LSU vs Mississippi State

Tigers take the field for their SEC opener against the Bulldogs, look to capitalize off of victory over Southern.

Safety Matthew Langlois went out against Southern and is in a heavy cast with crutches. Emery Jones at right tackle. Players in street clothes/not dressing out: Starting OL Anthony Bradford, Desmond Little and Marcus Dumervil.

Brian Kelly's introduction to SEC football comes Saturday when his LSU Tigers (1-1) face off against Mike Leach's Mississippi State Bulldogs (2-0).

During his second season in 2021, MSU was the only school in the country that faced six teams ranked in the final College Football Playoff Top 25 and was one of four teams with three wins against teams ranked in the final poll. Leach became the first MSU head coach, at least in the modern era, to beat three teams in one season who finished ranked in a final poll. In 12 years at Notre Dame, Kelly guided the Irish to seven 10-win seasons, 10 bowl appearances, including two College Football Playoff games and the BCS National Championship Game in 2012.

Third game and first in the SEC, how will the Tigers fare?

If 34-36 passes are a given, LSU could have much success in the air on Saturday as MSU has a notoriously Leachian defense which makes them prone to points as they showed the first two weeks. It’s why I feel confident taking the over in the game as we know the Tigers will score and MSU might equal them. If they have say five trips to the red zone I see the defense holding them in at least two and maybe three of them. Obviously hugely caveated by the fact that it cams vs Memphis and [Arizona State](https://www.houseofsparky.com), still a successful number. Even in MSU’s two early games vs inferior opponents they let 23 and 17 points passed respectively and that should be music to Tigers fans ears. The Tigers go vs an undefeated [Mississippi State](https://www.forwhomthecowbelltolls.com) side that will give the team all they can handle.

LSU football hosts Mississippi State in one of the most highly anticipated early season SEC clashes. Here is the complete broadcast schedule for the game.

Although one thing is certain: these two teams are going to leave it all on the field in this latest installment of the age-old rivalry. [the Bulldogs’ Will Rogers](https://deathvalleyvoice.com/2022/09/15/lsu-football-tigers-bulldogs-breakdown-msu-writer/)—and quite rightfully so after the season he’s had thus far—but Jayden Daniels can hold his own against the best of them. Oddsmakers have the Bulldogs as about a field goal favorite (-2.5) over their SEC West neighbors in Death Valley. The Tigers’ fans will be hoping their team can have a bit more success this time around than they did in the Allstate Louisiana Kickoff. The SEC opener for these two programs will be broadcast on ESPN starting at 5 p.m. Here is everything you need to know about the game ahead of kickoff.

LSU Tigers wide receiver Jaray Jenkins (10) powers his way to the end zone as Mississippi State Bulldogs safety Collin Duncan (19) tries to strip the ball in ...

***Jayden Daniels rushes 3 yards into the endzone as LSU takes a 17-16 lead early in the fourth quarter. Late hit called on MSU and assessed on the kickoff.

[Will Rogers](//247sports.com/Player/Will-Rogers-46052851) leads the nation in completions per game (38.5), is second in passing touchdowns (9) and third in passing yards per game (381.5). [Armoni Goodwin](//247sports.com/Player/Armoni-Goodwin-46049880) (99 yards) and [Noah Cain](//247sports.com/Player/Noah-Cain-86618) (74) are LSU’s top two rushers out of the backfield and both players have a pair of rushing scores. Missed tackle opens up a huge hole and Bulldogs are on the board. Burns is also tops on the team with 2.5 tackles for loss. ***LSU on 4th-and-1 lines up to go for it but called for false start Three-and-out for the offense. Bulldogs recover but defense gets off the field on third down. A drop gets the defense off the field. Tigers force a field goal and it's 16-10, with 6:31 to in the third. Jayden Daniels and offense fumble the handoff and Mississippi State recovers Putrid start for Tigers' offense. ***LSU get in the redzone but drive stalls there on a few misfires. ***Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers on fire in the fourth quarter. ***Jayden Daniels rushes 3 yards into the endzone as LSU takes a 17-16 lead early in the fourth quarter.

The offense struggled to get anything going in the first half and LSU's special teams unit was suspect again. But a fantastic performance from the Tigers' ...

Koki Riley covers LSU sports for The Daily Advertiser and the USA TODAY Sports South Region. A shaky first half was followed by an impressive finish for the Tigers. But poor punt and kick return coverage allowed Mississippi State to have strong field position on four drives. Defensive coordinator Matt House did a good job mixing up the Tigers' coverages and sending blitzes at the right times. But a fantastic performance from the Tigers' defense allowed the offense enough time to catch up and deliver Brian Kelly hi first SEC win as coach. In the fourth quarter when they had to burn more clock, the Tigers delivered a 14-play, 85-yard drive that lasted 6:01 to help seal the win.

Here were the best shots as the Tigers took down the Bulldogs in Brian Kelly's SEC coaching debut.

That moved the Tigers to 2-1 (1-0 SEC) on the season. [Buy Tigers Tickets](https://www.ticketsmarter.com/lsu-tigers?utm_source=lsutigerswire.usatoday.com&utm_medium=thescoreplacement&utm_campaign=gannett) [Brian Kelly](https://lsutigerswire.usatoday.com/tag/brian-kelly/) on Saturday night, [defeating Mississippi State](https://lsutigerswire.usatoday.com/2022/09/17/lsu-football-instant-analysis-mississippi-state-win-week-3/) in Kelly’s SEC coaching debut 31-16.

BATON ROUGE – Jayden Daniels and the LSU offense scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to give the Tigers a victory in the SEC opener over ...

[Malik Nabers](https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/player/malik-nabers/) caught a team-high six passes for 76 yards as the Tigers posted 416 yards of total offense, while the LSU defense limited the Bulldogs to 289 yards from scrimmage. LSU forced a three-and-out to open the second half. However, Daniels fumbled on the next possession to give the Bulldogs the ball back. LSU tallied six tackles for loss as a defense at that point. Sophomore defensive end [BJ Ojulari](https://lsusports.net/roster/bj-ojulari/) was all over the field with four tackles, 2.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries. That would quickly pay off as quarterback Will Rogers found Rara Thomas for a 20-yard completion, then on the next play, Jo’quavious Marks busted open a 37-yard touchdown run to give the Bulldogs a 6-0 advantage. The first explosive play of the game came via an 18-yard completion from Daniels to [Major Burns](https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/player/major-burns/) stopped the Bulldogs for a loss and a turnover on downs. LSU improved to 2-1 with the victory, while the Bulldogs dropped to 2-1 on the year. On 4th-and-1 from their own 22, Mississippi State rolled the dice and went for it, securing a first down on a 4-yard rush. [Armoni Goodwin](https://lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/player/armoni-goodwin/) rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown on 9 carries, but Daniels led LSU’s rushing attack with 100 yards on the ground with two scores. The Tigers return to Death Valley next Saturday to face New Mexico at 6:30 p.m.