Once again …
In his first very first back as the Tigers coordinator, former Nebraska and Youngstown State coach Bo Pelini has actually a scheme plan allowed Mississippi State to crank out 623 passing yards lawns Missouri to gain 586 yards backyards total overall. There is an aspect of the win that speaks to LSUs mediocrity, of course, but Missouri has a number of winnable video games ahead and can finish the year with four or 5 wins; that would make Drinkwitzs debut a success.
After narrow wins against TCU and Oklahoma, Iowa State was up 21-7 and in control at halftime. 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 three in a row in Big 12 play. LSU has actually officially bottomed out under Pelini, who helped LSU claim the nationwide champion while in the same position under Les Miles in 2007 however has actually had a hard time orchestrating 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 personnel scampering back to the drawing board in search of responses..
That LSU has actually lost to the Bulldogs and Tigers on the heels of last years nationwide championship leaves the Tigers season teetering on the edge even before coming across the meat of the conference-only schedule.
Missouri, which had six scoring drives of a minimum of 75 backyards, 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 harmful on offense and a catastrophe 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 currently appears lost. How much even worse can it get?
It most likely cant get anymore disastrous on defense. Again …
In his first season back as the Tigers coordinatorPlanner former Nebraska and Youngstown State coach Bo Pelini has actually a scheme that allowed Mississippi State to crank out 623 passing yards and Missouri to gain 586 yards backyards total offense. In his first career start, Missouri freshman quarterback Connor Bazelak completed 29 of 34 attempts for 406 backyards and 4 touchdowns.
Up next, LSU takes on Kyle Trask and the Florida offense, which is averaging more than 450 lawns and 40 points per video game.
Tuesday marks 9 months to the day of LSU beating Clemson to liquidate an unbeaten season. The offseason losses were serious, from quarterback Joe Burrow through both planners through a series of crucial contributors at receiver, the offending line and on each level of the defense.
That does not excuse how bad LSU has actually been through three games. The safeguarding nationwide champs are the most significant dissatisfaction in the Bowl Subdivision — and it may get even worse in the next 2 months.
Dan Wolkens observations: SEC defensive meltdowns headline 10 takeaways from Week 6 in college football.
SEC power rankings: How Southeastern Conference groups stack up after Week 6.
Top 10 efficiencies: The players who shined in Week 6.
Here are the rest of Saturdays winners and losers:.
WINNERS.
Missouri.
First-year coach Eli Drinkwitz pulls down his first win and potentially alters the course of Missouris season, which before Saturday appeared predestined to end near the bottom of the East department. Clearly, the Tigers have discovered a quarterback in Bazelak, who need to be the starter from this point. There is an element of the win that speaks to LSUs mediocrity, of course, but Missouri has several 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 restores faith in third-year coach Jimbo Fisher and breathes life back into the Aggies season. The nature of the win may tell you something about this group: A&M was down 28-17 and appeared in danger of seeing the Gators pull away before pulling even and then ahead with a basket as time expired. Senior quarterback Kellen Mond had one of the best games of his profession with 338 lawns and 3 touchdowns without an interception.
North Carolina.
When in rhythm, the Tar Heels are difficult to handle. Ahead 42-37 going into the 4th, UNC scored on succeeding drives to put the video game away and hand Virginia Tech its first loss.
Oklahoma.
Excellent news first: OU beat competing Texas 53-45 in 4 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 yards per play. Young quarterback Spencer Rattler maintained his poise as the game moved into several overtimes.
Iowa State.
The Cyclones have actually gotten better from a season-opening loss to Louisiana-Lafayette to take three straight in the Big 12, the latest a 31-15 win versus Texas Tech. After narrow wins against TCU and Oklahoma, Iowa State was up 21-7 and in control at halftime. Given the uncertainty throughout the Big 12, the Cyclones have actually to be seen 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. Georgia pulverized the Volunteers in the second half to win 44-21 and remain unbeaten heading into next weekends video game versus Alabama. Theres absolutely nothing especially pretty about the Bulldogs design of play, which leans more towards the SEC design of the early 2010s than the more wide-open method in style throughout the conference.
BULLDOGS ROLL ON: No. 3 Georgia manages No. 12 Tennessee.
Kansas State.
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. The 21-14 win against TCU came with senior quarterback Skylar Thompson sidelined.
Clemson.
The Tigers beat Miami 42-17 and talented the Hurricanes a touchdown to end the first half due to an odd option by Dabo Swinney: to attempt a 61-yard basket as time ended instead of permitting Trevor Lawrence to toss into completion zone. Miami obstructed the kick and ran it back to make it 21-10 at the half. That was it for the Hurricanes, who are clearly not in Clemsons class. Who is? The Tigers have room for improvement but look unbeatable in the ACC.
LOSERS.
Florida.
The loss to A&M chews up the Gators wiggle space but does not necessarily alter the course to the playoff: Florida still requires to beat Georgia, win the East and then declare the SEC champion to guarantee a location in the semifinals. Not that any group with these concerns on defense has a real shot at the national title. While the offense is humming behind quarterback Kyle Trask, the Gators have permitted at least 35 points twice through three video games.
Bo Pelini.
Hey, it might be worse. LSU has actually formally bottomed out under Pelini, who assisted LSU declare the championship game while in the very same position under Les Miles in 2007 but has struggled orchestrating an unit efficient in stopping Mississippi State and Missouri. That bodes inadequately for the efficiency of this defense against the very best groups in the SEC. After allowing 3,341 passing yards and 20 touchdowns in 15 video games last season, the Tigers have actually currently quit 1,142 yards and 10 ratings through the air.
Texas.
Texas has lost five of six against Oklahoma. UT is 4-6 in its last 10 versus the Big 12.
Mississippi State.
Remember 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 might lead the Crimson Tide offense are officially put to rest after he tossed for another 417 lawns with 2 goals and just four incompletions in a 63-48 win versus Ole Miss. Has the Ole Miss offense progressed under Lane Kiffin?
Pittsburgh.
The Panthers have actually gone from 3-0 to 3-2 after back-to-back one-point losses. After last weeks 30-29 loss to N.C. State, Pitt lost 31-30 in overtime to Boston College after missing out on an additional point. Life on the bandwagon was never going to be easy. With Miami and Notre Dame up next, these close losses may signal the start of the end for the Panthers hopes of an above-average season. Virginia Tech and Clemson are looming in November..
Follow USA TODAY Sports colleges reporter Paul Myerberg on Twitter @PaulMyerberg.
