LSU’s meeting with McNeese on Saturday night in Death Valley could turn into more than a routine nonconference game. Kickoff is set for 6:45 p.m., and the quarterback spotlight is split between McNeese starter Devin Lippold and a Tigers room that may not look the same from one series to the next.
Lippold arrives as McNeese’s third-year quarterback and full-time starter, with the Houston native taking over after appearing in 11 games last season and starting one. Through this season, he has completed 57.1% of his passes for 829 yards, averaged 6.6 yards per attempt, and thrown eight touchdowns against three interceptions.
His strongest performance came against Tarleton State, when he went 27-for-45 for a 60% completion rate, threw two touchdowns, avoided interceptions, and was never sacked. He also added 65 rushing yards on nine carries, giving McNeese a little production outside the pocket. That said, the challenge ahead is obvious: he’s walking into Death Valley and facing one of the best defenses in the entire country.
The bigger question on LSU’s side is who lines up first at quarterback. Right now, Sam Leavitt is still the starter, and he would be coming off his best showing as a Tiger and the most accurate passing performance of his career. Last Saturday night against the Aggies, Leavitt completed 74% of his throws in a game where LSU needed efficiency through the air.
That outing may have helped steady the offense, but it came with a price. Leavitt injured his left hamstring and still stayed in the game until it was clearly under control.
He wasn’t able to run, so he worked from the pocket and delivered throws all over the field. For the season, he has 1,044 passing yards, five touchdowns, six interceptions, and a 63.8% completion rate.
The hamstring issue is why there’s real speculation about whether he starts at all.
Lane Kiffin said in his press conference this week that he was considering resting players and had not decided whether Landen Clark would get the start. Clark is LSU’s backup behind Leavitt after transferring from Elon University, and he has played in every game except Ole Miss.
In limited action, Clark has thrown for 109 yards, completing seven of 15 passes for a 46.7% completion rate. He has one passing touchdown and three rushing touchdowns, plus 83 rushing yards on 16 carries, with a long of 14 yards.
If Clark gets the nod, LSU could still find a way to get Husan Longstreet on the field. Longstreet is the No. 3 quarterback, a young transfer from USC with plenty of athleticism.
He even fields punts during LSU’s pregame warmups. He hasn’t taken a quarterback snap this season, but McNeese gives the Tigers a realistic chance to make that debut happen.
The timing matters for LSU, too. The Tigers are dealing with injuries and could use this game to get some players needed rest before October. And the schedule tightens fast after Saturday: seven straight SEC games to close the season, including five against ranked opponents.
In Other News...
LSU Quarterback Situation Just Got More Interesting Before McNeese
McNeese will head into its matchup with LSU without third-year quarterback Devin Lippold, who is out with a right wrist injury and will be replaced by Jake Strong. On LSUs side, the quarterback picture is still taking shape as the Tigers prepare for the game, with Sam Leavitt expected to start while working back from a left hamstring injury.
The bigger question for LSU is how much the offense might need to lean on depth behind Leavitt if he is not fully ready to handle his usual workload. Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet are both candidates to see the field, which gives the Tigers a little more insurance but also leaves some uncertainty in a position group that will be closely watched once kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
LSU May Have Found A New Defensive Contributor Fans Should Watch
Jhase Thomas is starting to look like more than just a special teams piece for LSU. The defensive back saw his playing time rise against Texas A&M after spending most of his first season in that familiar off-to-the-side role, and his growth has been building quietly in the background as he settled into college football and worked his way toward a bigger defensive opportunity.
Thomas prepared for the expanded look by studying film and leaning on veteran teammates, while also drawing on the guidance of his father, former NFL defensive back Fred Thomas. For LSU, it is the kind of progression coaches like to see from a young recruit becoming a real contributor, and it gives the defense another name worth tracking as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Has A Few Emerging Tigers McNeese Couldnt Handle
LSU heads into its matchup with McNeese at 3-1, and the Tigers have started to see a few younger pieces flash in ways that can matter on a Saturday like this. Dilin Jones, Jackson Harris, Tamarcus Cooley and Davhon Keys have each shown enough lately to suggest they can tilt a game if their roles keep growing, which is exactly the kind of depth a team wants to lean on as the schedule moves along.
McNeese comes in at 2-3, and the numbers on both sides of the ball make this a useful measuring stick for LSUs emerging players. The question is not just whether the Tigers should control the game, but which of those developing contributors can turn recent progress into a bigger imprint when the matchup is there to be won. [Read more 🡒]