5 takeaways from LSU football's season-opening loss to USC

Another kickoff, another letdown for LSU. For the fifth straight year, LSU dropped its season opener. All five losses came at the hands of power conference opponents, all in games where LSU was favored.

This time, it was USC’s turn to deliver the season-opening blow to LSU. Lincoln Riley’s offense marched down the field in the final minute to break a 20-20 tie with a Woody Marks touchdown. LSU got the ball back with eight seconds left, but a Garrett Nussmeier interception sealed a 27-20 win for USC.

LSU had several chances to take control of this game in the second half, but USC stuck around and eventually made the plays in the fourth quarter. The Tigers lacked the signature explosive plays that made the 2023 offense the best unit in the country and Jayden Daniels’ legs were sorely missed.

Brian Kelly entered his third year at LSU with high hopes. With the playoff expanding to 12, postseason hopes aren’t completely dashed, but LSU’s margin for error is slim the rest of the way.

Nussmeier finished with 304 yards and two touchdowns while John Emery led LSU on the ground with 10 carries for 64 yards.

Here are five takeaways from LSU’s loss to USC.

Garrett Nussmeier meets expectations

It’s hard to put this loss on Nussmeier. The redshirt junior was impressive, completing 29 of 38 passes for 304 yards and two scores. Nussmeier looked like a veteran, checking calls at the line of scrimmage and taking what the USC defense gave him.

Nussmeier protected the football and did a fine job taking calculated risks. Kyren Lacy and Mason Taylor got the bulk of the targets, but Nussmeier spread it around and threw at 11 different Tigers.

USC did a good job disguising its pressures, which caused trouble for LSU at times, but Nussmeier handled it and got the ball out. He made throws within the pocket and delivered some balls on the run too.

Despite the loss, LSU should feel good about its passing attack.

LSU struggles to establish the run

Without Daniels, there were questions about how LSU would generate explosive plays on the ground. The Tigers struggled to accomplish that on Sunday night.

There were flashes, but the rushing attack was inconsistent. Josh Williams and Kaleb Jackson, the two backs expected to lead LSU’s RB room, averaged 3.4 yards per carry. Nussmeier was a nonfactor on the ground.

John Emery Jr. injected life in the second half and finished with 10 carries for 61 yards, but that was about the only positive takeaway in this department.

It’s possible this was just a bad night, but LSU is supposed to have the best offensive line in the country. That should be reevaluated moving forward.

Secondary remains an issue

LSU was plagued by a young and injury-riddled secondary last year. Sunday night wasn’t quite as bad as 2023, but it wasn’t good.

Ashton Stamps and PJ Woodland had a few highlight plays at cornerback, but USC continued to take advantage of one-on-one matchups on the outside.

The nail in the coffin came when Miller Moss found Kyron Hudson on the final drive. LSU corner Sage Ryan failed to redirect Hudson and Moss found a window.

Earlier in the half, Moss found Ja’Kobi Lane one-on-one with Stamps for a score.

LSU will face more talented receivers when it gets into conference play. Right now, that looks like trouble.

LSU struggles to find explosive plays

LSU was the most explosive offense in the country last year, but the big plays didn’t come at the same clip on Sunday night.

We knew LSU would regress some here after the gaudy numbers put up in 2023, but according to GameOnPaper, LSU had just one explosive play on the ground.

LSU created four big plays through the air, but it missed the 50-yard bomb we’d see from Daniels and Malik Nabers last year.

Without the big plays, pressure was put on LSU to sustain drives. That was tough without a consistent run game.

Another season-opening loss

LSU fans are probably getting tired of starting 0-1. The last time LSU won a season opener, Joe Burrow was throwing passes.

Again, LSU’s season isn’t over with the playoff expanding, but LSU will have to overperform against a tough SEC schedule if it has postseason hopes.

The schedule is favorable, relative to what other SEC teams face, but it’s by no means easy.

LSU has a lot to fix if Kelly hopes to avoid falling short of expectations again.

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