this year?” and “How can LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and LSU’s Offense succeed against a Tom Allen coached Clemson this year?”

Question 2: “How can LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and LSU’s Offense succeed against a Tom Allen coached Clemson this year?”

Gemini’s Response:

LSU's Garrett Nussmeier and the offense face a significant challenge against Tom Allen's Clemson defense in the upcoming season opener.

Garrett Nussmeier's Strengths and Weaknesses:

Strengths:

Arm Talent: Possesses excellent arm strength and can make NFL-level throws with a quick release.
Pocket Presence: Shows remarkable poise in the pocket, working to create space and climb/slide to find throwing lanes.
Quick Processor: Regularly reads through progressions and finds options downfield.
Deep Ball Touch: Excels at throwing deep balls with good touch and accuracy, according to NFL.com.

Weaknesses:

Turnover Prone: Can be prone to turnovers, especially when forcing passes into tight windows.
Durability Concerns: Has a slender frame and has struggled with durability in the past, taking big hits and laboring through games.
Decision-Making: Needs to improve ball security and decision-making, as he sometimes forces passes into coverage.
Limited Mobility: While he can evade defenders in the pocket, he is not a great athlete and lacks significant mobility.

Clemson's Defense under Tom Allen:

Scheme: Allen employs a 4-2-5 nickel defense that focuses on simplicity in the front seven and more complex looks in the secondary to confuse offenses.

Strengths:

Top Talent: Clemson boasts a dominant defensive line, ranked No. 1 in college football by Clemson Sports News with potential top-10 NFL Draft picks like T.J. Parker and Peter Woods.
Run Defense Improvement: Allen's presence is expected to significantly improve Clemson's run defense, which struggled in 2024.
Aggressive Style: Allen's defense is aggressive, with a focus on takeaways, tackling, and generating pressure.

Weaknesses (Potential):

Run Defense (2024): While Allen aims to fix it, the run defense was a major weakness in 2024.
Secondary Depth: The depth of the secondary remains a potential question mark, according to some analysts.

How LSU Can Succeed:

Protect Nussmeier: LSU's offensive line must provide adequate protection for Nussmeier, especially given his past durability concerns. The loss of four starters, including Will Campbell, will make this a challenge.
Limit Turnovers: Nussmeier must prioritize ball security and make smart decisions to avoid costly turnovers against an aggressive Clemson defense.
Exploit Potential Secondary Weaknesses: If Clemson's secondary struggles with depth or adjustments, LSU's talented receivers must take advantage.
Utilize the Run Game: A strong rushing attack can take pressure off Nussmeier and help control the tempo of the game.
Capitalize on Red Zone Opportunities: LSU needs to execute effectively in the red zone to convert scoring chances against a defense that ranked highly in this area under Allen at Penn State.

My Thoughts: One of the Hallmarks of Joe Sloan coached QBs and since starting of this decade LSU QBs is that they are prepared to succeed in the NFL (ala Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels). There is also the poise that Nussmeier has likely gained from a year of starting in the SEC. I do not expect any of the weaknesses listed for Nussmeier by Gemini to be a factor. I might be a little optimistic on the mobility weakness but I seem to recall that Joe Burrow became a better escape artist his second year at LSU. So, who knows? The question is not whether Nuss is a potential Heisman winner/#1 NFL draft pick. The question is has the LSU coaching staff done a solid job of coaching talented offensive linemen?

I think LSU has the option of short passes to running backs and tight ends or opening the game by seeing if one of the two fastest wide receivers in the NCAA can sprint to the end zone for a first play touchdown. Not a lot of teams should be able to prepare for a 6’7” basketball player-like tight end (Trey’Dez Green) and 6’5” tight end Bauer Sharp who had a team leading 42 receptions at Oklahoma in 2024. I have not seen much on LSU’s tight ends or Aaron Anderson, who was not far from a 1,000 yard season last year. He had 884 receiving yards last year. Plus LSU has two other QBs with dual threat capabilities. My last thought is that LSU has a great idea of what Clemson is likely to do, considering the return of so many starters and a well known new DC. On the other hand LSU targeted and obtained a number of new very talented players for specific needs and there is no film that can tell any of us how these parts will work together. Geaux Tigahs!!!

Notice/disclaimer: Google’s Gemini can only sort through and pick out highlights from what others (very biased humans) have written. In short, Gemini’s conclusions are based mostly on who has offered a written opinion and the trend of opinions on the questions that I asked. My opinion: there is a defiant magic to LSU football. For the record: I attended LSU (bachelors), Texas A&M (masters), and Mizzou(2nd masters). My parents met at LSU and are both graduates. My younger brother is an LSU grad and I live in Louisiana. So, my gut tells me that LSU is going to beat Clemson. Don’t let me down, Tigahs!

The articles that Gemini cited for both questions includes: Althon Sports “Tom Allen’s Defensive Revival”, Clemson Sports News “Clemson’s 2025 Defensive Line”, 247Sports “Update 2025 depth chart projection for Clemson football”, 247Sports “VIP Notebook: A ‘way-too-early’ prediction of Clemson’s . . .”, 247Sports “LSU, Clemson taking opposite approaches in preparation for. . .”, NFL Draft Buzz “Garrett Nussmeier Quarterback LSU”, Daft on Draft “Just how high is Garrett Nussmeier’s ceiling?”, Last Word on Sports “Garrett Nussmeier 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report”, Clemson Sports News “Clemson’s 2025 Defensive Line: Poised to Dominate”, 247Sports “Five biggest questions for Clemson’s defense entering. . .”, Greenville Online “What to know about Tom Allen, new defensive coordinator”, Althon Sports “Column: How Tom Allen is Fixing Last Year’s Problems”, and SportsGrid “Ranking the Top 40 Offenses for the 2025 College Football Season”.

LSU's Offense vs. Clemson's Defense: Part 1 of 2

2025-07-07T16:43:00.005-05:00

LSU's Offense vs. Clemson's Defense: Part 1 of 2

Question 1: “How does Tom Allen’s Defensive philosophy mesh with projected defensive starters for Clemson this year?”

Gemini’s Response:

Tom Allen's defensive philosophy, characterized by simplicity, aggression, and emphasis on fundamentals like takeaways, tackling, and effort, seems to be a strong fit for the projected defensive starters at Clemson in 2025.

