After dropping four of their last five games, the LSU Tigers will have to win two of their final three games in order to reach .500, and qualify for a bowl.
The first step in keeping their flickering postseason hopes alive is beating the 25th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks in “The Battle for the Boot” for the sixth consecutive season.
The last time the Razorbacks took the four-foot tall gold statue home was in 2015, in Tiger Stadium.
LSU is looking to avoid something else from that 2015 season; a three-game conference losing streak. Remember the “Alabama hangover” that turned an undefeated season into a 10-3 one?
At 2-4 in SEC play, the Tigers are also one loss away from finishing with five conference losses in back to back seasons, something that hasn’t happened since 1998-99.
Arkansas presents a number of challenges for the LSU defense, starting with the SEC’s top-ranked rushing offense with more than 243 yards per game.
The Razorbacks have three players on the roster with at least 400 yards this season; running backs Trelon Smith and Raheim Sanders, and quarterback KJ Jefferson. Sophomore back Dominique Johnson has been hot as of late as well, rushing for 107 yards and two touchdowns against Mississippi State last week.
As a passer, Jefferson ranks third in the SEC in quarterback rating (164.69), passing for 1848 yards with 16 touchdowns and only three interceptions.
LSU will send the pressure, just as it did against Alabama last week, when the Tigers held the Crimson Tide to six rushing yards. The front seven has to pressure Jefferson, who has been a much different passer this season under duress.
His completion percentage drops by nearly 10 points and two of his three interceptions have come against the blitz.
If given time, Jefferson is most likely throwing the ball to Treylon Burks as often as possible (48 rec., 799 yards, eight TDs).
Offensively, all eyes will be on Max Johnson and Garrett Nussmeier. Both will play, but who finishes the game will be a mystery that will unfold over the course of the night.
How Ed Orgeron plans to utilize both quarterbacks is another question. Will they alternate possessions, quarter, or even halves?
Whomever is under center will have to be productive against a Razorbacks defense that is allowing only 195 yards per game through the air.
The offensive line will have to do its work without the services of Ed Ingram, Chasen Hines, or Anthony Bradford.
Ed Orgeron has never lost to Arkansas as head coach. In his final season on the sidelines, he’d hate to see that streak end too.
Perhaps LSU has one more improbable victory in its bag. Saturday night in Death Valley will tell the tale.
How To Watch/Listen:
When: Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT
Where: Tiger Stadium — Baton Rouge, Louisiana
TV: SEC Network
Radio: 103.7 The Game (Pregame 4:30, Kickoff 6:30)