LSU vs Vanderbilt Week 13 Preview

Erik Trosclair • November 22, 2024

Let's get into it!

Date and Time: Saturday, November 23rd, 2024 6:45 PM


Location: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA


Spread: LSU -7.5


O/U: 53.5


TV: SEC Network


LSU and Vanderbilt will be playing for the 33rd time Saturday night. LSU leads the all time series 24-7-1. The 1st meeting between these schools took place in 1902, and Vanderbilt walked away with a 27-5 victory.


Vanderbilt, 6-4, 3-3, will be playing a 7th SEC game this season. The Commodore offense is 15th in the SEC in total yards per game (331.3), 14th in the SEC in passing yards per game (187.2), and 13th in the SEC in rushing yards per game (144.1). Vanderbilt is led by quarterback Diego Pavia. The former New Mexico State Aggie currently ranks 6th in the SEC in QBR, 9th in the SEC in passing yards (1843), and 6th in the SEC in passing TDs (15). Diego has the most rushing yards by a quarterback in the SEC this season (628) and 5 rushing TDs. The leader in the running back room is Sedrick Alexander. Alexander has 125 carries, 470 rushing yards, and 5 rushing TDs. The leading passing catchers for Vanderbilt are tight end Eli Stowers and wide receiver Junior Sherrill. Stowers has 42 receptions, 557 receiving yards, and 4 receiving TDs, and Sherrill has 21 receptions, 331 receiving yards, and 3 receiving TDs. The Vanderbilt defense ranks 12th in the SEC in total yards given up per game (349.1), 12th in the SEC in passing yards given up per game (227.1), and 8th in rushing yards given up per game (122.0). Linebackers Bryan Longwell and Randon Fontenette are the leaders on this defense. Longwell has 63 tackles on the season, and Fontenette has 53 tackles and 6 PBUs this season. The leader on the defensive line is Khordae Sydnor. Sydnor has 4 sacks on the season. The leader in the defensive back room is Martel Hight. Hight has 4 PBUs and 1 INT this season.


LSU, 6-4, 3-3, is heading into a 7th SEC contest. The Tiger offense comes into this game ranked 6th in the SEC in total yards per game (431.9), 2nd in the SEC in passing yards per game (316.3), and 16th (LAST) in the SEC in rushing yards per game (115.6). This offense goes as quarterback Garrett Nussmeier goes. Nuss ranks 5th in the SEC in QBR, 2nd in the SEC in passing yards (3126), 1st in the SEC in completions (262), and tied for 1st in the SEC in passing TDs (22). The Tigers continue to have a two running back approach with Caden Durham and Josh Williams. Durham has 101 carries, 551 rushing yards, 6 rushing TDs, 21 receptions, 219 receiving yards, and 2 receiving TDs on the season. Williams has 81 carries, 319 rushing yards, 3 rushing TDs, 20 receptions, and 172 receiving yards on the season. Both have made big plays this season for the Tigers. The leading pass catchers for LSU are wide receivers Kyren Lacy, Aaron Anderson, and tight end Mason Taylor. Lacy has 49 receptions, 740 receiving yards, and 7 receiving TDs this season. Anderson has 46 receptions, 713 receiving yards, and 5 receiving TDs this season. Taylor has 49 receptions, 478 receiving yards, and 2 receiving TDs. Lacy, Anderson, and Taylor all rank in the top 8 in the SEC in receptions this season. Lacy and Anderson rank in the top 7 in the SEC in receiving yards and in the top 8 in the SEC in receiving TDs. The Tiger defense comes into this game ranking 13th in the SEC in total yards given up per game (364.5), 10th in the SEC in passing yards given up per game (217.5), and 14th in the SEC in rushing yards given up per game (147.0). The leaders on this defense are linebackers Whit Weeks and Greg Penn III. Weeks is tied for the 3rd most tackles in the SEC this season (93), and GP3 has the 10th most tackles in the SEC this season (70). The leaders on the defensive line are Sai'vion Jones and Bradyn Swinson. Jones has 4.5 sacks this season. Swinson has the 4th most sacks in the SEC this season (8). The leaders in the defensive back room are Ashton Stamps and Zy Alexander. Alexander has 2 INTs this season. Stamps is tied for the 3rd most PBUs in the SEC (9).


