LSU Tigers

Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd discusses the Tigers' thrilling 25-24 win over LSU in the 2012 Chick-fil-A Bowl.

ATLANTA -- In the battle for Death Valley and Tigers supremacy, No. 14 Clemson upset No. 8 LSU 25-24 on a last-second, 37-yard field goal by Chandler Catanzaro.

It was over when: Catanzaro nailed the 37-yard kick to cap a masterful 10-play, 60-yard drive by Clemson.

Game ball goes to: Clemson wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was unstoppable all night. Even with partner in crime Sammy Watkins out for basically the entire game with an ankle injury, he caught a game-high 13 passes for a game-high 190 yards and two touchdowns. His last touchdown cut LSU's late fourth-quarter lead to two points.

Stat of the game: Hopkins finished the night with the school record for single-season receiving yards (1,404).

Stat of game II: LSU linebacker Kevin Minter finished the game with 19 tackles, including 1.5 for loss and a sack.

Stat of the game III: Clemson registered a season-high eight sacks against LSU.

Unsung heroes of the game: You can't really say that Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd was an unsung hero, but he deserves some love after he threw for 346 yards and two touchdowns on 36-of-50 passing. He also ran the ball a game-high 29 times for a net gain of 22 yards and a touchdown. Defensive end Malliciah Goodman finished the game with three sacks, including a major one with LSU leading 24-16 with more than nine minutes left and driving in Clemson territory. The sack knocked LSU out of Clemson's side of the field.

What it means for Clemson: After a disappointing finish to the regular season, Clemson took down one of the SEC's best teams, as its offense put together spectacular back-to-back scoring drives, gutting LSU's defense along the way. It was also the first bowl win for Clemson since beating Kentucky 21-13 in the 2009 Music City Bowl.

What it means for LSU: The Tigers' defense totally collapsed on Clemson's final two drives of the game, allowing scoring drives of 77 and 60 yards. After controlling the game for most of the second half, the defense fell apart. Now, the Tigers will probably say goodbye to a good chunk of that defense, as a handful of underclassmen are expected to declare early for the NFL draft.

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Leading up to the Chick-fil-A Bowl, we'll take a daily look at a key LSU player. We'll examine how he has done and what his challenges are for the Clemson game.

Craig Loston, S, Junior

Accomplishments: Loston's biggest accomplishment this year is that he's stayed relatively healthy, something he hadn't been able to do in his first three years in Baton Rouge. Starting at strong safety, he finished the regular season with 48 tackles, fifth on the team, and was second on the team with three interceptions. He had a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown against Mississippi State. As a run stopper, Loston brings a linebacker-like physicality.

Shortcomings: One might note that Loston has been "relatively" healthy this season, but hardly the picture of health. He's missed one game with injury and has been hobbled by others, continuing what has been a litany of health issues throughout his career. When a recurring toe injury bothers him, he can be a step slow in the secondary, although at full speed he's plenty fast enough.

Against Clemson: If Clemson tries to find a coverage weakness, they may test Loston and his mobility. If he's healthy after a month off, that could be a challenge he's up for. The way Clemson plays offense with Tajh Boyd spreading the field, Loston's going to have to step up his game, especially with Boyd's mobility making it difficult for the Tigers' pass rush.

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Leading up to the Chick-fil-A Bowl, we'll take a daily look at a key LSU player. We'll examine how he has done and what his challenges are for the Clemson game.

Sam Montgomery, DE, Junior

Accomplishments: Part of one of the most-feared pass rushes in college football, Montomery led LSU in sacks with seven. This came after a sophomore season in which he was an All-American with nine sacks. A character on and off the field, Montgomery gets crowds going with his sack celebrations and is a fun quote in the locker room. He'll likely take that act to the NFL after this season, considering he's generally projected to go somewhere in the middle of the first round of the draft.

