LSU CRUMBLE UNDER PRESSURE @ OLE MISS, LOSE 24-19

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By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

We heard the term "play to win the game" said over again and again by Head Coach Brian Kelly when referring to LSU's recent offensive shortcomings, arguing against Baton Rouge's own media members that the Tigers' offensive failings were all down to conscientious, conservative playcalling choices....making the case for wins over stats....

But nobody had any problem with winning ugly.....that wasn't the issue....running the ball, scoring points, and an injured, off-kilter starting quarterback continued to draw concerns....

Yet for anyone wondering where this conservative offensive strategy was leading, the truth was staring us right in the face: it wasn't strategic, it wasn't careful, considered or complimentary.....it was just a bad offense, masked by their elite defense, strong special teams, while their Head Coach dubbed criticism as ridiculous complaints about "expectations" and being "spoiled"...

Well for all the talk of "playing to win", it appears LSU's staff couldn't "coach to win" against Ole Miss, throwing away a luck-filled, momentum-caked start and losing their first game of 2025, 24-19 in Oxford, Mississippi.

Due to significant coaching errors on offense, an inability to run the football, an inept passing game, an agonizing slate of missed opportunities, alongside 7 penalties that hurt the team when it mattered most, LSU fell to 4-1 as Lane Kiffin's Ole Miss did enough to get the win.

The Rebels turned the ball over multiple times & committed a staggering 14 penalties, and still wore down Blake Baker's imperious, spirited defensive unit over 4 quarters, directly assisted by a horrific showing from Joe Sloan & Garrett Nussmeier's offense (as the LSU defense gave up a season high 314 passing yards, 166 rushing yards, 8/16 on 3rd down tries, while forced on the field for an exhausting 84 plays).

Blake Baker's defense fought valiantly for 60 minutes (only allowing 3 points for most of the entire first half & forced a pair of turnovers), but in the end, LSU's offense let the team down once again....this time, ending in defeat.

The biggest story of the game, perhaps for the entire LSU season was Nussmeier's shocking downward slide...quarterback play ultimately proving the key difference between LSU and Ole Miss.

While Trinidad Chambliss, a quarterback mocked all week by LSU fans, labeled a "Division II QB", melted LSU for 314 passing yards & 71 on the ground, Nuss was clearly hobbled and hurt, to the point he was unable to project any purposeful zip or accuracy on his passes, finishing a season-low 21/34, tossing just 197 passing yards, plus an atrocious, early red zone interception (when LSU was about to take a commanding double digit lead), finishing 2/11 on 3rd down opportunities.

However, even worse was their 57 rushing yards totaling 2.6 per carry against the SEC's worst rushing defense.

Allowing 190.5 yards per game vs tame competition over their first 4 games, Ole Miss' defensive front only rushed 3, dropping 8 players into coverage on most plays, and still shackled and destroyed a hapless, abysmal, completely pathetic Tigers' running game....Harlem Berry leading the way with barely over 20 yards.

LSU cost themselves multiple opportunities during the 1st half, including Nussmeier's early pick with a 7-3 lead inside the red zone, potentially giving away an early double digit lead; penalties such as a Walter Mathis face mask, a Trey'Dez Green holding that wiped out a 10 yard play, West Weeks shoving Trinidad Chambliss cost the Tigers a stop, plus DJ Pickett's 2nd quarter pick six was called back for the softest of pass interference calls on the freshman (as both DB and receiver hand-battled for the ball).

Ultimately, while there were numerous chances for LSU to grab a hold of proceedings, their complete lack of a running game (combined with Joe Sloan's resolute aversion to running the ball) alongside Nussmeier's compromised play, the Tigers sent their defense out there for continous, exhausting drives....with Ole Miss finally punching it in to finish off Brian Kelly's group.

It's a painful defeat, but with a bye week on the horizon, LSU have a chance to get it right....but what can be done about an utterly anonymous offense?

Once again, much like 2023, LSU are operating with one elite side of the ball, as the other flounders, regresses, and subsequently costs the Tigers games they have no business losing.

CHECK OUT THE LSUODYSSEY POSTGAME SHOW HERE FOR MORE ANALYSIS

By LONN PHILLIPS SULLIVAN

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