Mississippi State is set to see an LSU team that can still make life miserable on defense, even if the Tigers haven’t finished games the way they’d like.
Through the first half of the 2026 season, LSU has been especially tough against the run. The Tigers are giving up just 74.5 rushing yards per game, a mark that ranks first in the SEC and fifth nationally. That kind of front has forced opponents to work for every inch on the ground.
The pass defense has held up, too. LSU is allowing 176.2 passing yards per game, and safety Tamarcus Cooley leads the team with two interceptions. Overall, the defense has been limiting damage, surrendering 18.5 points per game.
Senior linebacker TJ Dottery has been a big part of that effort. He has forced two fumbles and posted 40 tackles so far this season, and he’s tracking toward another productive year after finishing with 98 tackles last season.
Still, LSU has let games slip late. Kentucky and Ole Miss both took advantage in the closing stages to pull out wins against the Tigers.
On the other side of the ball, LSU has been uneven. Quarterback Sam Leavitt has thrown for 1,496 yards and 10 touchdowns, but the turnovers have been costly. He has already thrown eight interceptions, and some of those have come at key moments.
Leavitt may also be missing a major target. Tight end Trey’Dez Green is dealing with a knee injury suffered in the Ole Miss game and is likely to sit out.
If that’s the case, William Watkins Jr. should continue to be a primary option in the passing game. Watkins has 29 catches for 416 yards and two touchdowns.
LSU’s rushing game will also lean on Leavitt using his legs to create yards and extend plays. Sophomore running back Dillin Jones is expected to get touches against Mississippi State as well.
The Tigers could also be without another important defensive piece. Senior linebacker Whit Weeks, a team leader over the past three seasons, is out with a knee injury.
One more thing for Bulldogs fans to keep in mind: Lane Kiffin tends to be dangerous when his team is backed into a corner, and after the loss to the Wildcats in Lexington, LSU and Kiffin are exactly in that spot.
In Other News...
LSU May Catch A Huge Break In This SEC Matchup
Mississippi States 4-1 start has been built on a wave of young contributors, with freshmen and sophomores showing up all over the field as the Bulldogs keep sorting out who can handle bigger roles. Quarterback Kamarios Taylor has been right at the center of it, throwing for 1,450 yards and 17 touchdowns while helping energize an offense that has leaned on growth as much as experience.
Now the timing gets tricky with LSU coming to Starkville, because Taylors status is one of the biggest factors in how that matchup looks. Jeff Lebby has kept the conversation focused on competition and development across the roster, but the Bulldogs next step will depend heavily on how their young core holds up if a key piece is limited when the SEC spotlight gets brighter. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State Heads To LSU With One Huge Question Still Hanging
Mississippi States quarterback situation is suddenly a major subplot as the Bulldogs prepare for a trip to No. 22 LSU. Kamario Taylors exit from the Alabama game on Oct. 3 in a walking boot left the offense with more questions than answers, and the program has not offered any real clarity on what comes next.
With Saturdays game looming, Taylors availability remains up in the air, and the lack of a defined timeline only adds to the uncertainty around an already difficult road test. For Mississippi State, the difference between having its quarterback and having to reshuffle on the fly could shape the entire game plan in Baton Rouge. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State Faces A Huge Road Test Against LSUs Explosive Offense
Mississippi State heads to Baton Rouge for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff at Tiger Stadium, with a nationally televised stage on ESPN waiting for a Bulldogs team that knows exactly what kind of road test is in front of it. Coach Jeff Lebby has been clear that LSU brings a talented roster and an offense capable of putting a lot of pressure on a defense before the day has even settled in.
A big part of that challenge comes from LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt, whose production has helped fuel one of the SECs most explosive attacks this season. For Mississippi State, the assignment is as straightforward as it is difficult: keep the Tigers from getting comfortable early and find a way to tilt the game toward mistake-free football, because this is the kind of matchup where every possession can matter. [Read more 🡒]