Here's how Allen's philosophy aligns with the strengths of Clemson's likely starters:

Defensive Line Powerhouse: Clemson's defensive line, projected as the nation's best in 2025, fits perfectly with Allen's focus on a dominant four-man front. Players like T.J. Parker and Peter Woods are described as "NFL talents" who excel at disrupting the run and generating pressure, aligning with Allen's aggressive approach. Allen's scheme, including a standing edge rusher, can be used to maximize the talent of these players, potentially elevating Parker to a top 5 draft prospect.
Emphasis on Tackling: Allen's prioritization of tackling addresses a key area of concern for Clemson's defense from the previous season. He emphasized this fundamental aspect from day one, aiming to improve finishing plays correctly, which is crucial for a successful defense.
Secondary Play: The projected Clemson secondary, featuring players like Avieon Terrell and Ashton Hampton, aligns with Allen's scheme designed to be versatile against modern spread offenses and prevent deep passes. Terrell is expected to be a leader in this area, while Hampton's frame and range make him a good fit for Allen's defensive backfield. The flexibility of the scheme also allows for the utilization of hybrid players like Khalil Barnes in the nickel role.
Linebacker Potential: Linebackers like Wade Woodaz and Sammy Brown are expected to flourish under Allen's passionate and fiery coaching style. Their ability to "clean up the mess on the second level" behind the powerful defensive line is essential for Allen's scheme. The addition of transfer Jeremiah Alexander further strengthens this unit and offers versatility for Allen to deploy as a SAM linebacker in his 4-2-5 scheme.
Simple and Adaptable Scheme: Allen's preference for simplicity and adaptability allows the players to focus on fundamentals and play fast, while the coaching staff handles the strategic adjustments. This approach should foster player confidence and enable the team to quickly adapt to opponent game plans.

In summary, Tom Allen's defensive philosophy, centered on toughness, accountability, and execution of simple, aggressive concepts, appears to mesh well with the projected strengths and personnel of Clemson's defense in 2025. The Tigers' talented defensive line, promising secondary, and developing linebacker corps are well-suited to thrive under Allen's leadership, potentially returning Clemson to defensive dominance.

My thoughts: TJ Parker and Peter Woods are all stars that Clemson will rely on making the rest of the Clemson defense look good. I am thinking that if these two guys can be blocked, Trey’Dez Green and Bauer Sharp might be able to surprise Clemson early and often. I pray that Nuss has and currently is gathering all of the many talented pass catchers that LSU now has and practicing throwing to them morning, noon, and night as his predecessor Joe Burrow did with his group. Need I remind LSU faithful and a few NFL teams that what Joe did back then has worked out really really well for all involved.

Another thing that articles do not seem to be accounting for is the quality of LSU linemen. Brian Kelly has been attracting really good offensive linemen since his arrival. The questions that remain are: “Can LSU’s offensive line work well as a unit?”, “Can LSU get everyone manning the offensive trenches on the same page?” “Can LSU’s O-line make in-play adjustments as a single cohesive unit?”

Clemson has always (in this century) had a fundamentally sound team both on offense and defense. I think Dabo Swinney’s picture is on the front cover of the made up book “Historically Fundamental Football Coaches”. My point is I do not believe that Tom Allen coaching fundamentals like “tackling” and “effort” are going to be something new that he has introduced to Clemson’s defensive players. If I’m wrong, good!, they are not likely to have fixed those problems in his first year as DC. On the other hand, LSU DC Blake Baker is in his second year and he most definitely had a hand in bringing in the multiple LSU defensive transfers. It is possible that Baker may have seen players that work well with his philosophy.

NotebookLM LSU Vs Clemson 6 Sources Briefing

2025-07-07T11:19:00.009-05:00

LSU vs. Clemson 2025: Detailed Briefing

This briefing document summarizes key themes, ideas, and facts surrounding the highly anticipated 2025 season opener between the LSU Tigers and the Clemson Tigers, drawing directly from the provided sources. (Note: I loaded 3 YouTube Videos and 3 articles and prompted Google's NotebookLM to provide this briefing.) Opinions in this briefing are strictly AI and not necessarily the opinions of Bob Wynn/Bob's Sports Blog.

Game Details & Significance

Date and Time: Saturday, August 30, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Location: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina.
Broadcast: ABC (Primetime matchup, part of ESPN's early-season showcases).
Significance: This game is a "likely top-10 matchup" and is considered "one of the top nonconference matchups in college football this season." For LSU, it marks their season opener, and they have "lost five straight season openers," making this game particularly crucial. Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik has not won an opener yet as a starter.

LSU Tigers Outlook

High Expectations and Playoff Mandate

Coaching Pressure: Head Coach Brian Kelly is entering his fourth year with LSU, and the expectations for LSU football are sky high. Brian Kelly and LSU players haven't minced words: it's playoff time for them at minimum this and they are aiming for a National Championship this year. Historical context adds to the pressure: "the previous three head coaches at LSU have won a natty within their first four seasons as the head coach of the Tigers." There's "tremendous amount of pressure" on Kelly to make the playoff, especially after Notre Dame (his former team) was in the national title game last year while LSU was not.
Roster Talent: LSU is described as having "the best roster well-rounded roster that Brian Kelly has had at LSU without a doubt," with "a lot more talent and a lot more depth at key positions."

Defensive Focus and Transfers

Addressing Past Weaknesses: The primary area of concern for LSU has been its defense, particularly in stopping the run and giving up explosive plays. Last year, they "came in last in the SEC in explosive play rate allowed on defense." The team acknowledges they "have got to be better" defensively.
Impact of Transfers: LSU has been aggressive in the transfer portal, adding "nine defensive transfers, many of whom are expected to have key roles. These include players with "powerful experience from the SEC, the Big 10 and the ACC. Specific names mentioned are former NC State safety Tamarcus Cooley, former Florida State defensive end Patrick Payton, former Virginia Tech cornerback Mansoor Delane, and former Texas interior linemen, Sadier Mitchell and former Florida defensive edge Jack Pyburn. They have "really attacked the edge rushers" and "gone into the secondary and gotten some impact cornerbacks and safeties."
Defensive Coordinator: Blake Baker is in his second year as defensive coordinator. While many new players are on the field, Cade Klubnik notes, "At the end of the day, they’ve got the same coach, so they’re going to be getting coached the same way. They should have the same rules and the same schemes." There's optimism for the defense to be a "top 30 unit defensively," which would be a "massive leap from two years ago when they were 108."
Run Defense: A critical area for improvement is stopping the run. "In every SEC loss at LSU under Brian Kelly they’ve given up 250 rushing yards on the ground defensively."

Offensive Line & Weapons

Offensive Line Rebuild: A major question mark for LSU is its offensive line, which is "having to replace four starters from last year that were drafted by NFL teams." While they brought in two interior linemen from the portal (Josh Thompson out of Northwestern and Braelin Moore out of Virginia Tech), "the majority of this thing is going to have to be done in-house in terms of their internal development." This unit needs to gel over the next couple of months and will face an immediate test against Clemson's strong front seven.
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier: Nussmeier is expected to be a "projected first-round pick" and is praised by Cade Klubnik for his "ability for timing routes" as "one of the best in the country." The offense needs to "manage the game and take advantage of every drive." However, concerns exist about his turnover rate, with a need for him to "cut those turnovers in half and makes better decisions."
Running Game: There's a strong emphasis on LSU needing to "run the ball better" and for offensive coordinator Joe Sloan to "actually commit to running the football," as they have "abandoned the run way too quickly" in the past.
Breakout Wide Receivers: LSU targeted the wide receiver position in the transfer portal. Chris Hilton Jr. is a strong candidate for a breakout season due to his "natural rapport" with Nussmeier on "vertical passes" and his potential to be a "deep threat catcher." Other dynamic pass-catchers like Barion Brown and Aaron Anderson are expected to work the "quick game" to protect the offensive line. Nick Anderson, a unique skill set, is also expected to contribute vertically.

