LSU’s first loss of the Lane Kiffin era, in an electric atmosphere at Ole Miss, showed some areas of concern, but also some encouraging fight.
Now, the No. 10 Tigers (2-1, 0-1) return home for a suddenly huge game so early in the season against a No. 23 Texas A&M (2-1, 0-1) program — and particularly its quarterback, Marcel Reed — that has been a thorn in the paw the past two years.
“This game Saturday night in Death Valley, I know how much energy and intensity was put behind the Ole Miss game, this is the biggest game of their season,” said Cordae Hankton, a longtime coach who spent the past two years at LSU. “Not just because it’s the next game, but truly this is an elimination game for Texas A&M and LSU. If you go 0-2 in conference, it’s almost like you need small miracles to happen to make the playoffs.
“But unfortunately in this playoff world that we live in, Ty Benefield said something in his press conference… like, ‘Look, I’m not worried about the playoffs. I’m worried about playing against Texas A&M.’ And I think that needs to be a thought process and a mantra for more people.”
The pivotal early-season matchup leads off this week’s episode of Louisiana vs. All Y’all’s “The Sidelined Coach” with Hankton and Jerit Roser.
Following losses by each team this past week, the loser will drop its second game of both the season and conference play before the calendar even turns to October or the weather drops to a more autumnal feel.
The Tigers’ comeback in Oxford, Miss., came up short late to Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and company — including former Alexandria star and LSU signee J.T. Lindsey playing a big role late.
But the New Orleans Saints, behind another strong defensive effort and a clutch finish by Tyler Shough and the offense, managed to pull off their rally in Baltimore.
Hankton and Roser discuss the significance of that victory and this week’s home-opener against the Las Vegas Raiders for a New Orleans team that could set itself up well early in the NFC South race.
And the Catholic League, headlined by Edna Karr’s 21-14 defeat of Ruston, continues to look particularly impressive — even by its always-high standards — as district play kicks off this week.
Among the slate of 9-5A games on deck are two for which Hankton will be joining the broadcasts: Archbishop Rummel vs. Chalmette on Thursday, and St. Augustine vs. John Curtis on Saturday.
Enjoy a loaded discussion above and on the Louisiana vs. All Y’all channel on YouTube, and make sure to tune in each week for Hankton and Roser’s conversations on football around The Boot at the high school, college and professional levels.
This week’s key timeline:
- 0:00 — Introduction
- 1:24 — Oxford atmosphere
- 4:40 — Takeaways, concerns from LSU loss at Ole Miss
- 17:30 — J.T. Lindsey comes up huge for Rebels
- 19:45 — Do we know who a modern college team is in September?
- 22:00 — Texas A&M game looms pivotal for season outlook
- 25:30 — Challenges of containing Marcel Reed
- 31:55 — Saints comeback at Baltimore
- 36:05 — Saints home-opener vs. Las Vegas Raiders
- 38:30 — Edna Karr wins its 30th straight game
- 42:25 — Catholic League gauntlet kicks off