Who did more to improve their defense in the offseason - LSU or USC?

On the Conquest Call-In Show at the USC Voice of College Football, a caller asked which defense has improved more in the offseason between USC and LSU. Both schools saw their defenses reach historic lows statistically in 2023 under Alex Grinch and Matt House respectively. Those two coordinators had absolutely no idea how to unlock the talent and potential of their players on the defensive side of the ball. There was confusion about the scheme and where to line up. Coaches were not playing the right players and putting them in position to succeed. USC and LSU were dogged by the same sets of problems with the same overall dynamics involved.

In the offseason USC hired D’Anton Lynn, the architect who took a UCLA defense that ranked among the worst in college football in 2022 and transformed the Bruins into a top 15 defense in the country in one year. LSU also found a replacement for House in Blake Baker, whose defense helped the Missouri Tigers to a top 10 national ranking in 2023, capped by a win over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.

Check out our response to the caller’s question. Our answer deals with the coaching and roster additions USC made in the offseason at the 23:48 mark of the show (link below is cued up to the discussion).

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