Clemson Tigers Outlook

Quarterback Cade Klubnik

Experienced Leader: Cade Klubnik, a former five-star recruit and the No. 1 quarterback in the 2022 class, is now entering his senior year. He is a "projected first-round pick and potential Heisman Trophy contender."
Strong 2024 Season: In his second year as a starter, Klubnik completed 63.4% of his throws for 3,639 yards with 36 touchdowns and six interceptions, and rushed for 463 yards and seven scores, leading Clemson to an ACC championship and a College Football Playoff spot.
Scouting LSU Defense: Klubnik plans to study LSU's defensive coordinator Blake Baker's system rather than individual players, as LSU added many defensive transfers. He will examine the aggression and technique of LSU defensive backs.
Mobility: Klubnik has been "very successful using his legs not only in the run game but getting himself out of trouble and getting himself out of the pocket." His improved "feel for when to take off and run when to break outside the pocket" made him dangerous last year.

Continuity and Returning Production

Experience: Clemson boasts significant "continuity and experience," having played "the most freshmen in the country the past two years."
Returning Production: Clemson ranks "first in the country in returning production at 81%, according to ESPN," bringing back "eight starters on offense and nine starters on defense."
Defensive Line Strength: The defensive line features "projected first-round picks TJ Parker and Peter Woods," described as "really consistent in their pace of play and their effort," and "aggressive" and "confident guys."

Defensive Coordinator Change

Tom Allen's Impact: Former Indiana head coach Tom Allen is now Clemson's defensive coordinator. The expectation is that Clemson's defense, particularly the front seven, will improve significantly under Allen, especially in run defense and tackling. His secondaries are known to be "really really good" and "aggressive units."

Offensive Line & Run Game Concerns

Development Needed: While the offensive line improved from 2023 to 2024, sources suggest that when playing "really high caliber defensive fronts," Clemson's run game has "struggled to run the football." The ability of the offensive line to "take a step again" through "pure development" is a key question.
Running Back Room: There are "question marks about the running back room heading into this matchup."
Engine of the Offense: Despite concerns about the run game, Klubnik and a talented wide receiver room are considered the "engine of this offense," described as the "most talented I believe that we’ve seen from [Clemson]."

Key Matchups and Strategic Considerations

LSU Offense vs. Clemson Defense: LSU's Offensive Line vs. Clemson's Front Seven: This is a critical matchup. Clemson's defensive line, with Parker and Woods, and Tom Allen's aggressive scheme, will test LSU's reconfigured offensive line. LSU's ability to "run the football extremely effectively" against Clemson is doubted, leading to a potential reliance on the "quick pass game" to protect the offensive line and get the ball out of Nussmeier's hands quickly.
LSU's Vertical Threats vs. Clemson's Secondary: If LSU can develop wide receivers who can "win vertically down the field and go make plays," it will open up the quick game against an aggressive Clemson secondary. Nick Anderson and Chris Hilton Jr. are highlighted as potential deep threats.
LSU Avoiding Third and Long: Staying out of "second and third and long situations" is crucial for LSU to prevent Clemson's pass rushers from dictating play.
Clemson Offense vs. LSU Defense: Clemson's Run Game vs. LSU's Run Defense: Can Clemson establish its run game against LSU's revamped interior defensive line, which has historically struggled against the run? The performance of LSU's interior linemen (Ahmad Breaux, Jacobian Guillory (*added by Bob to this article), Dominic McKinley, Sadier Mitchell) will be key.
Clemson's Receivers vs. LSU's Secondary: Blake Baker "wants to play a lot of man coverage," and with new personnel, LSU is believed to have the "personnel to do so" this year. The ability of Clemson's receivers (Brian Wesco, TJ Moore, Tristan Smith, Antonio Williams) to "win their one-on-one matchups" will be vital.
Cade Klubnik's Mobility vs. LSU's Linebackers/Edge Rushers: LSU's Harold Perkins, known for chasing down quarterbacks, and an "elite" edge rush unit (Jack Pyburn, Patrick Payton, Gabe Reliford, Jamari Butler) will challenge Klubnik's ability to extend plays with his legs. Patrick Payton is highlighted as a "catalyst for your biggest defensive success" if he can consistently deliver 10+ sacks.

Predictions and Stakes

Early Betting Line: LSU opens as a 2.5-point underdog against Clemson.
Importance for LSU: This game is "a crucial step for LSU in their potential playoff run." A win "will not only announce themselves to the college football world as a playoff contender this year but also as a championship contender."
Season Trajectory: The Week 1 game "is going to tell us a lot about what this team looks like for the rest of the season."

Differing Predictions: Some analysts are "very high on heading into 2025" for both teams, suggesting a potential College Football Playoff rematch.
Others are leaning towards Clemson winning due to their "continuity" and feeling "better about Clemson playing their best football week one than I do LSU."
One analyst predicts LSU to go "nine and three," missing the playoff, citing concerns about the defense and the difficulty of road games against Clemson, Ole Miss, and Alabama.
Conversely, some believe LSU could be a "9 and 3, 10-2 level team" and that "getting to the playoff should be the expectation" given their talent and "easier SEC schedules" (not playing Georgia or Texas).

Final Takeaways

Both teams enter this matchup with high expectations and specific strengths and weaknesses. Clemson boasts continuity and a proven quarterback, with a defensive coordinator change expected to bolster their already talented defense. LSU is undergoing a significant defensive overhaul via the transfer portal and is looking for its new offensive line to gel quickly. The outcome of this game will be an early indicator of each team's potential for the 2025 season, with significant playoff implications, especially for LSU.

We asked Grok: "What are the keys to LSU beating Clemson?"

2025-07-03T09:56:00.000-05:00

August 30, 6:30pm, Clemson Memorial Stadium, Two Tigers Tangle!

