Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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GAME PREVIEW: LSU Senior quarterback Everett Golson added 277 yards and eight scores on the ground, though he also lost eight fumbles. LSU finished the season 38th in the nation in rush defense, surrendering an average of 143.5 yards per game. Strong rushing attacks — such as Wisconsin (268 yards) and Mississippi State (302) — found success against the Tigers, but lesser foes struggled mightily. LSU finished the season by holding Arkan‑ sas to 95 rushing yards and Texas A&M to 84. The Tigers lost both their starting defensive tack‑ les to the NFL, but did return five of their top eight defensive linemen this season, as well as an expe‑ rienced linebacker corps that is led by junior Kwon Alexander's 79 tackles (7.5 for loss) and sophomore Kendall Beckwith's 68 stops (6.5 for loss). Advantage: Even NOTRE DAME PASSING GAME VS. LSU PASS DEFENSE Golson started all 12 games this season, but did not finish the contest against USC. He threw for 3,355 yards on 60.1‑percent passing, finding receiv‑ ers for 29 scores. Golson also threw 14 interceptions in the season's final nine games, repeatedly putting Notre Dame behind the proverbial eight ball. Once the Irish were already in a 35‑0 hole against the Trojans, sophomore Malik Zaire began taking snaps and completed 9 of 20 passes for 170 yards while also running for a touchdown. Sophomore wide receiver Will Fuller stands one touchdown catch shy of tying the Notre Dame re‑ cord of 15 scoring receptions in a season, held by the notable trio of Jeff Samardzija, Rhema McKnight and Golden Tate. Fuller's 71 catches went for 1,037 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Corey Robinson added 40 catches for 539 yards and five touchdowns, helping the Irish sport the nation's 16th most‑potent passing attack. LSU boasts the nation's top pass efficiency defense (98.7 rating), while giving up only 162.3 passing yards per game. Nine opponents failed to gain 200 yards through the air against the Tigers, including the last two and six of the last seven. Nine times LSU intercepted opposing quarterbacks, including a climatic game‑winning pick by senior safety Ronald Martin against then‑No. 3 Ole Miss Oct. 25. Advantage: LSU SPECIAL TEAMS LSU lost dangerous kick returner Odell Beckham Jr. from last season, and struggled to replace him with Fournette. The Tigers averaged 23.9 yards per kick return, and led by sophomore Tre'Davious White they averaged 10.8 yards per punt return. Sopho‑ more Colby Delahoussaye successfully converted 11 of 15 field goal attempts. Notre Dame's kick and punt return struggles per‑ sisted this season, despite flashes from Riggs on punts and Bryant on kicks. Senior kicker/punter Kyle Brindza struggled to recover from holder difficulties late in the season, contributing to him converting only 13 of 23 field goals. Advantage: Even COACHING In his 10th season at LSU, Les Miles has maintained the success in Baton Rouge begun by Nick Saban. Boasting one national championship and another title game appearance, Miles has reached a level of success few coaches in the country have — Brian Kelly included. Kelly has been a rumored candidate for multiple coaching vacancies this season, but Notre Dame's current four‑game losing streak likely eliminates him from any serious consideration. Advantage: LSU INTANGIBLES This season did not go the way either name‑brand program intended. Even into October, both clung to national title aspirations. LSU's fall has not been as staunch as Notre Dame's, but both will need to find motivation from within in the Music City Bowl. Advantage: Even