2024 LSU Week 1 Preview

Erik Trosclair • August 31, 2024

Let's get into it!

When: Sunday September 1st, 2024 6:30 CST

Where: Allegiant Stadium Las Vegas, NV

Channel: ABC

Spread: LSU -4

O/U: 64


The 2024 LSU Football season kicks off Sunday against the USC Trojans in Las Vegas. The college football world will be watching this contest. This is only the 3rd time these two teams have squared off; in 1979 the Trojans were victorious, and in 1984 the Tigers were victorious.


Fast forward 40 years later, and you have two teams who have so many similarities. Both have third year head coaches, both have new defensive coordinators, both have lost Heisman winning quarterbacks, and both have first year starting quarterbacks.


USC Trojans


USC's Miller Moss is entering his first season as the starting quarterback for the Trojans. Miller Moss had an impressive bowl game performance this past season where he connected with 10 different receivers. The Trojans landed transfer running back Woody Marks who is a passing catching specialist out of the backfield. Any Lincoln Riley offense will be high powered. Tight end Lake McRee will be a threat over the middle of the field for this offense. Wide receiver Zachariah Branch is an explosive playmaker who has to be accounted for at all times. Branch is a real threat in the kick and punt return game as well. The offensive line is anchored down by center Jonah Monheim and guard Emmanuel Pregnon. On the defensive side of the ball, USC has a new coordinator, D'Anton Lynn. Lynn comes over from UCLA. The UCLA defense made great strides under Lynn. The defensive line is led by tackles Bear Alexander and Elijah Hughes and edge rusher Jamil Muhammad. The Trojans have a new kicker this season in Michael Lantz, who showed a lot of promise at Georgia Southern.


LSU Tigers


LSU officially is entering the Garrett Nussmeier era. The first year signal caller is protected by one of the top offensive lines in the nation. The offensive line is led by bookend tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones Jr., both of whom may go in the top 10 of next year's NFL draft. LSU has not had a first round offensive lineman since Alan Faneca in 1998. LSU has a three headed monster at running back led by 6th year senior Josh Williams, who was recently awarded number 18. John Emery Jr. provides change of pace ability out of the backfield. Kaleb Jackson can do it all, he can run through you or run by you. Mason Taylor is the leader in the tight end room for the Tigers, and he will be relied upon quite a bit in this offense. Behind him are playmakers and true red zone threats in Ka'Morreun Pimpton and Trey'Dez Green. On the outside, the Tigers are led by Kyren Lacy, CJ Daniels, and Chris Hilton Jr. Hilton Jr. appears to be a little banged up, so Kyle Parker is the next man up in the receiver room. On the defensive side of the football, the Tigers have a new coordinator in Blake Baker. It is said he and defensive line coach Bo Davis have brought a different energy to the defensive side of the football.


Keys to the Game


- Both return specialists for these teams, Zachariah Branch and Zavion Thomas, have the ability to flip a field in a hurry. These punters and coverage unit have to be on their A game because this could truly be a game changer. LSU's punter rotation will be something to watch here.


- Who can win in the trenches? LSU's offensive line is massive, but USC's defensive line is full of playmakers. On the other side, LSU's defensive line has a ton of depth, while the USC offensive line has two studs at center and left guard. Can these defensive line produce pressure?


- Who can create a turnover? Both defensive coordinators thrive on confusing the quarterback with different looks. Who can force the opposing quarterback to make a mistake? If either of these teams are able to steal a possession or get a big stop, that can be what wins you the game.



This will be an interesting game to watch.  I would take the over in this one. Like T.O. and Ochocinco once said, "Getcha popcorn ready!"


Thank you for checking out my article.


Follow me on X (the artist formerly known as Twitter) @eazytro

A quick share helps us a lot!

This Facebook widget is no longer supported.

Why Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton RoyalWhy Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton Royal

