Despite the last second loss to USC, three key bright spot players shined through for the LSU Tigers in Week 1

LSU suffered a heartbreaking loss to the USC Trojans on Sunday night as they allowed the final touchdown with just eight seconds remaining on the clock. The game marked head coach Brian Kelly's third straight season in a row with a loss in the opener. But it wasn't all bad.

There were several LSU Tigers players who played hard, fought the entire game, and shined throughout the night. Let's dive into the top three who look like they might be the best candidates to save the LSU Tigers' season moving forward.

Garrett Nussmeier, Quarterback

Prior to his desperate interception on the last play of the game for LSU, Nussmeier had completed over 75% of his passes, averaged 9.3 adjusted yards per pass attempt, and looked like an otherworldly future NFL Draft pick for the majority of the game against USC. He was layering his throws beautifully, finding open receivers, and putting the ball where only his players could catch it even when there wasn't really any separation.

Garrett Nussmeier looked every bit the part of star quarterback ready to carry LSU to victory this season. He just couldn't carry the team by himself. The run game,--outside of one easy run up the middle for 39 yards from John Emery Jr.--was absolutely useless. With the exception of that one run, LSU running backs averaged just 3.1 yards per carry on the night. The Tigers need to give Nussmeier quite a bit more help than that moving forward.

Kyren Lacy, Wide Receiver

Kyren Lacy had been the talk of the offseason as a potential truly elite "WR1" for LSU and he delivered on opening night. Seven receptions. 94 yards. A beautiful high pointing, toe-tapping touchdown in the back left corner of the end zone. Lacy looked like a complete receiver, finding space at every level of the defense, completing contested catches, and showing great awareness to create something out of nothing for his quarterback when he could.

Lacy played 60 of LSU's 64 offensive snaps on the night, lining up all over the field for the Tigers. He's clearly playing in the versatile Malik Nabers role from last season's offense. Expect him to dominate the target share each and every week as one of the best wide receivers in the SEC from here on out.

Related: LSU WR Kyren Lacy makes statement against USC Trojans, shows he's the next great Tigers receiver

Ashton Stamps, Cornerback

Despite giving up a touchdown to Ja'Kobi Lane, Ashton Stamps played a phenomenal game for LSU, breaking up two passes and almost getting his fingers on another. The touchdown to Lane should have been called offensive pass interference as well given that you could clearly see the wide receiver stiff arm Stamps in the face right before the ball arrived. And even so Stamps just barely missed the pass deflection opportunity.

Speaking off pass deflections, his save of a touchdown earlier in the game in coverage against Kyron Hudson was a work of art. Even though Hudson tried throwing him aside with the ball in the air, Stamps managed to fight through stumbling to lunge and punch the ball out along the side line in the end zone.

Stamps flashed all off-season long as the real "CB1" for the Tigers and he lived up to the hype through Week 1 action. On top of showing elite cover skills, defending two passes, he also tallied five tackles, and only gave up three yards after the catch in total. Stamps should easily prove himself as a top tier cornerback in the SEC here soon.

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