The LSU Tigers (4-1) are set to face the South Carolina Gamecocks (3-2) in a week seven SEC matchup.
Both programs are coming off their bye week. The Tigers most recently suffered their first loss of the season, falling 24-19 to the Ole Miss Rebels on the road. Saturday’s contest will also be homecoming for the Bayou Bengals.
For the Gamecocks, they took care of business versus Kentucky the last time they stepped on the field, taking down the Wildcats 35-13. The previous two games were losses to Vanderbilt and Missouri.
Kickoff between LSU and South Carolina from Tiger Stadium is scheduled for 6:45 PM on Saturday, October 11th. The action can be heard on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette & 104.1 Lake Charles.
STRUGGLING OFFENSES
Each program had high expectations going into this season. Garrett Nussmeier and LaNorris Sellers were also among the top Heisman Trophy candidates, yet their seasons have gone in the opposite direction.
The Tigers were thought to have had one of the best offenses in the country, yet they have found their run game 15th in the SEC and haven’t connected on the deep ball as often or effectively as expected. The only team in the conference that has been worse on the ground is South Carolina.
Sellers is the dual-threat quarterback for the Gamecocks and has yet to be effective in the run game with 98 yards through five games. The sophomore signal caller is also averaging 177 passing yards per game and has been sacked 14 times through five games. South Carolina averages 308 yards of offense per game, while LSU records 364 total yards. That puts the Tigers 83rd and the Gamecocks 127th in the country in total offense.
LATEST ON THE INJURY FRONT
Head coach Brian Kelly mentioned some positive injury news in a recent interview. Caden Durham missed the last game against the Rebels, but was cutting better and looking healthier throughout this week’s practices.
Garrett Nussmeier, who’s been dealing with a torso injury, reportedly doesn’t have an injury going into tomorrow’s contest. The injury that arguably has affected Nussmeier’s ability to throw the ball appears to have subsided over the past couple of weeks. His throws in practice were described by coach Kelly as having the same velocity as last season.
Offensive lineman Paul Mubenga and wide receiver Aaron Anderson are listed as doubtful. Other than that, the LSU Tigers sound about as healthy as they can be halfway into the season.
LEGEND TO BE HONORED
Doug Moreau, the 1965 All-America LSU tight end, who later spent 52 seasons as part of football radio and television broadcasts for the Tigers, will be honored on Saturday night for his distinguished career with the program.
Moreau spent four years with the Tigers from 1962-65, serving as a tight end, receiver, and kicker for the Tigers. He was a three-time letterwinner, earning first-team All-SEC honors in 1964, followed by first-team All-America recognition in 1965. He helped LSU to a 13-0 win over Syracuse in the 1965 Sugar Bowl and a 14-7 victory over Arkansas in the 1966 Cotton Bowl. In 1964, he kicked 13 field goals, an NCAA record at the time, and accounted for 73 of LSU’s 115 regular season points.
Moreau will be recognized on the field during the first quarter of Saturday’s game against South Carolina.
SERIES RECORD: LSU leads 20-2-1
LAST 5 MEETINGS:
2024: LSU 36 – SOUTH CAROLINA 33
2020: LSU 52 – SOUTH CAROLINA 24
2015: LSU 45 – SOUTH CAROLINA 24
2012: LSU 23 – SOUTH CAROLINA 21
2008: LSU 24 – SOUTH CAROLINA 17
STAT LEADERS
LSU
Garrett Nussmeier: 115-171, 1159 Yards, 7 TD, 3 INT
Caden Durham: 52 Carries, 213 Yards, 2 TD
Aaron Anderson: 23 Catches, 305 Yards
Damien Shanklin: 2 Sacks
West Weeks: 31 Tackles (13 Solo)
Dashawn Spears: 2 INT
Damian Ramos: 8-of-10 Field Goals, Long of 52, 15-of-15 PAT
South Carolina
LaNorris Sellers: 58-87, 886 Yards, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rahsul Faison: 41 Carries, 163 Yards, 3 TD
Vandrevius Jacobs: 18 Catches, 323 Yards, 2 TD
Dylan Stewart: 3.5 Sacks
Fred Johnson: 25 Tackles (15 Solo)
Gerald Kilgore: 2 INT
William Joyce: 4-of-5 Field Goals, Long of 49, 16-of-16 PAT