Shortcomings: For all the hype surrounding Sonic Sam and LSU's defensive line in general, Montgomery actually saw his production go down during his junior season. He didn't always collapse pockets. Many of his sacks were of the second-effort variety and he sometimes gets out of position in the running game. Combined with Barkevious Mingo, he was supposed to be part of one of the top defensive end tandems in college football. But they combined for only 11 sacks, a figure many thought both would approach individually.

Against Clemson: Montgomery and the Tigers defensive line will have to step up against Clemson's high-powered passing game. If Tajh Boyd is able to sit back in the pocket, he'll likely be able to pick LSU's secondary apart; if they can pressure him, however, Boyd tends to rattle easily and could struggle. Montgomery is going to need to have a big game in what will likely be his last college football game.

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Leading up to the Chick-fil-A Bowl, we'll take a daily look at a key LSU player. We'll examine how he has done and what his challenges are for the Clemson game.

Barkevious Mingo, DE, Junior

Accomplishments: One of the most feared pass rushers in the SEC, Mingo has done well despite smallish size for a major college defensive end. He still consistently brought pressure up the field grabbing a team-high 12 quarterback hurries. He also had 33 tackles and finished the year in position to be a top-10 NFL draft pick if he chooses to leave school after the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Shortcomings: Despite the reputation, Mingo's production was a bit disappointing. He had just four sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. He applied pressure, as his quarterback hurries suggest, but often he would just miss a bit play. He's small for an end and part of the reason his draft stock remains high is many believe he'll be much better as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense, rather than his current role as an end in a 4-3.

Against Clemson: Mingo's ability to put pressure on Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd will be a key for LSU’s defensive approach. Mingo and the LSU defensive front can't allow Boyd to get good looks down the field, otherwise the ACC Player of the Year might pick the young Tigers' secondary apart. In what could be his last game, Mingo's going to have to bring it.

 

 

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Leading up to the Chick-fil-A Bowl, we'll take a daily look at a key LSU player and examine how he has done and what his challenges are for the Clemson game.

Jeremy Hill, RB, Freshman

Accomplishments: For the season's first six games, Hill was a talented back of the future, not playing in the first two games, then playing sparingly in the next four. That changed in Week 7 when Hill rushed for 124 yards and two touchdowns in a win over South Carolina. He never looked back. The USC breakout started a string of three straight 100-yard rushing games. By season's end, he led LSU with 631 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 130 carries.

Shortcomings: With his mix of fullback size (6-foot-2 and a listed weight of 225 pounds that seems like a low estimate), deceptive speed and football instincts, it's hard to think of many shortcomings that won't get dealt with as he gets more experienced. One area where Hill did not because LSU's primary running back option was on passing downs where Spencer Ware was the Tigers' best pass blocker and best receiver coming out of the backfield.

Against Clemson: LSU will likely play some ball control to keep Clemson's high-powered offense off the field, and that's where Hill can make an impact on the game. If the Tigers can build a lead going into the fourth quarter, look for a steady diet of the powerful Hill, along with Ware and Kenny Hilliard, to try to wear down the Clemson defense and minimize the time Tajh Boyd might have to work his passing magic.

The bowl season is getting closer and closer, and as we all prepare for what truly is the most wonderful time of year, it's time to rank the nine bowl games that involve SEC teams.

This month, ESPN colleague Mark Schlabach took the time to rank all 35 bowl games. We only have nine to discuss here, but some are very intriguing matchups.

Here's how the SEC's slate of bowls ranks from top to bottom:

1. Discover BCS National Championship: No. 1 Notre Dame vs. No. 2 Alabama (Jan. 7: ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET, Sun Life Stadium, Miami) -- Two quintessential blue-collar football teams will smash into each other for the national championship. This game also features two of the most respected/hated football programs of all-time. People from all over will be disgusted with themselves for having to root for either squad in a game where some big hits and bruises will be given out.

2. AT&T Cotton Bowl: No. 9 Texas A&M vs. No. 11 Oklahoma (Jan. 4: Fox, 8 p.m. ET, Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas) -- The scoreboard inside Jerry's World better have brand new bulbs, because there are going to be a lot of points in this one. The Aggies will be without offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who accepted the head-coaching job at Texas Tech, but Heisman winner Johnny Manziel and his group of playmakers will be ready -- and rested. Both teams are averaging more than 500 yards and 40 points a game.