To defeat Clemson in their 2025 season opener at Memorial Stadium on August 30, LSU must focus on several strategic and tactical elements, leveraging their roster strengths and exploiting Clemson’s potential weaknesses. Here are the key factors, based on the analysis of both teams’ 2024 performances, roster changes, and the context of this high-stakes Week 1 matchup:

1. Maximize Garrett Nussmeier’s Passing Attack: LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, a senior with significant experience, is a cornerstone of the Tigers’ offense. His ability to deliver deep balls and manage the game will be critical against Clemson’s stout defense. LSU’s high-octane passing game, which ranked second in the SEC for scoring in 2024, must exploit Clemson’s secondary. Despite Clemson’s strong cornerbacks, LSU’s receiving corps, bolstered by transfers like Nic Anderson and Barion Brown, can stretch the field. Nussmeier needs to avoid turnovers, as LSU went 6-0 when intercepting passes but struggled (3-4) without them. A clean, aggressive passing game that targets mismatches will keep Clemson’s defense off balance.(https://sports.yahoo.com/article/lsu-football-preview-2025-tigers-050011806.html)

2. Pressure Cade Klubnik Early and Often: Clemson’s offense revolves around dual-threat quarterback Cade Klubnik, who threw for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns in 2024 while adding 463 rushing yards and seven scores. LSU’s defensive front, led by transfers like Patrick Payton (16 sacks over three years at Florida State) and Jack Pyburn, must disrupt Klubnik’s rhythm. LSU’s 34 sacks in 2024 show their pass-rushing potential, but they’ll need to contain Klubnik’s mobility, as Clemson’s offense thrives when he has time to operate. Blitz packages and disciplined edge containment will be key to forcing mistakes, especially since Clemson’s new defensive coordinator, Tom Allen, may still be adjusting his scheme.(https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-football/full-lsu-football-predictions-2025-season)(https://clemsonsportsmedia.com/2025/05/13/clemson-lsu-2025-game-time/)

3. Win the Turnover Battle: LSU’s 2024 season showed they thrive when forcing turnovers (6-0 with interceptions) but struggle without them (3-4). Clemson’s Klubnik threw only six interceptions last year, so LSU’s young but talented secondary, featuring players like Mansoor Delane and Ashton Stamps, must capitalize on any errant throws. Conversely, LSU’s offense must protect the ball, as their 10 fumbles (five lost) in 2024 were a liability. Winning the turnover margin will provide LSU with shorter fields and limit Clemson’s explosive plays.(https://sports.yahoo.com/article/lsu-football-preview-2025-tigers-050011806.html)

4. Establish a Balanced Offensive Attack: While LSU’s passing game is their strength, they must avoid being one-dimensional. Clemson’s defensive line and linebackers are projected to be among the ACC’s best, potentially limiting LSU’s ground game. However, running back Harlem Berry, a top recruit, could provide a spark. Establishing a modest rushing attack (even 100-120 yards) will keep Clemson’s defense honest, preventing them from focusing solely on Nussmeier. This balance is crucial, as Clemson’s 102-11 home record under Dabo Swinney suggests they thrive when opponents become predictable.(https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-football/full-lsu-football-predictions-2025-season)(https://www.tigernet.com/clemson-football/story/2025-clemson-schedule-series-lsu-22811)

5. Exploit Special Teams and Field Position: LSU’s punt return game, averaging 12.32 yards per return (20th nationally), can provide a field position edge against a Clemson unit that allowed just seven punt returns in 2024. Gaining an extra 10-15 yards per return could set up Nussmeier with favorable starting positions. Additionally, LSU’s defense must prevent big returns, as Clemson’s 5.97 yards per punt return is less threatening but still dangerous. Winning the field position battle in a potentially high-scoring game could be decisive.(https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/national-championship-2020-five-keys-to-lsu-beating-clemson-and-winning-the-college-football-title/)

6. Overcome the Week 1 Jinx and Mental Toughness: LSU has lost five straight season openers since their 2019 national championship, a streak that weighs heavily on coach Brian Kelly. A road game in Clemson’s “Death Valley,” where they are 102-11 under Swinney, adds to the challenge. Kelly has emphasized this game as a must-win, and LSU’s preparation must counter Clemson’s home-field advantage and early-season intensity. Mental resilience, especially after last year’s defensive inconsistencies and offensive line turnover (losing four drafted linemen), will be critical. Kelly’s ability to keep the team focused amid the hype of a primetime ABC broadcast could set the tone for the season.(https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-football/lsu-football-way-to-early-bold-predictions-for-2025-season)(https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-football/full-lsu-football-predictions-2025-season)(https://www.sportskeeda.com/college-football/news-they-re-going-lose-clemson-season-opener-cfb-analyst-gives-brian-kelly-s-attempt-break-long-standing-curse)

Challenges and Context

- Clemson’s Home Dominance: Clemson’s 102-11 home record under Swinney makes this a daunting road test. LSU must match Clemson’s physicality and avoid early deficits, as comebacks in Memorial Stadium are rare.(https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-football/full-lsu-football-predictions-2025-season)

- Roster Turnover: LSU lost key offensive linemen (e.g., Will Campbell) and skill players like Kyren Lacy, but their top-ranked transfer portal class and No. 10 recruiting class provide depth. Clemson returns multiple offensive line starters and Klubnik, giving them continuity, but their lack of a clear top running back (after losing Phil Mafah) could be a weakness LSU’s defense can exploit.(https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-football/full-lsu-football-predictions-2025-season)(https://www.tigernet.com/clemson-football/story/2025-clemson-schedule-series-lsu-22811)

- Playoff Implications: A win would provide LSU with a massive resume boost for the 12-team College Football Playoff, but a loss leaves little margin for error with tough games against Ole Miss, Alabama, Florida, and Texas A&M looming. LSU is predicted to need at least a 10-2 record to secure a playoff spot, making this game pivotal.(https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-football/lsu-football-way-to-early-bold-predictions-for-2025-season)(https://sports.yahoo.com/article/lsu-football-preview-2025-tigers-050011806.html)

Conclusion

LSU’s path to beating Clemson hinges on Nussmeier outdueling Klubnik, a disruptive defensive performance, and winning the turnover and field position battles. While Clemson is favored by 2.5 points (FanDuel), LSU’s talent, particularly on offense and in the transfer portal, gives them a fighting chance. If LSU can avoid early mistakes and leverage their defensive playmakers like Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins Jr., they can pull off the upset and break their season-opener curse.(https://www.tigerdroppings.com/lsu-football/lsu-at-clemson-early-point-spread-released-for-2025-season-opener/117236058/)(https://lsutigerswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/lsu/football/2025/07/01/lsu-football-all-american-linebacker-whit-weeks/84432585007/)

Disclaimer: Predictions are based on available data and analysis, but college football outcomes depend on execution, coaching adjustments, and unforeseen factors like injuries or weather. For real-time updates closer to the game, check platforms like ESPN or follow LSU and Clemson’s official athletics sites.(https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401752671/lsu-clemson)

LSU Spring Football - My Answers to Questions Posed by Chat Sports

2013-03-31T15:50:00.006-05:00

Chat Sports recently graciously included me in a round table discussion about LSU Football that will feature several LSU Football bloggers. I encourage you to go to Chat Sports to see the full discussion that will include several really qualified experts on LSU football as well as my opinion. Below you will find my full answers to the questions that I answered for Chat Sports.

What does LSU need to do to beat Alabama in 2013?

