LSU football

LSU got the outcome it earned in Brian Kelly's debut, but quarterback Jayden Daniels' play offered a sliver of optimism.

If you enjoy Blake’s coverage, consider [a digital subscription](https://subscribe.theadvertiser.com/) that will allow you access to all of it. Instead, he listened to the sound of LSU’s fate being sealed. [Blake Toppmeyer](https://www.knoxnews.com/staff/2648210001/blake-toppmeyer/) is an SEC Columnist for the USA TODAY Network. I’d still like to see what strong-armed redshirt freshman quarterback Garrett Nussmeier could do with the reins, but if LSU doesn’t protect the quarterback better, then having a howitzer isn’t the asset a quarterback needs most. Daniels' passes or runs supplied all the yardage on the final touchdown drive. Daniels doesn’t just need more help from his offensive line. Daniels showed his passing ability in those infrequent moments when he had enough time to let receivers’ routes develop. But for tempo to be effective, drives can’t stall after a few plays. That makes having a quarterback who can improvise with his legs a necessity, and for about 2½ quarters, LSU’s only offense of substance came on Daniels scrambles. LSU’s quarterback was on the sideline attending to a cramp when the crowd’s reaction told him the Tigers had been doomed by yet another blunder. “It’s disheartening because, obviously, you think you’re going to overtime, but that doesn't define the game. We had like 20 to 30 plays that defined the game.”

Kayshon Boutte caught 2 passes for 20 yards in LSU's wild season opener against Florida State. What he did on Instagram following the game speaks volumes.

In the end, it's only one game in a long season for LSU. Boutte wasn't the only LSU wide receiver to scrub his Instagram of all posts. [Twitter profile](https://twitter.com/KayshonBoutte1) and still follows 3 accounts on it.

Kayshon Boutte had an eventful offseason, as did the LSU football program, and then both had a disappointing showing in the 2022 season opener.

[Bookmark](https://si.com/fannation/college/cfb-hq) But he probably wasn't expecting what happened in the Week 1 opener. [LSU vs.

So ... what's up with Kayshon Boutte and Malik Nabers' Instagram accounts? After the loss, Boutte deleted every post from his Instagram page and – perhaps more ...

Koki Riley covers LSU sports for The Daily Advertiser and the USA TODAY Sports South Region. And ever since Kelly "threw a shot across his bow" before the start of spring practices, his relationship with his new coach has been under a microscope. They also only made four tackles for loss and couldn't get off the field on third down, surrendering conversions on 11-of-17 attempts. Nabers, who muffed two punts on Sunday, also removed all of his posts but still had LSU football mentioned in his bio and him in a Tigers jersey as a profile photo. It wasn't a bad performance. But the same cannot be said for Boutte.

LSU football made a fiery entrance into the Superdome and then Brian Kelly's debut against Florida State went up in smoke.

[Blake Toppmeyer](https://www.knoxnews.com/staff/2648210001/blake-toppmeyer/) is an SEC Columnist for the USA TODAY Network. [Brian Kelly](https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/sports/college/lsu/2022/09/01/brian-kelly-lsu-football-coach-assumption-worcester-mass/65458773007/)’s LSU Tigers took the field Sunday amid pyrotechnics [worthy of a Pink Floyd concert](https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2001/06/28/pyrotechnics-and-pink-floyd/). Kelly boasts a $100 million contract and the most accomplished résumé of any LSU hire. But, wouldn't you know it, LSU's line parted to allow a perfect avenue for Brown to rush through and block the extra point. The expectation." "That’s the standard. [most astonishing coaching hire in LSU football history](https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/sports/college/lsu/2022/06/05/brian-kelly-lsu-tigers-football-scott-woodward-athletic-director-notre-dame/7489529001/) called for a grand entrance, and the Superdome delivered. The Seminoles (2-0) and coach Mike Norvell contributed enough gaffes, including two trips inside the 10-yard that produced zero points, that LSU had a chance to prevail. LSU’s safeties pursued the reverse, and FSU’s Ontario Wilson slipped behind cornerback Mekhi Garner for a 39-yard touchdown. Norvell did his best to position LSU for victory. A whiffed blocking assignment allowed FSU to block a field goal. Preseason hyperbole included talk of Kelly instilling more discipline to the Tigers, but that was before defensive tackle Maason Smith injured his leg while celebrating after a first-quarter play.