3. Chick-fil-A Bowl: No. 8 LSU vs. No. 14 Clemson (Dec. 31: ESPN, 7:30 p.m. ET, Georgia Dome, Atlanta) -- One stout defense takes on one of the nation's flashiest offenses. The only thing is that LSU currently has some real bite on offense, so that Clemson defense better make adjustments after giving up 444 yards and 27 points in a home loss to South Carolina. Oh, and if Tajh Boyd thought Jadeveon Clowney was a handful, he now has to face Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo coming at him from the outside.

4. Allstate Sugar Bowl: No. 21 Louisville vs. No. 3 Florida (Jan. 2: ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET, Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans) -- Some people are turning their noses up at this game, but there are a lot of fun storylines. This is a huge bowl for the Cardinals, and coach Charlie Strong was once the Gators' defensive coordinator. Teddy Bridgewater was also recruited by Florida. We've also learned that Florida's offense can be pretty tough when healthy, and a month off should have the Gators in proper form.

5. Outback Bowl: No. 10 South Carolina vs. No. 18 Michigan (Jan. 1: ESPN, 1 p.m. ET, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.) -- Clowney and fellow defensive end Devin Taylor get another mobile quarterback to chase around. Michigan had major issues with the last SEC team it played, and this South Carolina defense is a little more aggressive than the Alabama one that made the Wolverines' offense relatively obsolete in Arlington this year.

6. TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl: Mississippi State vs. Northwestern (Jan. 1, ESPN2, 12 p.m. ET, EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Fla.) -- At first, I wasn't thrilled about this game, considering how the Bulldogs ended the season. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that this team will be fired up to prove people that its better than its 1-4 finish to the regular season. Plus, Mississippi State is going for its second nine-win season in four years, something this program has never done.

7. Capital One Bowl: No. 7 Georgia vs. No. 16 Nebraska (Jan. 1: ABC, 1 p.m. ET, Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Fla.) -- On the surface, this looks like a very fun matchup. But you have to wonder how both of these teams are feeling after they lost in their respective conference title games. The Bulldogs were literally a play away from the national championship, while the Huskers missed out on the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Vizio because of a blowout loss to Wisconsin. Both teams expected a much bigger bowl at season's end and could be a little down heading into this one.

8. BBVA Compass Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. Ole Miss (Jan. 5: ESPN, 1 p.m. ET, Legion Field, Birmingham, Ala.) -- So both teams are 6-6 and barely made the bowl cut. They're in the postseason, and both showed a lot of fight this year. Both are also averaging more than 400 yards of offense a game. Pitt took Notre Dame to the wire in triple overtime and owns the nation's No. 16 defense, which means the Rebels' offense will have to keep up its high-flying routine if it wants its first bowl win since 2009.

9. Franklin Mortgage Music City Bowl: NC State vs. Vanderbilt (Dec. 31: ESPN, noon ET, LP Field, Nashville, Tenn.) -- For starters, I'm opposed to any team having to play in its own city for a bowl game unless its a BCS bowl. The Commodores ended the season on a six-game winning streak, while NC State's season ended with the Wolfpack losing three of five and seeing head coach Tom O'Brien get fired. Dana Bible will be coaching in his place.

BATON ROUGE, La. -- All told, it seems most around LSU feel pleased to go the Chick-fil-A bowl.

Now, it's about getting the fans excited too.

LSU coach Les Miles said during a Wednesday news conference that the Chick-fil-A bowl game -- between his No. 8 Tigers and No. 14 Clemson in a matchup of 10-2 teams -- is one of the better bowl pairings of the season. He added that with several players from the area, Atlanta is a place where his guys "love to play" and that Clemson is an opponent they can embrace.

And both Miles and athletic director Joe Alleva seemed to endorse Chick-fil-A Bowl CEO Gary Stokan's claims that their bowl is "BCS without the letters" and is consistently rated as one of the top three or four bowls in terms of how it's run -- regardless of where it is in the bowl pecking order.