Despite popular misperception, LSU is no underdog in what has become “The Game”. Les Miles has been LSU’s head coach since the 2005-06 season and during his tenure LSU is 5-3 versus Alabama in the regular season. Over the last eight years less than 10 points has determined the winner of the regular season matchup in all but one game (LSU beat Alabama 28-14 in 2006-07). Understandably, perceptions of this matchup changed in the 2011-12. Though LSU went undefeated during the regular season, the Tigers barely got out of Tuscaloosa with an overtime 9-6OT victory and got pummeled 21-0 in the post season rematch. Maybe “pummeled” is a bit strong considering that 15 of those 21 points were all earned via 5 field goals ranging from 23-44 yards. The sole Alabama touchdown in the contest was made with less than 5-minutes left in the game and the extra point was missed.

All LSU needs to do to beat Alabama in 2013 is bring their “A” game, the entire game. And remember last year’s game in which the Tide narrowly escaped defeat in the last 51-seconds of “The Game” on the only drive of the 4^th quarter in which the Tide did not go three and out.

Who will emerge as the starting running back in 2013? And why?

If Alfred Blue is 100% by the beginning of the season, he will likely be the starting running back. However, LSU will continue to likely rotate in several really good running backs.

When I was a student at LSU in the mid-1980s LSU had an exciting running back tandem of Dalton Hilliard and Gary James. I think a similar “throwback/retro” running scheme with Kenny Hilliard and Jeremy Hill would cause nightmares for opposing defenses and thrills for Tiger fans.

But, to answer your question, a healthy Alfred Blue and Jeremy Hill will most likely be the every down go to running backs that will trade off starting. It is noteworthy that Hilliard and Terrence Magee have both had really good showings this spring and may end up with plenty of quality carries.

Going into the spring, what do you think is LSU’s biggest weakness? And what do they need to do to improve?

While LSU will have to continue to develop a stronger passing game and work very hard to maintain a stellar defense that will be missing key players from last year, offensive center is the biggest question mark coming from what we have learned this spring.

The only center listed on LSU’s roster is Elliott Porter and he may not end up being the starting center. LSU has worked a couple of other guys at center this spring including true freshman Ethan Pocic. Quarterback-Center exchange is a notable problem coming from what we know of LSU’s most recent spring scrimmage.

The good news is that LSU is loaded with really good offensive linemen and they have until the end of the summer to shore up a position that P.J. Lonergan aptly anchored the last few years.

Who will emerge as the star of the 2013 Tigers team?

2013 is the time for Zach Mettenberger to step up and prove his star value. I think if Mettenberger can get the ball near Jarvis Landry, that the “Mettenberger to Landry” combo will provide plenty of highlight footage for TV watchers. It is also easy to pick Hill or Hilliard as potential stars.

Defensively, there is a real opportunity for a defensive lineman to step up.

Name one under the radar player who is going to have a breakout season in 2013.

Jermauria Rasco has made his presence known this spring and appears to be the most likely candidate. Danielle Hunter may also fill that bill. Both of these guys have been mentioned in the mainstream media as potential “breakout” guys and so maybe neither qualifies as truly “under the radar.” So I will throw four more names in to the “under the radar breakout” category:

Deion Jones and Christian LaCouture on defense

Quantavius Leslie and John Diarse on offense

Deion Jones showed a real ability to knife into the backfield and disrupt thing in a couple of plays early last season and if he live up to those flashes of potential, we are talking “return of the honey badger” type fun.

LSU recruited true freshman Christian LaCouture out of the Nebraska cornfields of defensive blackshirt central; a place where in times past they used to grow big mean defensive linemen well, like corn. During the spring LaCouture has shown he can play D-line at LSU from day one. He will have to wait for his turn in the rotation but, if he plays like I think he can, he will see his time on the field increasing with each game.

Quantavius Leslie and John Diarse are wide receivers with some size and toughness. I believe that Diarse, who is a true freshman, is a longer shot this year, but; I believe he will work his way into a key role at LSU before he graduates. On the other hand, Quantavius Leslie is a 6’4” 190-lbs. junior college transfer wide receiver. These factors point to a conclusion that would suggest LSU has brought in Leslie for an immediate need/impact. LSU did miss having a solid receiver with Leslie’s size last year and Mettenberger will have lots of motivation to improve his passing game. I have not heard a thing about Leslie. For all I know he may not even be eligible to play next year but the question kind of begs a bit of gambling.

I could make the case for just about any LSU player to have a breakout season next year. LSU is loaded with talent player and any one of those players could have a breakout season. But, I couldn’t pick just one. So those are my four not so long longshots.

Which true freshman will have the biggest impact in 2013?

Ethan Pocic will see a lot of time in LSU’s offensive line rotation and may end up being a four year starter at center.

Christian LaCouture will be an impact player in 2013 and may end up being counting in the ranks of the great defensive linemen from LSU before the end of his college career.

LSU Defense Post Honey Badger

2012-08-13T21:41:00.000-05:00

Playmakers like the Honey Badger don't just grow on trees. Before a single snap has taken place this season Tyrann "Honey Badger" Mathieu has disrupted college football. Mathieu's dismissal has LSU scrambling to fill his position, school's like McNeese State dreaming of defensive dominance, and the AP preseason votes being recalled and recast. How many individual players can boast that AP ballots for preseason rankings hinge on where they play? There is no doubt, Tyrann Mathieu is an impact player. But the fact is LSU will no longer have the services of the Honey Badger. So, what does LSU's defense look like without the Honey Badger?

First, let's get some perspective. As exciting as Tyrann Mathieu has been the last two years, he was just about to start only his third year at LSU. In 2010 Mathieu had a spectacular Cotton Bowl but the top cornerbacks on the 2010 team were Patrick Peterson and Morris Claiborne. Peterson was the impact player of 2010. Peterson was the shutdown corner in college football in 2010 and as a punt returner, Peterson returned 26 punts for 418 yards and two touchdowns. Peterson also set an LSU record with 932 kickoff return yards. Claiborne was a bit of question mark at the beginning of 2010. Remember, Claiborne was a converted wide receiver that had played quarterback at Fair Park High School only two years previously. Everyone tested Claiborne in 2010 and that may have something to do with his stellar career and first round selection in the NFL draft. My point is that as outstanding as Mathieu has been LSU had defensive backs before the Honey Badger and will continue to have great defensive backs step forward this year.

Keeping that in mind, LSU's defense is way more than just great defensive backs. Just starting his fourth year as LSU's defensive coordinator, John Chavis has established LSU as "Defense U" with the only other possible contender being SEC West rival Alabama. The running for "Defense U" drops off significantly after LSU and Alabama. While still putting things into perspective, I should also mention that LSU is 75-18 in the last 7 years under the leadership of Les Miles. 75 wins in 7 years doesn't occur on the shoulders of one great impact player.

So with a little bit of perspective in mind, what are John "the Chief" Chavis and Les "the Mad Hatter" Miles going to do this season without Tyrann "the Honey Badger" Mathieu? The rave reviews of Mathieu by Chavis and the look on Miles' face at having to announce Mathieu's dismissal tell us that the coaches are going to have to really go to work but this isn't their first rodeo. It appears that LSU's defense may have more help from the offense this year. Mettenberger promises to stretch the field with a long range passing game; LSU has 5 or 6 top notch running backs and the depth and; experience at offensive line should provide opportunities to pass and run.

