Instant Reactions: USC 27, LSU 20

Another disappointing start to a football season

For the fifth straight season, LSU will begin a football season 0-1.

#13 LSU lost the best game of week one as the #23 USC Trojans scored the game winning touchdown with eight seconds remaining in the game to pull ahead of the Tigers 27-20.

LSU had a near perfect first drive as the Tigers marched down the field to inside USC’s 10 yard line. Garrett Nussmeier was 7-9 on the opening drive, but one incomplete pass led Kyren Lacy just a little too far out of bounds in the end zone, and the other came on 4th and goal. USC timed a blitz perfectly and Nuss was forced to throw it away meaning LSU’s opening roll of the dice came up snake eyes.

All offseason long we wondered what would LSU’s defense look like under Blake Baker and on their first test of the year, they passed with flying colors thanks to Harold Perkins causing chaos.

All told, after the first quarter there were a total of three possessions, with USC only getting it once. LSU dominated time of possession 12 minutes to three, but the second quarter is when things exploded.

USC got on the board first thanks in no small part to a ridiculous 24-yard catch by Kyron Hudson.

USC punched it in a few plays later to grab a 7-0 lead.

LSU would waste no time responding as Nuss engineered a 9-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. The drive started off precariously as LSU was called for a delay of game coming out off the kickoff, but Nussmeier would get 14 yards back on two completions to Mason Taylor and on 3rd and 1 Josh Williams ripped off a 10-yard run to keep the chains moving.

LSU would pick up first downs on consecutive plays as Zavion Thomas got an 11 yard reception to cross into USC’s territory, and CJ Daniels picked up 12. Following another first down reception by Mason Taylor, Nussmeir hit Kyren Lacy for an absurd catch in the end zone to tie the game at 7.

Lacy got called for an unsportsmanlike conduct foul which was assessed on the kickoff, and USC’s Zacariah Branch nearly housed the ensuing kickoff. True freshman kicker Aeron Burrell saved a touchdown which ended up mattering a ton as USC had to settle for a field goal on the drive.

Trailing 10-7 LSU responded with a field goal of their own as Damien Ramos hit from 45 yards out to tie the game. USC missed a field goal to end the half and the two teams went into the break tied at 10.

Nussmeier was in complete control in the first half, hitting 20 of 24 passes for 191 yards and the score to Lacy. Of the four first half incompletions, one was a Mason Taylor drop, and the other was the Lacy catch out of bounds. Speaking of Lacy, all offseason we wondered could he be a true No. 1 receiver? Well, how does 7 first half catches for 94 yards and a touchdown sound?

The excitement from the second quarter didn’t carry over to the start of the third as both USC and LSU traded three and outs. USC took a 13-10 lead on its second possession of the third quarter, but LSU responded with an Aaron Anderson touchdown to grab its first lead of the night.

Brian Kelly was asked at halftime what needs to change and Kelly said the Tigers need to exert their will up front as LSU only had 46 yards on the ground in first half. It didn’t quite materialize as LSU finished the game with 117 yards on 26 carries, but LSU couldn’t get the push up front when they needed it most.

LSU had a chance to essentially end the game with about 8:30 to play in the fourth quarter. The Tiger defense made an awesome stand on 4th and 9 at LSU’s 36 yard line but a Major Burns unsportsmanlike conduct penalty moved the LSU offense back 15 yards. LSU lost five yards on first down but Nussmeier hit Ka’Morreun Pimpton for 14 yards. Facing a third and one and running behind what is supposedly the best offensive line in the country, John Emery got stuffed and USC would respond with a touchdown drive to grab a 20-17 lead.

Nuss was able to engineer a field goal drive to tie the game at 20, but USC got the ball with less than two minutes to play and went down the field with little to no resistance from LSU’s defense. Woody Marks scored what proved to be the game winning touchdown with a 13-yard run right up the middle with eight second remaining.

Nussmeier was good, but USC’s Miller Moss was better. Moss was 27-36 for 378 yards and a score. Nuss finished 29 of 38 for 304 yards, a pair of touchdowns and an interception.

So for the fifth year in a row and third straight time under Brian Kelly, LSU drops the opening game. They weren’t ready, they weren’t physical enough, and they just weren’t good enough.

Maybe the fourth time will be the charm next season.