Heading into the ballgame, there were a lot of concerns for the LSU Tigers (10-3) with several defensive starters not playing in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. However, the defense was able to hold the previously unbeaten UCF Knights (12-1) to 250 yards on the way to a 40-32 win.
LSU wasted little time with Clyde Edwards-Helaire returning the opening kickoff 77 yards, leading to a 24-yard field goal from Cole Tracy to get them on the board. However, UCF was able to put together some big chunk plays on their first drive, leading to Greg McCrae finding the endzone on a 25-yard run to make it 7-3.
Joe Burrow marched the Tigers down the field on the next drive, but a poor rout by Derrick Dillon resulted in Brandon Moore taking it to the house with a 97-yard return, making it 14-3 with 6:32 left on the clock. Burrow was rocked on a questionable block by Joey Connors, but he was able to shake off the proverbial cobwebs on the next drive, finding Justin Jefferson on a 22-yard touchdown pass to make it a four-point ballgame.
LSU’s defense came up huge on the next drive with a fumble forced by Devin White and recovered by Michael Divnity to give the Tigers the ball near midfield. They quickly found the endzone once again, this time it was Derrick Dillon redeeming himself with a 49 yard touchdown reception thanks to some smooth moves after the reception to give the Tigers the lead.
They weren’t done though as the defense forced UCF to punt and that resulted in a 24-14 lead when Justin Jefferson caught his second touchdown pass of the afternoon. However, the Knights turned things around with a quick march down the field that resulted in a late 32-yard touchdown pass from Darriel Mack to Gabriel Davis to make it a three-point ballgame just before halfitme and they were going to start the second half with the ball.
The Tigers defense came up huge to start the second half with a three-and-out and that gave the offense a chance to put a little breathing room between themselves and UCF. They did just that with another great pass from Burrow to Ja’Marr chase to make it 31-21.
After another successful field goal made it a two-possession game, things got a little dicey when Justin Jefferson muffed the punt return and was recovered by UCF. Three plays later, Wright made it a 10-point ballgame with a 37-yard field goal. Tracy was able to keep the game out of reach late in the ballgame with another 26-yard field goal to give him the most field goals made in both NCAA & LSU football history. However, the Knights got within eight points with a 10-play drive that resulted in a two-yard touchdown run for Taj McGowan and a successful two-point conversion.
After a failed onside kick attempt, it seemed inevitable that the Tigers would get the first down needed and run the rest of the clock out. However, they wound up punting the football away, putting the pressure on the defense to come up with a huge stop with 39 seconds left in regulation. After a pair of incompletions, Mack was picked off by JaCoby Stevens on a hail mary attempt to seal the victory for the Tigers.
-Clint Domingue