Florida State Football emerged triumphant over LSU
In the inaugural clash of the season, Florida State Football emerged triumphant over LSU, with a commanding 45-24 victory, attributing their success to relentless pressure.
Arguably one of the most eagerly anticipated initial contests of the collegiate football calendar, LSU Football commenced its campaign against Florida State in Orlando.
As devoted Seminoles fans converged at Camping World Stadium to witness the Tigers in action, the streets of Orlando reverberated with a vibrant crimson hue. Similar to the previous year, the season opener against FSU cast a pall of heartbreak over the Tigers.
However, this particular encounter bore a distinct character. Although the drive from Baton Rouge to Caesar’s Superdome spanned just a brief two-hour journey, Florida State’s supporters left an indelible mark on the experience. Brian Kelly, assuming the mantle of FSU’s head coach, oversaw the contest, which bore a striking resemblance to the 2022 clash, culminating in a narrow 24-23 triumph for the Tigers.
This season, the Seminoles adroitly exploited vulnerabilities within FSU’s offensive and defensive schemes, swiftly stifling any aspirations the Tigers harbored. The outcome was resounding: Florida State clinched victory with a commanding scoreline of 45-24. The season opener has become an enduring conundrum for LSU, as they have grappled with an unbroken string of losses since their triumphant 2019 National Championship campaign against Georgia Southern.
Notwithstanding a slew of initial quarter mishaps, indicative of anxiety afflicting both sides of the field, Florida State eventually discovered their rhythm. In stark contrast, LSU faltered.
Florida State exerted absolute dominance over LSU across all facets of the game. The Seminoles’ defensive line incessantly applied pressure on the Tigers. When the formidable line exhibited vulnerabilities, LSU’s quarterback, Jaden Daniels, found himself compelled to scramble, often culminating in hurried, errant throws. By the night’s culmination, Florida State had tallied four sacks against their LSU counterparts.
Daniels astutely remarked, “We found ourselves ensnared in second and long and third and long situations, where they were acutely aware that they could unleash a relentless pass rush.” Thus, evading such predicaments, offering support to the offensive line, making judicious decisions when in possession of the ball, and devising optimal protection strategies became imperative. Absorbing hits and propelling the ball forward could fundamentally alter the complexion of the defense’s perspective.
A distinguishing hallmark of Florida State’s exuberant and clamorous “Welcome Class” was beyond the reach of FSU’s rival, the Tigers. Despite amassing a total of 347 receiving yards, the Tigers found themselves unable to capitalize on this yardage, primarily due to dropped passes and the game’s volatile nature. Daniels, in particular, completed a mere 22 of his 37 passing attempts.
Keon Coleman, a versatile receiver donning Florida State’s colors, assumed the role of an inspirational catalyst for the Seminoles. He contributed significantly to three of their six touchdowns and accounted for 122 out of the team’s 359 receiving yards.
Although hailing from the state of Louisiana, Opelousas native Coleman harbored aspirations for a change of scenery. Coleman had previously featured in 12 games for Michigan State before entering the transfer portal in 2023, where 247Sports ranked him as the No. 4 wide receiver.
Coleman candidly reflected, stating, “I approached it as a game. I had the privilege of doing what God had blessed me with—simply playing football, deriving enjoyment from it, and striving for victory.” Nevertheless, the experience bore a tinge of bitterness for him. His roots were in his home state, with a legion of fans among his family, but he had cast his lot with the Seminoles.
Despite Coleman’s notable accomplishments and inclusion in the transfer portal, FSU refrained from extending an offer to him. However, the coaching staff remained acutely aware of the challenges he would pose to the Tiger’s defensive line.
Lessons LSU Football Can Extract from a 45-24 Defeat to Florida State”
Aspirations soared for LSU football, but they were dashed in the opening week as they succumbed to a 45-24 defeat at the hands of Florida State. The Tigers held a 17-14 lead at halftime, only to stumble in the latter half of the game. LSU, a team that hadn’t tasted defeat in their season opener for the past four years, found themselves enduring one of the most disheartening losses in recent memory.
Here, we glean three critical insights from LSU’s heartbreaking loss:
1. Tenacity Despite a Dearth of Pass Rushers: In the face of a shortage of formidable pass rushers, LSU’s defense valiantly held their ground. Similar to last season’s encounter, LSU grappled to contain Florida State’s advances. Ultimately, Florida State, once a humble 3-10 third-place finisher, astonishingly ascended to a 9-14 third-place ranking against LSU.
2. Pressure on Jordan Travis Paid Dividends: The relentless pressure applied on Jordan Travis by Florida State bore fruit. LSU, in stark contrast, failed to secure a single sack during the game, while Florida State tallied four. Although Herald Perkins was anticipated to be a game-changer in the pass rush department, he found scant opportunities. Occupying the role of middle linebacker throughout the game, he failed to register Qube’s lightning-quick releases.
3. Perkins’ Struggle for Impact: Perkins grappled with making a substantial impact on the game. Despite concluding with a tally of five tackles, he lacked the game-altering prowess that had often propelled LSU to victory in 2022. Coach Kelly explained that Perkins was adapting to his role as an inside linebacker, but this raises the question of whether it’s truly the optimal position for his talents.
4. Inadequacies Under Pressure: LSU’s inability to execute under duress became evident. Their defensive linemen struggled to bring down Travis, enabling him to embark on significant runs. While Travis may potentially emerge as LSU’s premier quarterback of the season, the season’s inaugural loss has cast a shadow over the team’s aspirations of reaching the College Football Playoff.
5. Formidable Defensive Line Challenges: Challenges loomed large on the offensive line for LSU. The scrimmage line bore witness to a ferocious struggle on both ends. LSU encountered substantial difficulties running the ball, both early in the game and throughout its duration, resulting in multiple losses. The game’s course was irrevocably altered when the Tigers thwarted Florida State’s advances in four consecutive attempts within a mere two yards of the goal line.
6. Lack of Credible Running Game: Apart from Jadon Daniels’ explosive run, LSU’s running game lacked credibility. Of the meager 44 yards gained on four attempts, Josh Williams, who led LSU’s running backs, accounted for a mere 35 yards, a paltry sum considering the game’s context.
7. Struggles on the Right Side: The right side of the offensive line, encompassing the right guard Miles Frazier and right tackle Emory Jones, grappled intermittently with challenges in both run-blocking and pass-blocking. A newcomer, Xalenz Hard, who had assumed the role of right tackle during Fall Camp, may become a viable option if LSU continues to struggle in this department.
8. Comparative Defensive Line Performances: Although Florida State boasts one of the nation’s premier defensive lines, LSU’s SEC schedule routinely showcases exemplary defensive line displays. LSU, however, found itself delivering a subpar performance.
9. Costly Mistakes Early On: The early phases of the game were marred by LSU’s egregious errors. Two turnovers within the red zone during the first half prevented them from establishing a commanding lead.
10. Third-Down Woes: LSU grappled with both yardage loss and poor decision-making during third-down situations. Throughout the game, LSU’s third-down conversion rate stood at a dismal 3-10, replete with numerous critical blunders.
11. Coaching Accountability: The most glaring example of this predicament occurred at the conclusion of the third quarter when Brian Thomas Jr. failed to secure a deep throw from Daniels near the end zone. While it’s unjust to attribute LSU’s third and fourth down woes solely to coaching incompetence, Coach Kelly bears a share of responsibility.