KEYS TO THE GAME


- SELF PRIDE - If you are LSU, all you have left to play for is self pride, and nothing is wrong with that. Can you come out Saturday and play LSU football?

- GO DIEGO GO - LSU struggles with a mobile QB. Can they contain Diego Pavia in this one?

- DEATH VALLEY - Tiger Stadium will probably not be packed, but can this team and coaching staff give these fans a worthy performance? Give these fans something to cheer about Saturday night.


This game features 2 exciting returners: Zaivon Thomas leads the SEC in kickoff return yards (443), and Martel Hight leads the SEC in punt return yards (260).


Fun Fact: LSU Co-OC Cortez Hankton was the WR coach at Vanderbilt from 2015-2017. LSU QB AJ Swann played at Vanderbilt the past 2 seasons.


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Three football players in helmets on a field, one in red jersey gesturing toward another.

🌊Class of 2026 Player Spotlight🌊: Trace Johnson

By Patrick Harkness • July 11, 2026
QB 
Trace Johnson 
Trace Johnson is a pro-style pocket passer quarterback from the Class of 2026. Standing at 6-1 and weighing 190 pounds, he possesses a solid build for the position with room to add more mass at the college level. 
Originally from Gainesville, Florida, Johnson played his sophomore and junior seasons at Buchholz High School before transferring to Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, ahead of his senior year in 2025. 
The move allowed him to compete in one of California’s top high school programs, where he helped lead the team to an Open Division State Championship. Johnson comes from strong football lineage as the son of Doug Johnson, a former University of Florida quarterback (1996-1999) who went on to a seven-year NFL career with teams like the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars, amassing over 2,600 passing yards professionally. 
In addition to football, Johnson is a multi-sport athlete who also competes in baseball, showcasing his overall athleticism. Johnson committed to Tulane University on June 20, 2025, following an official visit, and signed his National Letter of Intent on December 3, 2025. He enrolled early at Tulane on January 12, 2026, positioning him to compete for playing time as a true freshman. 
Prior to his commitment, he held offers from programs including West Virginia, Wake Forest, Central Michigan, and Virginia, among others. 
Scouting Report: 
Arm Talent and Velocity: Johnson boasts a “cannon for an arm,” enabling him to make tight-window throws and deliver deep balls with precision and ease. His ability to thread the needle in coverage stands out as a pro-level trait. 
Touch and Deep Ball Accuracy: Exhibits excellent touch on longer throws, allowing receivers to track and adjust effectively. He gets the ball out on time, minimizing sacks and maximizing yards after catch. 
Progression Reading and Decision-Making: Patiently works through his reads without delaying his release, showing maturity beyond his years. His decision-making improved markedly over time, with interceptions dropping from 13 in 2023 to 5 in 2025. 
Clutch Performance and Improvement: Thrives in big games and playoffs, elevating his play when it matters most. He consistently got better as seasons progressed, adapting to new systems post-transfer. 
Poise and Leadership: Maintains composure under pressure, drawing from his pedigree to lead teams to championships and deep playoff runs. His work ethic and football IQ make him a natural field general. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X
Football player in red uniform running with the ball on a field during a game

🌊Transfer Portal Spotlight🌊: Zeon Chriss

By Patrick Harkness • July 11, 2026
QB Zeon Chriss- Houston 
Hall has explicitly said the offense will be “built around our quarterback” with tempo, a passing attack, pro-style elements (including heavy tight end usage), and more speed than recent Tulane teams. Crucially, he wants “at least one quarterback who can move around a little bit, a dual-threat guy.”  
Hall has called Chriss “an extreme dual-threat guy with a strong arm” and loves the contrast with the other main contender Semonza/Bruno/Johnson. He specifically praised Chriss’s explosiveness from his UL days: “When he was at Louisiana several years ago, I was in that league and he was just dynamic… Just dominated that league with his legs and was probably the scariest player in that league.” 
Chriss’s career stats: 2,263 passing yards (64% completion, 17 TDs) plus nearly 1,000 rushing yards and 10 rushing TDs across 13 starts. His mobility adds a true QB-run threat that aligns with Hall’s run-first success model (which he helped install as Tulane’s former OC under Willie Fritz). #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X
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