The LSU Tigers were in unfamiliar territory entering Saturday’s contest against Vanderbilt. Coming off a three-game losing streak and the loss of a prized commitment, uncertainty permeated throughout the program. The recent visuals of lost leads and sideline blow-ups led some to question the allegiance of the current players to the program. That should no longer be the case after a gritty 24-17 victory over Vanderbilt (6-5). The LSU (7-4) win reaffirmed the players’ buy-in to the current regime and finally brought positivity back to Baton Rouge.
LSU Wins Over Vanderbilt
Mistake Free Football
LSU overcame a troublesome start involving an early Vandy touchdown to settle in nicely on both sides of the ball. Defensively, the Tigers were sound for once against mobile quarterbacks and a shotgun-based triple-option attack. The Tigers limited big plays and smothered potential pass-catchers on underneath routes. Blake Baker’s defense held Vanderbilt to only 308 total yards. The Commodores thrive off keeping the ball away from opposing offenses. The Tigers held them to only 2-10 on third-down conversions, effectively getting them off the field. It’s encouraging that the plays that LSU gave up mostly resulted from a lack of execution due to ability, not discipline. Hey, maybe the players are coachable.
Despite the good vibes, there were tense moments. Vanderbilt perfectly executed a fake punt late in the fourth quarter to extend its drive. The conversion led to a touchdown that cut the LSU lead to 24-17, and doubt crept into traumatized Tiger fans. Now up only one possession, LSU needed to score or run out the clock with 5:47 left in the game. The Tigers then gained five first downs on one drive. The conversions were highlighted by Aaron Anderson’s electric open-field moves after the catch on one of them.
Garrett Nussmeier took advantage of good protection in the pocket to make the throws that build intrigue around his NFL potential. Not only did he throw dimes that only an elite few can make, he did so while completing 76% of his passes. Nussmeier showed the maturity to ignore the boos during his pregame introduction to lead his team and throw accurately in critical moments. Most importantly, he displayed the patience to take checkdowns when the big throws weren’t there.
Josh Williams has undoubtedly heard the criticism of LSU’s rushing attack this year. Never one to concede defeat, Williams responded with 90 yards while averaging over six yards per carry. He also showed his value in the passing game with over 60 receiving yards. Whether he touched the ball on a run or pass, the first defender rarely brought him down. Williams was a terror in the open field by juking or simply trucking would-be tacklers.
A New Day
A seven-point home win against Vandy could be alarming in normal years. Of course, this season has been anything but normal. The Commodores are already bowl-eligible with wins over Virginia Tech, Alabama, and Auburn. LSU’s recent play wouldn’t inspire confidence against even the infamously inferior Vandy teams. Make no mistake, the Tigers played well in this contest. This was a quality win against a dangerous team.
The Tigers’ 2024 season can and will be criticized, but the LSU win disproved a popular sentiment against Vanderbilt. Brian Kelly has not lost the locker room. Florida’s win over Ole Miss just might have convinced the college football world that the Gators are better than their record indicates. The Swamp is a tough place to play against a healthy Florida team. Alabama was blown away by the 6-5 Oklahoma Sooners. Texas A&M and Colorado were playoff contenders that lost to sub-.500 teams both on the same day. In today’s game, there are no inexcusable losses. Anybody can get it.
Perhaps LSU’s midseason win streak built a belief in the team that it hadn’t earned, but that doesn’t mean the Tigers have fallen off a cliff. The effort is there regardless of the postseason hopes. This LSU win came thanks to pride, grit, and commitment. The Tigers have finally gotten back into the win column and now have a positive off which to build. LSU will get a chance to finish the season on a high note against Oklahoma next week. There are no guarantees, but a win and a solid recruiting class could change the perception of the program’s stability.
