LSU heads into another pivotal weekend carrying the sting of last Saturday’s loss to Kentucky, and the Tigers are trying to turn that frustration into fuel.
Linebacker TJ Dottery said the group knows exactly where it came up short.
“I feel like we all know we left a lot on the board- offense, defense, special teams. So I think just everybody has a bad taste in their mouth and kind of use that as motivation and just execute and try to be better this week for sure,” LSU linebacker TJ Dottery says regarding the game against Kentucky.
That game dropped LSU to 22nd overall, and now the focus shifts to Mississippi State. Coach Lane Kiffin said the offense has to clean up its execution and do a better job of finishing drives as the Tigers prepare for this weekend.
Adding another wrinkle, Saturday is LSU’s homecoming game, and the early kickoff has already become a talking point around campus. Not everyone is thrilled about being asked to show up so early.
LSU icon Kent Broussard, also known as Tiger Tuba Kent, says “[He’ll] be getting up at 3:30 [a.m.] Saturday morning for band practice at 5 a.m.”
“Why at 11 a.m.?” one LSU student asks.
“No I prefer the night games for sure,” another student adds.
On the basketball side, LSU got a lift at the PMAC with a hard-fought 85-81 win over UCF in Coach Will Wade’s return.
The game came with plenty of attention, and fans watched a tight contest that featured just six LSU players amid the ongoing eligibility controversy.
Donovan Dent delivered the biggest moment, finishing with 21 points and 11 assists and knocking down the game-winning layup.
Abdi Bashir Jr. led LSU in scoring with 26 points and hit six threes.
In Other News...
LSUs Bounce-Back Bid Comes With One Big SEC Concern
LSU heads into Week 7 looking to steady itself at home against Mississippi State after the loss to Kentucky, and the Tigers have enough on their plate already without adding another layer of uncertainty. This is the kind of SEC game that can turn quickly if the matchup script changes early, especially with both teams dealing with injuries and LSU still trying to get back to the level of consistency that made it dangerous in the first place.
Mississippi States quarterback situation is the wrinkle LSU will be watching closely, because the Bulldogs offensive outlook shifts depending on who is available. For LSU, the path back starts with cleaner work on both sides of the ball, better execution in key moments and a sharper response than the one it showed a week ago, but the bigger question is whether the Tigers can prepare for the version of Mississippi State that actually shows up. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Could Catch A Huge Break In Mississippi State's Backfield
Mississippi State arrives on LSUs schedule with a couple of key offensive questions hanging over its backfield, and both of them trace back to the same injury-hit trip through Alabama. Quarterback Kamario Taylor and running back Fluff Bothwell were each listed as questionable for the matchup with LSU after leaving the previous game hurt, leaving Jeff Lebby and his staff to sort through contingency plans as kickoff gets closer.
For LSU, the uncertainty matters because the Bulldogs offense could look very different if either player is limited or unavailable. Lebby has already identified possible replacements, but the Tigers will be watching to see whether Mississippi State can get either Taylor or Bothwell back in time, since their status could shape how much stress LSUs defense has to absorb on Saturday. [Read more 🡒]
LSU's Defensive Problems Look Worse Than An Overtime Loss
LSUs overtime loss to Kentucky exposed more than a late-game stumble. It put a spotlight on a defense that has been struggling to line up, communicate and finish plays cleanly enough to give the Tigers a reliable chance to control games. From the failed adjustment on Kentuckys empty formation to the missed tackles that showed up on key snaps, the breakdowns were broad enough to leave the coaching staff with more than one area to clean up.
Lane Kiffin acknowledged that not every defender got the call on the two-point conversion adjustment, which only underscored how fragile the operation looked when the game tightened. Add in the long run by Kentuckys CJ Baxter and Brock Coffmans punt return touchdown, and the concern is not just one blown sequence but a pattern of gap discipline and execution problems that LSU has to correct quickly. [Read more 🡒]