Losing to Mississippi State and Missouri in a three-game span would send out any coaching staff scampering back to the drawing board searching for responses..
That LSU has actually lost to the Bulldogs and Tigers on the heels of in 2015s championship game leaves the Tigers season teetering on the verge even before encountering 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 five minutes left in the fourth quarter and made a goal-line stand with seconds left to pull off the upset as approximately two-touchdown underdogs.
Less unsafe on offense and a catastrophe on defense, the 1-2 Tigers still face a killers row of SEC competition: Florida next week, Auburn on Halloween, and Alabama and Texas A&M in November.
The season currently seems lost. How much worse can it get?
It probably cant get any more catastrophic on defense. 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 backyards Missouri to gain 586 yards backyards total overall. In his very first profession start, Missouri freshman quarterback Connor Bazelak completed 29 of 34 attempts for 406 backyards and 4 goals.
Up next, LSU takes on Kyle Trask and the Florida offense, which is balancing more than 450 lawns 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 severe, from quarterback Joe Burrow through both planners through a series of key contributors at receiver, the offensive line and on each level of the defense.
That doesnt excuse how bad LSU has been through three games. The defending nationwide champions are the greatest frustration in the Bowl Subdivision — and it may become worse in the next 2 months.
Dan Wolkens observations: SEC defensive disasters headline 10 takeaways from Week 6 in college football.
SEC power rankings: How Southeastern Conference groups accumulate after Week 6.
Leading 10 performances: The players who shined in Week 6.
Here are the rest of Saturdays losers and winners:.
WINNERS.
Missouri.
First-year coach Eli Drinkwitz pulls down his very first win and possibly modifies the course of Missouris season, which before Saturday appeared predestined to end near the bottom of the East division. Plainly, the Tigers have discovered a quarterback in Bazelak, who ought to be the starter from this point. There is an element of the win that talks to LSUs mediocrity, naturally, however Missouri has numerous winnable games ahead and can finish the year with four 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 inform you something about this group: A&M was down 28-17 and seemed in danger of seeing the Gators pull away before pulling even and then ahead with a field objective as time expired. Senior quarterback Kellen Mond had among the finest games of his profession with 338 backyards and 3 touchdowns without an interception.
North Carolina.
When in rhythm, the Tar Heels are tough to manage. Ahead 42-37 entering the fourth, UNC scored on successive drives to put the video game away and hand Virginia Tech its 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 yards per play. Young quarterback Spencer Rattler kept his poise as the video game moved into multiple overtimes. And the bad news? OU mustve put this video game away in regulation however spent a 14-point lead in the last minutes. In general, its a win OU needed to have but not one that stimulates confidence in the Sooners chances at charging back into the Top 25..
Iowa State.
The Cyclones have actually bounced back from a season-opening loss to Louisiana-Lafayette to take 3 straight in the Big 12, the most recent 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. Offered the uncertainty throughout the Big 12, the Cyclones need to be seen as among the conference co-favorites.
Georgia.
Tennessee went into halftime with momentum after a late stand near its goal line maintained a 21-17 lead. Georgia crushed the Volunteers in the second half to win 44-21 and stay unbeaten heading into next weekends video game against Alabama. Theres absolutely nothing especially quite about the Bulldogs style of play, which leans more toward the SEC design of the early 2010s than the more wide-open approach in vogue throughout the conference.
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 group (Arkansas State) to the high of winning three 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 yards. Instead of Texas and OU, the Big 12 may come down to the outcome of Kansas State and Iowa State on Nov. 21..
Clemson.
The Tigers beat Miami 42-17 and gifted the Hurricanes a goal to end the first half due to an odd option by Dabo Swinney: to attempt a 61-yard field objective as time ended instead of enabling Trevor Lawrence to throw into the end zone. Miami obstructed the kick and ran it back to make it 21-10 at the half.
LOSERS.
Florida.
The loss to A&M chews up the Gators wiggle room but doesnt always alter the course to the playoff: Florida still needs to beat Georgia, win the East and after that claim the SEC champion to make sure a location in the semifinals. Not that any team with these concerns on defense has a real chance at the nationwide title. While the offense is humming behind quarterback Kyle Trask, the Gators have actually enabled at least 35 points twice through 3 games.
Bo Pelini.
LSU has formally bottomed out under Pelini, who assisted LSU declare the national championship while in the exact same position under Les Miles in 2007 but has actually struggled orchestrating a system capable of stopping Mississippi State and Missouri. After permitting 3,341 passing backyards and 20 goals in 15 games last season, the Tigers have actually currently given up 1,142 yards and 10 scores through the air.
Texas.
Texas has actually lost 5 of six against Oklahoma. UT is 4-6 in its last 10 against the Big 12.
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 lawns on 70 attempts and made six 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 threw for another 417 lawns with 2 goals and simply four incompletions in a 63-48 win against Ole Miss. Has the Ole Miss offense blossomed 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 an additional point. Life on the bandwagon was never ever going to be easy. With Miami and Notre Dame up next, these close losses might signify the beginning of completion 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.
Again …
In his first very first back as the Tigers coordinatorPlanner former Nebraska and Youngstown State coach Bo Pelini has crafted a scheme that 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 a number of winnable games ahead and can complete the year with 4 or five 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 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 struggled orchestrating a system capable of stopping Mississippi State and Missouri.
