LSU’s Defense Shines, But Offensive Questions Linger in 23–7 Win

BATON ROUGE, La — LSU fans walked out of Tiger Stadium on Saturday night with two clear takeaways: the Tigers’ defense is the real deal, and the offense still has work to do. In a 23–7 victory over Louisiana Tech, the third-ranked Tigers looked every bit dominant on one side of the ball, while the other side left room for doubt.

The defense was suffocating, holding Tech to just 154 total yards and keeping the Bulldogs out of the end zone until late in the fourth quarter. It was a performance that showed discipline, speed, and toughness — the kind of defensive identity head coach Brian Kelly wants to build around.

“Our defense was physical, disciplined, and locked in,” Kelly said afterward. “That’s the identity we need to carry all year.”

Defense Defines the Night

From the opening snap, LSU controlled the trenches. The front seven created constant pressure and linebackers filled lanes. By halftime, Louisiana Tech had barely cracked 70 yards of offense, and the Tigers only tightened their grip as the night wore on.

Caden Durham added to the dominance with a third-quarter rushing touchdown that stretched the lead to 17–0. At that point, the defense ensured the game was already out of reach.

Offense Still Finding Rhythm

Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier led LSU on a 98-yard touchdown drive to start the game, finishing it with a 7-yard strike to Nic Anderson. After that, though, the offense sputtered. Nussmeier finished 26-for-41 with 237 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

“We left points on the field,” Nussmeier said. “Our defense gave us chance after chance, and we’ve got to reward that with touchdowns, not field goals.”

That reliant kicker, Damian Ramos, hit three field goals on the night helping bail out drives that stalled in scoring range. While his consistency was valuable, LSU’s inability to finish possessions raises concerns with SEC play just around the corner.

“Look, we can’t be satisfied with just good enough,” Kelly said. “Defensively, we were excellent. Offensively, we’ve got to finish drives. That’s the difference between being a good team and a great one.”

Looking Ahead

Florida awaits next weekend. If the Tigers can match their defensive intensity with sharper offensive play, they’ll look like the contender most have believed them to be.