By Auston Taylor • July 8, 2026
 LSU has made it clear that five-star wide receiver Easton Royal remains one of its top priorities in the 2027 recruiting class. Although Royal is currently committed to Texas, LSU has continued to recruit him aggressively. Based on recent recruiting events and public reporting, one factor that could strengthen the Tigers' position is the presence of quarterback commit Peyton "Pop" Houston. While no outcome is guaranteed in recruiting, Houston's relationship with Royal has become one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding LSU's 2027 class. According to recruiting coverage from The Opening and reports from And The Valley Shook, Houston and Royal showcased noticeable chemistry while competing together on the national stage. Houston also drew attention by winning the event's longest throw competition with a reported 67-yard throw, further reinforcing why many evaluators consider him one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2027 class. In my view, Houston has the potential to become much more than another highly rated offensive commitment. Elite quarterbacks often become magnets for other top recruits, and early signs suggest Houston could have that kind of influence on LSU's 2027 recruiting class. Why Houston Matters in Royal's Recruitment Quarterback and wide receiver relationships have become one of the most influential factors in modern recruiting. Elite receivers aren't simply choosing a school—they're choosing an offense, a coaching staff, and perhaps most importantly, the quarterback who will help maximize their abilities. If Royal ultimately views Houston as LSU's quarterback of the future, it gives the Tigers another compelling selling point. Rather than asking Royal to imagine what the offense could become, LSU can point to chemistry that has already been displayed during national recruiting events. That doesn't guarantee a commitment flip, but it does provide LSU with something tangible that few recruiting pitches can offer: an established connection between two elite prospects. LSU's History Shows Why This Matters LSU's greatest offensive seasons have consistently featured elite quarterbacks throwing to elite receivers. During the Tigers' historic 2019 National Championship season, Joe Burrow captured the Heisman Trophy while throwing to arguably the greatest receiving corps in college football history—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. That offense rewrote NCAA record books and remains the standard for modern college football offenses. A few years later, history repeated itself. Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy while benefiting from one of the nation's most explosive receiving duos in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Daniels' remarkable development was certainly his own, but LSU's elite receiving talent allowed the offense to reach another level. The lesson is clear: great quarterbacks elevate receivers, but elite receivers also help quarterbacks reach championship-level production. That history gives LSU a compelling message for recruits considering Baton Rouge. Peyton "Pop" Houston's Development Houston's rise as one of Louisiana's premier quarterback prospects is backed by more than recruiting rankings. Evaluators consistently praise his arm strength, touch, ability to extend plays outside the pocket, and willingness to attack defenses vertically. His continued development at Evangel Christian Academy has made him one of the foundation pieces of LSU's 2027 recruiting class. The Bigger Picture If LSU eventually pairs Peyton Houston with Easton Royal, it would represent much more than another recruiting victory. It would signal that LSU landed a quarterback capable of attracting elite talent around him while adding a receiver willing to build alongside that vision. Programs that consistently compete for championships often see recruiting momentum build this way. Elite quarterbacks attract receivers. Elite receivers attract additional offensive talent. Once that cycle begins, recruiting classes can quickly become special. None of this guarantees that Easton Royal will flip his commitment. Texas remains in a strong position, and recruiting decisions can change for countless reasons. However, Houston's emergence gives LSU something every elite program hopes to have: a quarterback capable of becoming the centerpiece of an entire recruiting class. LSU has already witnessed what happens when championship-caliber quarterbacks are paired with elite receivers. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. If Peyton "Pop" Houston eventually helps bring Easton Royal to Baton Rouge, it could become one of the defining recruiting stories of LSU's 2027 class—and perhaps the first step toward building another explosive Tiger offense.

Tight End Room Outlook: Revamped and Ready To Roll

By Kaden Arkeder • July 4, 2026
The tight end room has some fresh blood and they look poised to be more impactful heading into next season. With the new arrivals of Noah Fant and third round draft pick Oscar Delp the offense will have the ability to play more in multiple tight end sets to create mismatches for the defense. Multiple tight end sets should allow the Saints to improve the run game and conversely the play action game. Playing in tight end heavy sets was something they were unable to do more of last year due to injuries and lack of talent at the tight end position. Mainstay and the only returning starting caliber player is Juwan Johnson. Johnson had a good year last year as one of the few reliable targets in the passing game aside from Chris Olave. Johnson is looking to build on a solid year where he had 77 receptions for 889 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. He was a security blanket when Rattler was starting and had quite a few big plays when Shough took over as the starting quarterback. With Shough coming into the season as the presumed starter I expect their connection to be even better next season. Someone hoping to have a better connection with a new QB is Noah Fant. Fant was a first round pick back in 2019 with the Broncos but has never quite lived up to his draft status. Fant will be playing on his third team in three years as he seeks to be a quality rotational piece in the offense and find stability for his career here in New Orleans. Fant should be utilized more in the passing game than in the running game but should be able to hold his own when called upon to do his part on run downs. Fant has been on a statistical decline since his time with Denver as his best receiving season came in at 68/670/4 back in 2021. Although his stats have been declining Fant still has plenty to offer with his athleticism and should produce more given a better opportunity. After Fant in the depth chart should be Oscar Delp who could be the x-factor of the tight end room after being selected in the third round of the draft this year. Delp brings a versatile option to the offense as he can lineup in various spots and handle the rigors of blocking in the run game. Delp’s calling card in college was his elite athleticism which jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He has the ability to turn a five yard catch into an explosive play with how quickly he can get to top speed. Delp is an adequate, willing blocker where like most new tight ends in the league has room to improve in the blocking area of his game. With his versatility and athleticism I believe Delp will play a pivotal role in the offense this upcoming season. With Delp presumed to round out the depth chart at tight end the remaining tight ends will be competing for spots on the practice squad or spots on another team. This group includes Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Moliki Matavao, and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. We’ve seen Welch and Matavao from last season fill in admirably after some injuries but are best served as bench options at this point in time in their development. This group of roster hopefuls should hopefully provide some good competition from one another as we progress through training camp and preseason here shortly. Overall this group has a lot more promise heading into this season as it did last year. By getting younger and more athletic the tight ends will play a more prominent role in Kellen Moore’s offense. Whether it’s Juwan building on last season or Fant having a bounce back year or Delp proving to be revelation, the team is going to have plenty of options to choose from to attack the defense. Exactly what this team needed after not having enough last season.
Show More