Stokan seemed to find the talk of possible fan apathy quite obscure.

He said they are expecting their 17th straight Chick-fil-A Bowl sellout, the second longest streak of bowl sellouts behind the Rose Bowl. He said the bowl could sell out by Dec. 17. The New Year's Eve game has little competition for sports TV audience and he said LSU's 2005 win over Miami is one of the highest rated games in ESPN television history.

If there's dissatisfaction with LSU's bowl placement, you didn't see it Wednesday. Alleva and Miles seemed pleased enough and the big winner is the Chick-fil-A Bowl, which managed to land a 10-game winner from the SEC despite being sixth in the pecking order. One late touchdown by Alabama was all that kept LSU from winning the SEC West, playing for the SEC championship and possibly for the national championship.

"We are ecstatic to have LSU," Stokan said.

If he has his way, Atlanta will become a frequent home of national title contenders.

The city is making a bid to host semifinal and national championship games starting in 2014 when college football goes to a four-team playoff. Atlanta is close to getting a new stadium to replace the Georgia Dome, a 20-year-old former Olympic Games venue in good condition but already the 10th-oldest in the NFL. With its facilities, its city and its ambition, The Chick-fil-A bowl already doesn't feel like a bowl that would only get the No. 5 or No. 6 team in the SEC.

(Read full post)

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Leading up to the Chick-fil-A Bowl, we'll take a daily look at a key LSU player. We'll examine how he has done and what his challenges are for the Clemson game.

Zach Mettenberger, QB, Junior

Accomplishments: After spending two-thirds of the season adjusting to being a starting SEC quarterback while his receivers matured and the offensive line re-invented itself, Mettenberger played his best football down the stretch, passing for 1,070 yards in the Tigers' last four games, 90 yards a game more than what he threw for in the Tigers' first eight games. A strong-armed 6-foot-5, Mettenberger always looked the part, but he finally had production to match late in the season, finishing with 2,489 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Shortcomings: In an era where more and more teams are finding ways to take advantage of mobile quarterbacks (see Johnny Manziel's Heisman candidacy), Mettenberger is an old-school pocket passer who took 26 sacks. When he takes sacks, he tends to cough it up, with a team-high five fumbles (three lost) on the season. For all the yardage he threw for in the last third of the season, he still only tossed four touchdowns in those games, a pace barely better than what he was doing before.

Against Clemson: With Tajh Boyd on the other side, Mettenberger may be called upon again to do more than manage games. LSU's pass defense gave up yards and points when they played some of the SEC's better passing offenses late in the season. That could mean a shootout where, like the Alabama, Mississippi State and Ole Miss games, he'll be called on to throw 30-plus passes for more than 250 yards for his team to win.

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Leading up to the Chick-fil-A Bowl, we'll take a daily look at a key LSU player. We'll examine how he has done and what his challenges are for the Clemson game.

Lamin Barrow, LB, Junior

Accomplishments: Won a battle for the weakside linebacker spot in the spring and hasn't looked back, his 92 tackles ranking second on the team to Kevin Minter. While Minter gained more attention, Barrow's steady play helped the linebackers become a strength of the Tigers defense. He also had 5.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Shortcomings: While it's hard to find much to complain about from either Minter or Barrow, it is noted that the Tigers did not stop the run well in either of its losses, at Florida and to Alabama. While there has been much trepidation around LSU for what has been an exploited pass defense lately, it remains true that in the only two games the Tigers lost, they allowed opponents to have their two best rushing days this season against LSU.

Against Clemson: While the focus on defense will be on Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd and the Tigers' high-powered passing attack, it's up to Barrow and LSU's defensive front to make Clemson one-dimensional. If Barrow has a good game and LSU stops the run, it would propel Barrow into a leadership role on defense next season, especially considering what seems like Minter's imminent departure to the NFL after this season.

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Leading up to the Chick-fil-A Bowl, we'll take a daily look at a key LSU player. We'll examine how he has done and what his challenges are for the Clemson game.

