No. 10 LSU (5-1) is headed to Nashville for a rare Top 25 matchup with No. 17 Vanderbilt (5-1). The last time the Tigers and Commodores met on the field, and both squads were nationally ranked, was in 1947.
LSU enters this game having won 10 straight games against Vanderbilt, which began with a 16-14 victory in Tiger Stadium in 1991.
Kickoff between the Tigers and Commodores from FirstBank Stadium is scheduled for 11 a.m. The action can be heard LIVE on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette & 104.1 Lake Charles.
OFFENSE BACK ON TRACK?
In last week’s win against South Carolina, the embattled LSU offense appeared to have made strides. Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier threw for 254 yards with two touchdowns, tight end Trey’Dez Green hauled in eight receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown. LSU had 420 total yards of offense, including 166 rushing yards. The issue was turnovers. Nussmeier had two interceptions, including one in the red zone, and running back Ju’Juan Johnson fumbled at the goal line. LSU could have easily had at least 10 more points if not for those turnovers.
POWERED BY PAVIA
Vanderbilt’s emergence, which began with last season, is anchored by senior quarterback Diego Pavia. The dynamic signal caller enters the matchup ranked 12th in the country, and second in the SEC, with 14 passing touchdowns. Pavia also leads the Commodores in rushing with 352 yards and two rushing scores. His two favorite targets are tight end Eli Stowers (25 rec., 323 yards, 2 TD) and Junior Sherrill (23 rec., 274 yards, 5 TD). Pavia hasn’t faced a defense as formidable as LSU’s, but linebacker Whit Weeks, being listed as doubtful for the game due to a bone bruise on his ankle, could make things a little easier for the Vandy star.
DEFENSE PLAYING AT ELITE LEVEL
The LSU defense is coming off another dominant performance. The Tigers bottled up the Gamecocks to a mere 10 points, sacked quarterback LaNorris Sellers five times, and held him to less than 150 total yards and no touchdowns. That kind of play has become a mainstay under defensive coordinator Blake Baker. LSU’s defense has allowed the fewest points (71) in the first six games of a Tigers season since 2007 (56), and that year LSU would go on to win the BCS National Championship.
SERIES RECORD: LSU leads 25-7-1
LAST 5 MEETINGS:
2024: LSU 24 – VANDERBILT 17
2020: LSU 41 – VANDERBILT 7
2019: LSU 66 – VANDERBILT 38
2010: LSU 27 – VANDERBILT 3
2009: LSU 23 – VANDERBILT 9
STAT LEADERS
LSU
Garrett Nussmeier: 135-204, 1,413 Yards, 9 TD, 5 INT
Caden Durham: 67 Carries, 283 Yards, 2 TD
Aaron Anderson: 23 Catches, 305 Yards
Barion Brown: 27 Catches, 261 Yards, TD
West Weeks: 38 Tackles (14 Solo), 2.5 TFL
Dashawn Spears & Tamarcus Cooley: 2 INT Each
Damian Ramos: 10-of-12 Field Goals, Long of 52
Vanderbilt
Deigo Pavia: 115-161, 1,409 Yards, 14 TD, 4 INT
Deigo Pavia: 60 Carries, 352 Yards, 2 TD
Sedrick Alexander: 50 Carries, 319 Yards, 5 TD
Eli Stowers: 25 Catches, 323 Yards, 2 TD
Junior Sherrill: 23 Catches, 274 Yards, 5 TD
Miles Capers: 18 Tackles (11 Solo), 8.5 TFL, 4.5 Sacks
Brock Taylor: 5-of-5 Field Goals