Again …
In his first season back as the Tigers coordinatorOrganizer former Nebraska and Youngstown State coach Bo Pelini has actually a scheme plan allowed Mississippi State to crank out 623 passing yards backyards Missouri to gain 586 yards lawns total overall. There is an element of the win that speaks to LSUs mediocrity, of course, however Missouri has several winnable video games ahead and can end up the year with 4 or five wins; that would make Drinkwitzs debut a success.
After narrow wins versus TCU and Oklahoma, Iowa State was up 21-7 and in control at halftime. Like Iowa State, the Wildcats have actually gone from the low point of losing to a Sun Belt group (Arkansas State) to the high of winning 3 in a row in Big 12 play. LSU has formally bottomed out under Pelini, who helped LSU claim the nationwide champion while in the same position under Les Miles in 2007 however has actually struggled managing an unit capable of stopping Mississippi State and Missouri.
Losing to Mississippi State and Missouri in a three-game span would send out any training staff scurrying back to the drawing board looking for answers..
That LSU has actually lost to the Bulldogs and Tigers on the heels of last years national champion leaves the Tigers season teetering on the edge even before coming across the meat of the conference-only schedule.
Missouri, which had 6 scoring drives of a minimum of 75 lawns, took a 45-41 lead with 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter and made a goal-line stand with seconds left to pull off the upset as roughly two-touchdown underdogs.
Less dangerous on offense and a disaster on defense, the 1-2 Tigers still face a killers row of SEC competitors: Florida next week, Auburn on Halloween, and Alabama and Texas A&M in November.
The season already seems lost. Just how much worse can it get?
It probably cant get anymore disastrous on defense. Again …
In his first season back as the Tigers coordinator, former Nebraska and Youngstown State coach Bo Pelini has actually a scheme that allowed Mississippi State to crank out 623 passing yards backyards Missouri to gain 586 yards lawns total overall. In his very first career start, Missouri freshman quarterback Connor Bazelak completed 29 of 34 efforts for 406 backyards and four goals.
Up next, LSU takes on Kyle Trask and the Florida offense, which is balancing more than 450 backyards and 40 points per video game.
Tuesday marks 9 months to the day of LSU beating Clemson to close out an unbeaten season. The offseason losses were extreme, from quarterback Joe Burrow through both coordinators through a series of essential contributors at receiver, the offending line and on each level of the defense.
That does not excuse how bad LSU has actually been through 3 games. The safeguarding nationwide champions are the biggest disappointment in the Bowl Subdivision — and it might become worse in the next 2 months.
Here are the rest of Saturdays losers and winners:.
WINNERS.
Missouri.
First-year coach Eli Drinkwitz takes down his very first win and potentially changes the course of Missouris season, which before Saturday seemed predestined to end near the bottom of the East division. Clearly, the Tigers have actually discovered a quarterback in Bazelak, who should be the starter from this point. There is an element of the win that talks to LSUs mediocrity, naturally, but Missouri has a number of winnable games ahead and can end up the year with 4 or five wins; that would make Drinkwitzs launching a success.
Texas A&M.
Coming one week after a humbling loss to Alabama, Texas A&Ms 41-38 win against Florida brings back faith in third-year coach Jimbo Fisher and breathes life back into the Aggies season. The nature of the win might inform you something about this group: A&M was down 28-17 and seemed in risk of seeing the Gators pull away before pulling even and after that ahead with a basket as time expired. Senior quarterback Kellen Mond had one of the best video games of his profession with 338 lawns and 3 goals without an interception.
North Carolina.
A total efficiency still eludes UNC, which controlled the very first half against Virginia Tech, permitted the Hokies to pull within a touchdown throughout a 23-point third quarter and after that reasserted control in the 4th to win 56-45. When in rhythm, the Tar Heels are hard to deal with. (The concerns arise throughout the other moments.) Ahead 42-37 going into the 4th, UNC scored on succeeding drives to put the video game away and hand Virginia Tech its very first loss.
Oklahoma.
Good news first: OU beat competing Texas 53-45 in four overtimes to win this years Red River Showdown and end a two-game losing streak. The maligned OU defense rebounded to hold the Longhorns to 4.9 backyards per play. Young quarterback Spencer Rattler maintained his grace as the game moved into several overtimes.
