While the LSU Tigers (1-0) took a little while to get going on Sunday night in Arlington, once they did get going the Miami Hurricanes came to the realization that they’re a hard team to stop as LSU came away with a 33-17 win.
The Tigers took the lead about halfway through the first quarter when Cole Tracy sent one through the uprights from 43-yards out. However, the Hurricanes responded on the next drive thanks to a pair of deep passes by Malik Rosier. The drive was later capped off with a 38-yarder from Bubba Baxa to even things up at three apiece.
The next drive for the Tigers saw them make it to midfield and took care of business when Nick Brossette found a hole and went through it untouched for the score, making it 10-3. After forcing a three-and-out, Joe Burrow got LSU to the Miami one-yard line with a dime to Ja’Marr Chase then hurried up and gave it back to the senior running back to increase their lead over the Hurricanes.
After a chip shot from Tracy, LSU really began to impose their will when Jacob Phillips intercepted Rosier and took it the house from 45 yards out to make it a 27-3 lead as they began to move closer to the half.
The Tigers took the foot off the gas in the second half, only getting a pair of field goals from Tracy, including one from 54 yards out to make it 33-3. That field goal tied a program record for the longest field goal made by an LSU Tiger.
However, Rosier started to get things going offensively for Miami, including a three-yard keeper to make it a 33-10 ballgame. It started to look like the Hurricanes were starting to put together a rally in the fourth when Rosier connected with Brian Hightower on a 32-yard pass to make it a two-score game.
However, the Tigers defense was able to shut them down in the final six-and-a-half minutes and start off the season 1-0 for the 15th time in the last 16 years. Now they’ll get ready for their home opener on Saturday when they take on the Southeastern Louisiana Lions with kickoff set for 6 pm.
-Clint Domingue