By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE — Every game matters when you’re building a national championship-caliber football program.
The focus, the preparation, and the attention to detail have to stay consistent no matter the opponent or the circumstances.
The fact No. 13 LSU (9-3) has had just two opt-outs – Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock heading to Notre Dame – entering Monday’s ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Wisconsin (7-5) at 11 a.m. CT in Tampa reflects what Tigers’ second-year head coach Brian Kelly is building.
Except for Daniels, LSU’s entire starting lineup on both sides of the ball, including projected NFL first-round choices receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas, will be in uniform seeking to win 10 games for a second straight season.
“The standard of an LSU football player is to finish what you started,” Kelly said. “To have Malik here and B.T. and all of our defensive players, they want to finish what they started, complete the season, win 10 games and keep building this program. They love playing for LSU and I think it says a lot about the culture we’re building.”
Starting junior defensive tackle Mehki Wingo, who missed the last six games after undergoing surgery to repair a torn abductor, is a prime product of the Kelly culture.
He could have bypassed the bowl and decided whether to enter the NFL draft. But he wanted at least one more game with his teammates, who have bought into Kelly’s goal of two consecutive 10-win seasons.
“What I’ve noticed is this team has been very intentional with our work, taking the individual periods very seriously and trying to get better focus on getting better,” Wingo said.
With redshirt sophomore quarterback Garrett Nussmeier getting his first start since his last game as a high school senior in November 2020, this bowl game truly is a jumpstart to LSU’s 2024 season.
“I’ve been waiting a long time for this,” said Nussmeier, who has thrown for 1,325 yards, 8 TDs and 6 interceptions in 326 snaps spread over 17 career games with the Tigers. “But like I said last week, I’m not going to get caught up in the moment. I’m focused on winning the football game and playing well. Our team is, too.
“I’ve had great relationships with all my teammates and coaches, so it doesn’t feel new. It’s great to get all the practice reps now with these guys and build chemistry.”
Quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan and receivers coach Cortez Hankton, serving as co-offensive coordinators in replacing Denbrock, will have to tweak the offense slightly for pocket-passer Nussmeier.
“He believes he can make any throw,” said LSU starting linebacker Greg Penn III, who was in the Tigers’ 2021 signing class along with Nussmeier. “He really does. He’s a guy who’s not scared.”
Nussmeier has seen minimal game action with the first team. So his first start is one of the few times he can enjoy superb protection from a veteran offensive line to get the ball to 1,000-yard receivers Nabers (86 catches for a nation-leading 1,546 yards, 14 TDs) and Thomas (60 catches for 1,079 yards, a nation-leading 15 TDs) and a plethora of other targets.
Consensus All-American Nabers enters the bowl game needing only 22 yards to set the LSU all-time mark for receiving yards which is currently held by Josh Reed (3,001 yards).
Even though LSU doesn’t have Daniels to operate the Tigers’ offense that ranks No. 1 nationally in total offense (547.8 ypg) and scoring offense (46.4 ppg), the reason Las Vegas oddsmakers have installed LSU has a solid 10½-point favorite is simple.
Wisconsin has had 16 players (including six starters) opt to skip the bowl, whether turning pro or entering the transfer portal.
The Badgers’ top running back Braelon Allen (984 rushing yards, 12 TDs), declared for the NFL Draft after the final regular season. Also missing are two top receivers and starters at center, defensive end, linebacker and nickel back.
The last man standing seems to be Wisconsin senior starting QB Tanner Mordecai, who transferred to UW this season from SMU where he threw for 3,628 yards and 41 TDs.
“This (bowl) game is a chance for some of younger guys to show the coaches they are legit,” said Mordecai, who has started nine games, passed for 1,668 yards with 6 TDs and 4 interceptions, and rushed for 305 yards and 4 TDs.
Wisconsin first-year head coach Luke Fickell is happy his team has a ranked opponent for a postseason challenge.
“We’re attacking this game,” Fickell said, “because champions prepare like champions even before they are champions.”
GO FIGURE
8: Wins in Wisconsin’s last 9 bowl games dating back to 2014
9: Games this season for LSU with 500 or more total offense yards
21: Third-down conversion receptions by Wisconsin wide receiver Will Pauling, the most by any Power 5 Conference receiver
30: Consecutive games with at least one pass reception by LSU’s Malik Nabers
102: Plays of 20 yards or more by LSU, which leads the nation in that category
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com