Iowa State.
The Cyclones have recovered from a season-opening loss to Louisiana-Lafayette to take 3 straight in the Big 12, the newest a 31-15 win against Texas Tech. After narrow wins versus TCU and Oklahoma, Iowa State was up 21-7 and in control at halftime. Given the unpredictability throughout the Big 12, the Cyclones have to be viewed as one of the conference co-favorites.
Georgia.
Tennessee went into halftime with momentum after a late stand near its objective line maintained a 21-17 lead. However Georgia pulverized the Volunteers in the second half to win 44-21 and stay unbeaten heading into next weekends game versus Alabama. Theres nothing particularly pretty about the Bulldogs design of play, which leans more toward the SEC design of the early 2010s than the more wide-open method in style throughout the conference. It works: Georgia steadily required Tennessee into mistakes while dominating the line of scrimmage. Is this style sufficient to beat the Crimson Tide? Were going to discover.
BULLDOGS ROLL ON: No. 3 Georgia deals with No. 12 Tennessee.
Kansas State.
Like Iowa State, the Wildcats have gone from the low point of losing to a Sun Belt team (Arkansas State) to the high of winning 3 in a row in Big 12 play. The 21-14 win versus TCU featured senior quarterback Skylar Thompson sidelined. His replacement, freshman Will Oliver, led the Wildcats with 86 rushing lawns. Instead of Texas and OU, the Big 12 might boil down to the outcome of Kansas State and Iowa State on Nov. 21..
Clemson.
The Tigers beat Miami 42-17 and talented the Hurricanes a goal to end the very first half due to an odd option by Dabo Swinney: to try a 61-yard basket as time ended rather of allowing Trevor Lawrence to throw into the end zone. Miami blocked the kick and ran it back to make it 21-10 at the half. That was it for the Hurricanes, who are plainly not in Clemsons class. However who is? The Tigers have room for improvement however look unsurpassable in the ACC.
LOSERS.
Florida.
The loss to A&M chews up the Gators wiggle space however doesnt necessarily change the path to the playoff: Florida still requires to beat Georgia, win the East and then claim the SEC championship to make sure a location in the semifinals. Not that any group with these issues on defense has a real shot at the nationwide title. While the offense is humming behind quarterback Kyle Trask, the Gators have allowed at least 35 points twice through three video games.
Bo Pelini.
Hey, it might be even worse. LSU has actually formally bottomed out under Pelini, who assisted LSU declare the championship game while in the exact same position under Les Miles in 2007 but has had a hard time orchestrating an unit efficient in stopping Mississippi State and Missouri. That bodes poorly for the efficiency of this defense against the best teams in the SEC. After permitting 3,341 passing yards and 20 goals in 15 games last season, the Tigers have already quit 1,142 lawns and 10 ratings through the air.
Texas.
Texas has actually lost 5 of six versus Oklahoma. The Longhorns have actually enabled at least 33 points in each of their three video games versus Big 12 competitors. UT is 4-6 in its last 10 against the Big 12. Fourth-year coach Tom Herman is up to 27-17 overall and 18-12 in conference play. Its not a lovely photo.
Mississippi State.
Keep In Mind when Mississippi State was set to take college football by storm after beating LSU in its opener? The Wildcats held the Bulldogs to 275 passing yards on 70 attempts and made 6 interceptions to win 24-2.
Alabamas defense.
Any questions about whether Mac Jones could lead the Crimson Tide offense are formally put to rest after he tossed for another 417 backyards with 2 goals and just 4 incompletions in a 63-48 win versus Ole Miss. There are renewed concerns over the Alabama defense, which permitted the Rebels to acquire 278 yards on the ground and 658 lawns in general.
Pittsburgh.
After last weeks 30-29 loss to N.C. State, Pitt lost 31-30 in overtime to Boston College after missing out on an extra point. With Miami and Notre Dame up next, these close losses may signal the beginning of the end for the Panthers hopes of an above-average season.
Follow USA TODAY Sports colleges reporter Paul Myerberg on Twitter @PaulMyerberg.