When LSU is playing defense Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery will not be giving quarterbacks much time to figure out how to exploit a thinner defensive backfield. Up until a couple of years ago the stars of LSU's defense was the defensive line. The quality of LSU's defensive line hasn't changed. LSU's D-line is still outstanding.

The only possible question mark prior to the dismissal of Mathieu was the linebacker corp. I think the linebackers are going to really shine this season. Kevin Minter is a solid leader in the middle and may prove to be one of the truly great linebackers to play in Death Valley. Lamin Barrow registered a sack in the scrimmage as an outside linebacker and I think he is a real candidate to take the "no holds barred" beserker pass rush duties that Mathieu was famous for last year. I think Barrow can produce sacks and turnovers.

Miles mentioned that a linebacker that can cover might be the solution to the nickel package. Interesting fact, according to Rivals.com 7 incoming freshmen defensive backs have been clocked a 4.4 or 4.5 seconds in 40-yards. Incoming linebackers Deion Jones, Kwon Alexander, and Lamar Louis are all 6' tall or taller, weigh at least 200lbs. and can run at least a 4.5 40.

In terms of replacing Mathieu at cornerback when not in the nickel, true freshman Jalen Mills has been getting a solid tryout and may split time with redshirt freshman Jalen Collins. Both of these guys were already likely to see a lot of playing time prior to the Honey Badger's exit and the Jalens may have the opportunity that Morris Claiborne had in 2010 to prove that neither man is a weak link. Speaking of the Morris Claiborne experience, LSU has just converted a fast "Mo Claiborne like" wide receiver to cornerback. Keep an eye on Kavahra Holmes. Holmes is 6'2" 180lbs and was clocked at 4.4seconds in the 40 by Rivals.com. As a converted wide receiver, Holmes also has good hands and knows how to catch a ball. The same thought pattern made Morris Claiborne into the NFL caliber shutdown corner that he is today. Moving Holmes to the defensive side of the ball is not a bad idea. We may have to wait for next year for his time to come but, don't be surprised if Holmes becomes one of the future great LSU cornerbacks.

LSU is going to miss the Honey Badger. Tyrann Mathieu was the key to several LSU wins last year. But rest assure, LSU is not a one player team. Talent runs deep on the bayou. The void left by Mathieu will be filled.

I remember a commercial a few years ago where different people would proclaimed "I am Tiger Woods." The message of that commercial was that there is greatness in each of us. I am looking forward to seeing LSU Tiger defenders step up this year and proclaim "I am the Honey Badger." It will be exciting to see who steps up this year and creates turnovers and that spark that were the mark of a truly outstanding football player. I truly wish Mr. Mathieu the best and look forward to seeing him in the NFL. I can forgive you for the selfish mistakes you have made that has put your LSU family in this difficult position and I wish you the very best.

ESPN has named USC #1?!

2012-08-11T15:09:00.003-05:00

I have been kind of busy working, raising a family and working on a second Masters degree through the University of Missouri (my first was at Texas A&M after undergrad at LSU). When did USC become the team to beat this year? I know preseason rankings don't mean diddly but should ESPN rank USC preseason #1?

Let's set aside the fact that ESPN is rewarding a team on its first year off of sanctions and evaluate the possibility that USC deserves to be ranked #1 in preseason. Often it is said that preseason rankings are largely based on the previous year's performance. I do not follow USC so let's take a look back at how they performed last year.

Did USC play quality ranked opponents last year? Yep, USC played two ranked teams Oregon and Stanford. USC beat a then #4 ranked Oregon team 38-35 and only lost to a #6 ranked Stanford 56-48 in triple OT. Wonder if that was the same Oregon team that LSU beat 40-27 despite LSU having starting players missing and the distraction of legal action looming over there heads at the time? Must not be the same Oregon team, because the score seems to indicate that LSU's win was a bit more substantial. Maybe the triple overtime loss to Stanford was an impressive loss.

Was that USC's only loss last season? No, USC also lost to Arizona State 43-22. Maybe Arizona State was really good last year. Um, well ASU wasn't half bad they went 6-6 in the regular season and only dropped to 6-7 after losing to Boise State 56-24 in the MAACO Bowl. Interesting.

Well maybe USC blew out ever other opponent last year. There is still hope that USC may be a legitimate preseason #1. USC opened up at home last season by beating Minnesota 19-17. Admittedly, a close game but maybe Minnesota was a powerhouse last year. Oh, nope - Minnesota went 3-9 last year but of those 9 losses they did have one close loss. Wait that was the two point loss to USC at USC. I will also mention that USC only beat an unranked Arizona team by 7 point last season but I think you get the picture. Last year's record does not warrant naming USC preseason #1 even if the entire USC team is returning this year.

Maybe USC compares favorably to LSU and Alabama that are ranked #2 and #3 respectively by ESPN. In 9 out of 14 games LSU played against ranked opponents. They went 13-1 only losing in the BCS championship. Even in that one loss LSU allowed only one touchdown. Though LSU had almost no offense in both of the games against the eventual national champions, LSU was the only team to defeat last year's national champions. LSU finished with a two touchdown or greater lead in all but one of their 13 regular season wins. Alabama only had one loss last year; a 9-6 home loss to LSU. Alabama beat all opponents, except LSU, by 18 points or more and they beat LSU 21-0 in the BCS national championship.

By what objective standard did the experts at ESPN determine that USC is preseason #1? While preseason rankings are meaningless, no good LSU fan will forget the split 2003 national championship. Even though LSU beat Oklahoma in the BCS National Championship game, the national championship title was shared that year with USC. That could happen again this year. I hope LSU and USC have the opportunity to face off at the end of the season this year.

College Football without The Honey Badger

2012-08-11T09:04:00.004-05:00

Thanks to Les Miles and the LSU sports information department for waiting until August 10 to drop this bomb on us. Had they announced the dismissal of Tyrann "the Honey Badger" Mathieu from the team four days earlier, on August 6, generations of LSU fans would be confused and possibly miss out on millions of dollars on game shows when asked "What major bomb was dropped on August 6?" Luckily the correct and only answer to that is still "The U.S. dropped the Atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan marking the end of World War II." I should also extend a personal thanks because this year August 6 marked 24 years of blissful marriage to my wife, Kim.

Some that are reading this stopped in the first line at the word "waiting" and are still asking "Bob, how do you know that Miles and the sports information department waited?" The answer to that is clear, in retrospect. Tyrann Mathieu, probably the most interesting person in college football these days, was not invited to be a part of SEC media days. Practices were closed to the media. When asked about how Tyrann would be utilized this year the coaches gave some sort of vague "we might put him just about anywhere in the defensive backfield". And even before August 10, Coach Miles mentioned that freshmen would get more opportunities to play in the defensive backfield this year. That last one caught my attention but, at the time, I thought "well, surely we aren't going to keep the starters in the entire game against the Towson State." The signs were there that something was up but; I think most of us that noticed thought that maybe LSU was trying to tone down and polish up the image of the Honey Badger; priming him for a better shot at the Heisman this year.

