Texas earned their fourth ranked win of the season this weekend, beating Missouri 34-20 on the road. As the Longhorns turn their attention away from the Tigers, they turn towards another set of Tigers: LSU.
Lane Kiffin and company are coming off a 31-13 loss to Alabama in Baton Rouge, leaving their CFP hopes on life support. LSU will be looking to knock off Texas to get back into the conversation before a road trip to Tennessee.
Here’s how the Tigers stack up heading into Saturday night:
LSU Tigers Offense
Lane Kiffin offenses are consistently difficult to defend and this will be no different. Despite some turnover troubles, Sam Leavitt has shown upside under center, particularly in the quick passing game. Jackson Harris, Trey’Dez Green and Eugene “Tre” Wilson III
have become his favorite targets, reeling in over 300 of Leavitt’s 380 passing yards vs. Alabama. One area for improvement is running the ball, where they mustered just 77 yards on 33 carries vs. Alabama(4 sacks included).
Simply put, this is a high-ceiling unit that’s struggled to reach that ceiling, much like Texas. On any given Saturday, Leavitt and company could score 40 points and look like the greatest show on turf. Other days, they’ll move the ball but struggle to score in the red zone and have inopportune turnovers. The Texas defense should have an edge here but if they let this offense heat up early, it could be a long day at the office.
LSU Tigers Defense
On defense, LSU currently ranks 2nd in the country in Adjusted EPA/play, behind just the Longhorns. The front seven is loaded with NFL talent, including Princewill Umanmielen, Jordan Ross, Malik Blocton and TJ Dottery. Star LB Whit Weeks did not play against Alabama but could return from injury this weekend. Speed and twitch is a huge asset for this group, something the Texas OL has struggled with this season. If Arch Manning is going to continue his strong run of play, they’ll need to be up to the challenge.
As talented as the front seven is, the secondary could have the best player on the field. Ty Benefield, the Boise State transfer, is one of the most dynamic defenders in the country. Alongside him is Tamarcus Cooley, PJ Woodland and DJ Pickett, all of which will have long NFL careers. The versatility of this unit gives Blake Baker even more versatility rushing the pass rush. This will be the stiffest challenge for the Texas offense since Red River or playing Tennessee. They’ll need a better performance against LSU to take home the road win.
LSU Tigers Overall
LSU is currently sitting at 6-3 on the season, losing to Ole Miss, Kentucky and Alabama. They are without a true, marquee win but get a chance for two in a row with Texas and Tennessee. The Tigers have yet to show ability to compete against elite teams but, considering the talent level, that can show at any time. Texas should have an advantage vs. their offense, as they often do, but Leavitt and the Tiger playmakers are capable of brilliance if Muschamp isn’t careful. On defense, it’s a very talented group that thrives creating chaos. Steve Sarkisian will need to mitigate that to keep the Texas offense in the rhythm they’ve seemingly found.
While LSU hasn’t found their ceiling, there is a reason they sit as 3.5-point favorites, according to BetMGM. Lane Kiffin’s offense is rarely held under wraps multiple games in a row, Blake Baker’s defense thrives on many of the things that have plagued Texas’ offense and Death Valley at night is still a true home-field advantage. If the Longhorns are going to continue their win streak, they’ll need to put together another complete performance against a more difficult opponent. If they allow LSU to get rolling early, the Tigers have the chance to run away with this one.
Contact/Follow us @LonghornsWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas news, notes and opinions. Follow Tommy on X: @bresee_thomas.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Early Look at the LSU Tigers: Variable offense, dynamic defense