The SEC Network host did not agree with Kelly's decision to kick the extra point at the end, and he had harsh words for the coach.

Kelly and his team will head back to Baton Rouge to prepare for the home opener next week against Southern. Put the dagger in.” I think it’s the simplest call in the world. Brian, you’re not in the NFL. [told Mike Greenberg on ESPN’s “Get Up” on Monday](https://www.on3.com/college/lsu-tigers/news/paul-finebaum-slams-brian-kelly-coaching-decisions-extra-point-following-lsu-loss-florida-state/). “And you don’t want to put in the hands of the special teams because you’ve already had two muffed punts, you had a blocked field goal.

The four-time NBA champion felt for the sophomore who muffed two punts in Sunday night's game.

](https://www.si.com/college/2022/09/05/florida-state-beats-lsu-in-thriller-spoiling-brian-kellys-tigers-debut) [Florida State](https://www.si.com/college/college-football/team/florida-state-seminoles) thriller just as many college football fans were across the country. [LSU](https://www.si.com/college/college-football/team/lsu-tigers) scored a touchdown with one second left in regulation to make the score 24-23 Seminoles, but the Tigers were unable to convert the extra point to go into overtime. LSU’s special teams struggled outside of the final-play blunder, and one LSU player in particular caught a lot of heat from social media: Malik Nabers. [Lakers](https://www.si.com/nba/team/los-angeles-lakers) star [attended Saturday’s Ohio State–Notre Dame game](https://www.si.com/college/2022/09/03/lebron-james-bronny-attend-ohio-state-notre-dame-season-opener) with his son Bronny, who [could play college basketball for the Buckeyes](https://www.si.com/nba/2022/08/30/lebron-bronny-bryce-james-daily-cover). James felt for the sophomore returner as he tweeted a message in support to Nabers. [LeBron James](https://www.si.com/nba/player/lebron-james) is happy college football season is back as he tweeted his reactions to games throughout the first weekend of the season.

Seminoles' offensive attack too much for Tigers, offensive line woes plague Tigers.

It was hard to expect perfection in Game 1 of the Kelly era. With a fresh faced coaching staff and virtually an entirely new defense, it was expected to have hiccups. A group that struggled seemingly all Sunday night now needed to come through in the biggest moment of the game. Where he really opened the eyes of Tiger fans was his ability on the ground. The Arizona State transfer went 14-for-18 with 138 yards and two touchdowns in the final frame. Dropping a pair of beautiful touchdown passes to pad the Seminoles’ lead, it just wasn’t LSU’s night. Seemingly making something out of nothing on every play, it was an impressive game for the signal-caller. Converting on a field goal on the first possession, it was all downhill from there. With two minutes remaining and 99 yards separating LSU from forcing extra football, the unthinkable happened. On their first possession of the game, LSU saw All-American candidate Maason Smith go down with an injury and not return. It wasn’t quite the debut Brian Kelly anticipated Sunday night in the Caesars SuperDome. We didn’t expect many of the mistakes we had today.”

Brian Kelly's LSU Tigers took the field Sunday amid pyrotechnics worthy of a Pink Floyd concert. Transfer quarterback Jayden Daniels prolonged the fiery ...

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LSU football defensive tackle Maason Smith has torn his ACL and safety Joe Foucha has been suspended for four games, accoridng to reports.

Koki Riley covers LSU sports for The Daily Advertiser and the USA TODAY Sports South Region. Foucha did not appear in Sunday's game as safeties Major Burns and Jay Ward shared the load at safety instead. He then exited the game and had a slight limp to the locker room before coming back onto the field on crutches.

Coming off a dramatic season-opening loss, LSU just got more bad news as defensive tackle Maason Smith tore the ACL in his left knee and will miss the ...

[Bookmark](https://si.com/fannation/college/cfb-hq) [Kayshon Boutte removes LSU mentions from Instagram page](https://www.si.com/fannation/college/cfb-hq/ncaa-football/kayshon-boutte-lsu-instagram-page) [LSU vs. Rivals named him the No.

Brian Kelly walked into Baton Rouge as the most accomplished coach the program had ever hired. But after his first game at LSU, the veteran coach will have ...

FSU left the Superdome with a shocking 24-23 win, and Kelly had to answer for a supremely disappointing debut. It was a disastrous debut against the Florida State Seminoles on Sunday night. Brian Kelly walked into Baton Rouge as the most accomplished coach the program had ever hired.