Let's face it once he moved on to the NFL, Mathieu was a lock for future Androgel/Testosterone commercials or that "most interesting man in the world" commercial . The Honey Badger was a game changer that provided college football fans with over-the-top moments last year. My favorite moment was in the Oregon game when he stripped the ball, recovered it and walked in for a touchdown. That was the best way to start an almost perfect season. My second favorite moment was at West Virginia when he tipped and caught a pass and nearly scored a touchdown.

I read in an article from The Sporting News yesterday that no one told Tyrann that they loved him until he was 5 years old. That's messed up. I hope Tyrann gets the message that Tiger Nation loves him and not just because of the highlight moments. We love the fact that Tyrann brought a passion to the game and was an example of what happens when you have an enduring faith that you can make things happen. The way he made things happen on the field gives the rest of us hope that we can fight through our struggles.

If the Honey Badger were a Hollywood celebrity, he would just check into the Betty Ford clinic and be back by the beginning of the season. But he is just poor young man from New Orleans. Surely someone had mentioned to Tyrann that if he tested positive for drugs that he would be kicked off the team. Undoubtedly someone sat Mr. Mathieu down and said plainly that if he did not totally quit drugs that he could not play LSU football ever again. To have knowingly given all of that up, his passion, for drugs suggests that Mathieu may have a serious problem. Is LSU and the rest of the sporting world handling this kind of problem in the right way? Where are those people that claim that drug addiction is a disease? By the way, I am not one of those people. I think doing drugs is a choice and very different from say, getting cancer. On the other hand, Mathieu brought lots of money to those that make money off of college football. Don't those people have a moral responsibility? Shouldn't someone provide an all expenses paid trip to a reputable drug addiction program? It cannot be an LSU booster. But honestly, drug abuse or alcohol abuse is not like other crimes. Fighting, theft, inappropriate touching all by nature have immediate and direct victims. Drug abuse often leads to others becoming victims but the person in all cases directly being hurt is the drug user himself. It is hard for me to see the Honey Badger as a victim but his actions have proven to be very self-destructive. He did not beat any body up, he didn't sexually abuse anybody, and he didn't steal anything and somebody not connected to LSU, that loves college football, and that has more money than I do should put this guy through drug rehab and once declared drug free the Honey Badger should be allowed to play football for LSU.

LSU will be fine without Mr. Mathieu. It was not too many seasons ago that the big story was that a young cornerback named Morris Claiborne was going to be "picked on" because no one was going to throw a football in Patrick Peterson's direction. Trust me, LSU has very capable defensive backs with or without the Honey Badger. LSU also has capable return men and big time play makers. Tyrann Mathieu is a special football player. Mathieu will be missed very much but; by nature, college football only allows us to count on having a great player four and more often than not, only three years. All major college programs are constantly in reload mode. And Les Miles has always kept the cupboard of talent in LSU football filled and overflowing. But now is the time for LSU players to step up and fill a huge void left in the wake of the Honey Badger.

Super Fan, Howard Gordon, Gives his take on LSU vs. Mississippi State

2011-09-14T12:01:00.000-05:00

I receive a number of emails each day. Every now and then I receive an email that I think most LSU fans would like to see. This email from Howard Gordon concerning the LSU/Miss St. game is one of those emails.

Good Morning Bob ...

It's certainly good to have you "back" my friend. I've certainly missed your insights.

This is my take on the Miss. State game. Miss. State has improved immensely under Mullen, and they looked pretty good against Auburn ... right up until the last play of the game. However, as you said, they have not played a defense like LSU's. Auburn's defense did not impress me. Matter of fact, there was little or no defense in the entire game as far as I could tell! This is what I think will happen Thursday night:

LSU will have a good night rushing the football. Both Spencer Ware and Michael Ford will have good games as will Alfred Blue. The offensive line will shine!

LSU should pass for at least 200 yards given the Miss. State secondary.

The defense will shut down the Miss. State rushing game, although not to the degree in the NSU game. That will force State to pass more than they would like. Our secondary will be up to the task of taking care of things there.

The offensive line for State is big as usual. However, the athleticism and strength of our d-line will also be up to the task and should control the line of scrimmage limiting State's rushing attack. LSU will put pressure on Relf all night long.

State will keep the game interesting for 2 1/2 quarters or so before LSU pulls away with a convincing victory. I don't think 40 points is out of the question. If we don't score 40, I won't be disappointed ... just give us an SEC victory!

All in all, this team has talent, size, power and maturity. As you said, that maturity really showed up in the NSU game. In the past, LSU has played those games good enough to win and that was about it. They showed a great deal of maturity playing that game. Now it's time for the real games ... SEC competition! I feel as good about this team as any I've witnessed in my 53 years of LSU football!

Geaux Tigers!
Howard

Thanks for checking in Howard! I really enjoy reading your emails.

The Next Test for the LSU Tigers - Mississippi State

2011-09-13T22:25:00.002-05:00

LSU's first two games were a real treat for Tiger fans and expectations of a national championship appear to be reasonable. I was glad to see LSU ranked #2 after dominating a very good Oregon team but understood that Alabama fans might be miffed at having won and dropped in the polls. It was not hard to predict that Alabama would beat Penn State and jump back up to #2. Considering LSU plays a ranked team and Alabama plays North Texas, we will see if the trend continues. First, LSU will have to face a very good Mississippi State team in Starkville.

Mississippi State's defense gave up 14 points to an over matched Memphis team and 41 points to a solid but rebuilding Auburn offense. I think it is reasonable to expect LSU to put up 40 points. LSU's first two games would indicate that 40 points is a benchmark of what to expect. It will be interesting to see if LSU's offense will be able to keep showing improvement against a ranked SEC West team. Mississippi State gave up two passing touchdowns in each of the last two games and I would like to see Jarrett Lee throw at least two TDs and zero interceptions this Thursday. By the way, if you did not get to see the NSU game, LSU's quarterback future looks bright. Zach Mettenberger delivers the football quickly and on target. By comparison, Lee's pass seems to be thrown more on an arc and floats. Don't get me wrong, Lee's passes were on target and his decision making has been stellar in the first two games but I expect Mettenberger to be playing on Sundays for a number of years. Provided he has matured enough to stay out of trouble. The real story in the LSU/Miss. State game is not LSU's offense versus Miss. State's defense. I expect LSU's offense to have a solid showing.