Josh Downs, DT, senior

Accomplishments: Downs was never able to stay healthy enough to reach his potential before this season, so it's safe to say his biggest accomplishment was staying healthy enough to play in all 12 games his senior season. Not only did he play, he repeatedly held off challenges from talented sophomore Anthony Johnson for the starting job (Downs started nine of 12 games). While not extremely productive, he did have 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks while splitting time at the position with Johnson.

Shortcomings: Not the tallest defensive tackle, Downs is more of a run stopper than a big-play maker in the mold of a Glenn Dorsey or even Johnson. He had just 15 tackles in his senior season, hardly numbers one would expect from a starter. You always hold your breathe with Downs every time he's shaken up, fearing a major injury, though it's fair to point out he's bounced back from every minor injury this season.

Against Clemson: LSU is going to have its hands full chasing Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd around, given Boyd's ability to run (492 yards). With ends Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery perhaps having to contain Boyd in the pocket, it will be important for LSU to be able to generate pressure from up the middle with Downs and Bennie Logan.

LSU Tigers (10-2) vs. Clemson Tigers (10-2)

Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET, Atlanta (ESPN)

LSU take by GeauxTigerNation's Gary Laney: How does one judge LSU's season?

At 10-2, the Tigers fell short of their preseason No. 1 ranking. They failed to make the SEC championship game, much less defend their conference title.

On the other hand, LSU masterfully overcame a ton of problems.

Tyrann Mathieu, the Tigers' Heisman Trophy finalist at cornerback, was dismissed from the team in August. Chris Faulk, the left tackle who seemed destined to be drafted by the second round, was lost to a knee injury after one game, and running back Alfred Blue was also lost to a knee injury a couple of weeks later. The Tigers finished the season with three offensive line starters who weren't starters at the beginning of the season.

Yet, by the end of the regular season, LSU seemed to have it figured out. Zach Mettenberger was much improved in the passing game, and Jeremy Hill emerged as one of the nation's best freshmen running backs. And the defense, though it gave up passing yards late in the season, remained solid, led by end Sam Montgomery and linebacker Kevin Minter.

So how LSU's season is perceived might come down to how the Tigers play in the bowl. If the offense continues its resurgence and the Tigers win, they will go into the offseason with a rosy outlook. If the Tigers lose and the defense continues to give up passing yards, followed by the seemingly inevitable loss of underclassmen like Montgomery and free safety Eric Reid to the NFL draft, it could be an offseason of worry on the bayou.

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Clemson take by ACC blogger Heather Dinich: Clemson, much like Florida State this year, was oh-so-close to something bigger than the Chick-fil-A Bowl, but the Tigers’ losses to the Seminoles and rival South Carolina ruined the program’s chances at a second straight appearance in the ACC championship and a BCS bowl.

That’s not to say this wasn’t a successful season for coach Dabo Swinney. The Tigers maintained their position as a top 15 team all year, and have thrived behind a high-scoring offense led by quarterback Tajh Boyd, who was named the ACC’s Player of the Year. In his second season as a starter, Boyd helped lead Clemson to back-to-back 10-win seasons, the first Clemson quarterback to do that since Rodney Williams in1987-88. Clemson had the No. 6 scoring offense in the country this year (42.33) points per game, but was smothered in a 27-17 loss to South Carolina. The defense under first-year coordinator Brent Venables was better, but it wasn’t championship-caliber, finishing No. 47 in the county, allowing 24.92 points per game.

Clemson’s only ACC loss this year was in Tallahassee to a Florida State team that was ranked No. 4 in the country at the time. Clemson reeled off seven straight wins after that loss and had momentum heading into its regular-season finale against the Gamecocks, but for the fourth straight season, Clemson was outplayed and outcoached by its in-state rival.

Clemson will forever be remembered for its abysmal performance in last year’s Discover Orange Bowl, but this matchup against LSU will be a chance for the Tigers to take a monumental step towards redeeming their postseason image.