Lane Kiffin came to LSU with the kind of offensive reputation that usually comes with fireworks, but the Tigers’ most useful weapon right now might be the side of the ball that doesn’t get nearly as much attention. Blake Baker’s defense has turned into a real problem for opposing offenses, and that shift could matter more than another big passing day when Alabama comes to town.
Through eight games, LSU has allowed just 16 points and 258.3 yards per game. That production has pushed the Tigers into the national elite defensively, with LSU ranked fifth in total defense, eighth against the run and 13th against the pass. For a team that arrived with all the buzz centered on Kiffin’s offense, the defense has quietly become the story.
The recent stretch has made that impossible to ignore. LSU blanked Mississippi State 31-0 for its first shutout against an SEC opponent since 2007, then followed that up by holding Auburn to 17 points.
Against Auburn, the Tigers piled up seven sacks and held the run game to 67 yards on 35 carries. Jordan Ross was everywhere, finishing with two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss, while Princewill Umanmielen added another sack.
That pressure never let Auburn settle in. Byrum Brown was constantly under duress, and LSU kept the offense from finding any kind of rhythm.
Still, the numbers need some context. Mississippi State’s offense entered its October 31 game against Texas averaging 439.7 yards and 30 points per game, which ranked 31st and 61st nationally.
Even in a shutout loss to LSU, the Bulldogs posted a 47% offensive success rate, according to Third and Data. In other words, they were moving the ball at times, just not finishing the job.
LSU’s work against Auburn looked different. Even while allowing 17 points, the Tigers held Auburn to a 35% offensive success rate. That’s the kind of detail that shows why points alone don’t tell the whole story.
The most complete defensive outing may have come against Texas A&M. In LSU’s 35-6 win over the Aggies, the Tigers held Marcel Reed to 106 passing yards and limited the offense to a 32% success rate. That game showed LSU can do more than feast on stalled drives - it can actually smother a quality SEC offense.
But the losses to Ole Miss and Kentucky also showed the ceiling and the cracks. LSU gave up offensive success rates of 45% against Ole Miss and 43% against Kentucky, proof that disciplined offenses can still find openings against Baker’s group.
That’s the backdrop for Saturday’s matchup with Alabama, a team averaging 38.3 points and 411.9 yards per game. Keelon Russell has been the engine, throwing for 2,057 yards and 15 touchdowns while also scoring five times on the ground. He gives Alabama the kind of dual threat that can stretch a defense and turn broken plays into chunk gains.
At the same time, Alabama has shown some spots LSU can attack. The Crimson Tide rank 75th nationally in rushing offense and have given up about 2.9 sacks per game. That opens the door for LSU’s front to try to control the game the same way it did against Auburn.
If the Tigers can slow the run and make Russell operate in obvious passing situations, they have a chance to create the same kind of disruption that has fueled their recent surge. That would also take pressure off LSU’s offense, which won’t need to score on every possession if the defense keeps Alabama from building long, steady drives.
Kiffin’s offensive approach has always leaned toward explosive plays and constant pressure on the other sideline. Leavitt has delivered plenty of that lately, throwing for 289 yards and four touchdowns against Mississippi State before going for 387 yards and three touchdowns against Auburn.
But the bigger development is that LSU may not need that kind of offensive explosion every week. Baker’s defense can create negative plays, force punts and tilt field position in ways that make the whole operation easier.
That doesn’t mean Leavitt can afford to disappear against Alabama. The Crimson Tide are too dangerous for LSU to lean entirely on defense. But Baker’s unit may be able to give Kiffin the margin for error he hasn’t always had.
Saturday will show whether LSU’s defensive improvement travels against one of the SEC’s most dangerous offenses. For Kiffin, the key question may not be how many points his team can put up. It may be how few it needs.
In Other News...
LSU Fans Have A New Reason To Worry About Blake Baker
Blake Bakers rise at LSU has already made him one of the more important assistants in the SEC, and now it has put him on the radar for a bigger opening. Florida State is searching for a new head coach after Mike Norvells firing, and Baker has emerged as a potential candidate thanks to his reputation for turning defenses around and his recruiting connections across the Southeast.
For LSU, the concern is obvious. Baker is the highest-paid assistant coach in college football, and he has already shown a willingness to stay put when other jobs came calling, turning down offers from Tulane and Memphis to remain in Baton Rouge. Still, a vacancy like Florida States can change the conversation quickly, and Baker is among a crowded field that also includes Manny Diaz, Eli Drinkwitz, Jake Dickert, Kenny Dillingham, Jason Eck, Glenn Schumann, Rhett Lashlee and Jimbo Fisher. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Fans Have A Chance To Make Tiger Stadium History Vs Bama
Tiger Stadium is about to get its own crack at a noise record that already belongs to Tennessee, and the timing could hardly be better. LSU plans to measure crowd volume during its upcoming home game against Alabama, giving fans a chance to turn one of college footballs loudest venues into the loudest one on record.
The benchmark is 130.3 decibels, set by Tennessee in a game against Alabama, and LSU will have another shot later in the season when Texas comes to Baton Rouge. Tennessee, meanwhile, gets a return engagement of its own when it hosts LSU in the home finale, leaving the door open for the Volunteers to try to take the record back. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Kelly Weighs In On A Game LSU Fans Can't Ignore
Brian Kelly has been around enough big games to know when one can ripple beyond its own matchup, and he sees that kind of weight in Ole Miss upcoming SEC showdown with Georgia. The former Notre Dame and LSU coach pointed to the Rebels recent success against Georgia and the edge of playing at home as the main reasons he expects Ole Miss to come out on top.
For LSU fans, the prediction is worth noting because this is the kind of game that can reshape the SEC race and, with it, the College Football Playoff picture. Georgias margin for error is always slim in conference play, and Ole Miss has already shown it can make life uncomfortable for the Bulldogs, which is why Kellys take adds another layer of intrigue to a matchup Tigers fans will be watching closely. [Read more 🡒]