The real match up of the LSU/Miss State game will come down to the ground game. LSU's rush defense versus Miss. State's rushing attack. Mississippi State's passing game will keep LSU honest. Miss. State QB, Chris Relf, has completed just over 61% of his passes accounting for 397 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception but, even with an improved Auburn pass defense, I feel that LSU will significantly cut down that nearly 200-yards a game passing average. The threat of a passing game will only keep LSU from crowding the box to defend the run. Mississippi State running back Vick Ballard is on a mission to improve his NFL draft status and he is looking every bit like a first round draft choice so far. So far this year, Ballard has rushed for just over 150-yards a game, 4 rushing touchdowns while maintaining a 9.7 yards a carry average. I have watched significant portions of both of Auburn's games and in the Mississippi State/Auburn game Vick Ballard took over the game in the fourth quarter. Ballard rushed for 94 yards including a touchdown in the fourth quarter and accounted for another 21 yards receiving. It looked like to me that on the third to last play of the game Ballard launched himself through the end zone for a second fourth quarter touchdown before going out-of-bounds but, the ball was marked at the one yard line. No part of Ballard's body touched the ground out-of-bounds before the ball broke the plain of the end zone. I think at a neutral site or at Starkville Mississippi State would have beaten Auburn in overtime.

While Vick Ballard may be one of the best running backs in college football this year, we will not know just how good he is until he has met the LSU Tigers' rush defense. Auburn is a solid team, however; I was a bit embarrassed for them in their opener against Utah State mainly because Utah State seemed to be able to run almost at will against Auburn's defense. Utah State may be a very good team too. But, I suspect that Auburn may be having troubles with their rush defense and if that is the case Ballard's ability to run all over Auburn in the 4th quarter may not be quiet as impressive as it seems at first glance.

Another thing to consider in this key match up of LSU's defense versus Miss. State's ground game is the size of Miss. State's Offensive line. So far LSU has faced two opponent offensive lines that they outweighed at key interior line positions. Oregon is having to play less experienced interior offensive linemen that may have needed a game to get their legs under them and let's face it - NSU O-line did not belong on the same field with LSU's D-line. I am not sure how many teams, if any, will be able to handle the size, strength, and speed of LSU's D-line. Thursday will serve as a big test to evaluate just how good LSU's defense really is.

Note: Thanks to the many of you who have written me with concerns about my silence and encouragement for me to keep writing my thoughts down about LSU football. I guess I was so elated about the Oregon game that I didn't show up to write about the next game. Better I not show up for the NSU game versus LSU not showing up. I did have concerns that LSU might come out flat after the victory over the Ducks. It seems that these Tigers are mature enough to know that they have a target on their backs. I am also glad to see that there is a "real want" for these Tigers to prove themselves on the field each and every week.

LSU vs. Oregon: The Auburn Experience

2011-08-31T12:19:00.005-05:00

LSU and Oregon had two common opponents last year: Tennessee and Auburn. Both teams beat Tennessee. LSU's win was the ugliest win in college football and though Tennessee fans will still debate whether or not LSU won the game, going over the LSU/Tennessee game will yield nothing in contributing to the analysis of the LSU/Oregon game. However, both LSU and Oregon lost to Auburn and in both of those games Auburn exposed basic weaknesses of the Tigers and Ducks.

The LSU/Auburn Experience
LSU arrived at Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium undefeated and staring the national championship squarely in the face. It appeared that if LSU could get by Alabama in the next game, they would be bound for the BCS title game. LSU did manage to beat Alabama but, only after an embarrassing loss to Auburn. What was most embarrassing for Tiger fans was that LSU's known weaknesses, quarterback play and more specifically the passing game, were not the reasons for the Tigers loss to the other SEC West's Tigers. LSU's defense was crushed by Cameron Newton and Gus Malzahn's misdirection offense. Throughout the game LSU fans were left scratching our heads while our defenders seemed frozen in their tracks either unwilling to fully commit to tackling or simply unable to get the right angle to deliver the knockout blows that we had become accustom to witnessing. It seemed that LSU's defensive coaches had done too good of a job hammering in the idea that defenders would be embarrassed if they over committed against Auburn. It is true that Auburn's style of offense banked on the fact that they would be playing fast defenses that swarmed to the ball. Auburn's offense had mastered the counter-punch of football: "Let the defender commit and then quickly change the direction of the play rendering the defender out of position and unable to make the play." There were two teams that had perfected this style of offense last year: Auburn and Oregon. The quick decisive decision making of quarterback is the key to this type of offense. Oregon's quarterback, Darron Thomas, was a sophomore last year when he executed this offense. He's back and has a year of experience. Another key factor in effectively running Oregon's type of offense is the coordination of quarterback and running backs. Both Oregon's starter and back up running backs are returning. Oregon's starting running back, LaMichael James, was arguably the best running back in the country last year. Oregon's back up running back, Kenjon Barner, is a speedy track star who was injured much of last year. He is completely healed for the opener this year. If LSU expects to win, they had better have learned from their Auburn experience.

The Oregon/Auburn Experience
Argue all you like amongst yourselves about how Auburn dominated LSU in their 7 point win at home versus how Auburn squeaked by with a last minute field goal victory over Oregon in the BCS National championship and then come back and face the reality that I will discuss in the rest of this section of this article.

Auburn shut down Oregon's vaunted running game in the BCS National Championship. What kept the game close was Darron Thomas' passing attack. What shut down the Ducks rushing game was the fact that Auburn's defensive line, Nick Fairley and company, crushed the holes that should have opened up in Oregon's zone blocking scheme. Nick Fairley probably added some zeros to his NFL contract because of his constant presence in the Oregon backfield. News flash: Auburn's Nick Fairley was an outstanding college defensive tackle but LSU has become defensive line U in the past few years. LSU has several defensive tackles and defensive ends that are of the same caliber as Nick Fairley. Senior LSU offensive guard Josh Dworaczyk (6'6", 301lbs.) will miss the LSU/Oregon game because of an injury that will require knee surgery. Dworaczyk had a great Spring with no apparent or anticipated knee problems. In fact, several of the LSU offensive linemen were "nicked up" and recovering during a recent scrimmage. Logic would have it that all of those nicks and Dworaczyk's knee injury occurred while playing against LSU's defensive line. Still not convinced? Take my word for it LSU has no fewer than 4 defensive tackles that can crush inside rushing lanes and have the speed and strength to meet Ducks behind the line of scrimmage all night long. Three other factors should also be considered: 1. LSU has the quickest defensive ends in the SEC and 2. LSU's secondary is considered by most to be much better than Auburn's secondary was last year, and 3. Oregon is missing interior offensive linemen from last year's team. Oregon may very well run all over and pass at will against LSU Saturday but, that would be a real testament to the arrival of the Duck offense. Oregon proved that they were an unstoppable force last year but, Saturday starts a new year.

What is truly exciting about this Saturday is that no one has a crystal ball. We will all be watching the action as it occurs in real time. We can guess that when Oregon meets LSU on the playing field that the classic "unstoppable force" will meet the "unmovable object" but, who knows, maybe the real game will somehow come down to the match up between LSU's new offense and Oregon's defense or maybe it will come down to some special teams play that decides the final outcome.
I cannot wait until this game starts and I would like to see a close game that represents the true quality of these two teams. That is. . . . unless. . . . LSU somehow manages to totally blow out the Ducks. No secrets - Oregon is my third favorite team behind my Alma Maters - LSU and Texas A&M.