By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – LSU interim coach Frank Wilson knows all the motivation in Saturday’s regular-season finale at No. 8 Oklahoma belongs to the home team.
A win by the 9-2 Sooners clinches a College Football Playoff spot.
And 7-4 LSU?
It’s hard to conjure mojo when your fan base is more interested in seeing on Saturday if Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin announces he’s accepting an offer to become the Tigers’ next head coach.
Wilson said at his Monday press conference that his message to his team is simple.
“How do you finish?” Wilson said. “How do you want to be remembered? How do you want your legacy to go out?
“We can go out here and go play the way we’re capable of playing to the best of our ability and see where the chips may fall. We can go out here and raise a white flag and say, ‘you know, no one expected us to win; we’re not going to the playoffs.’
“How do you want this team to be remembered? Eight and four is a lot better than seven and five. It’s about self-reflection. It’s about going on a road, playing a top 10 team who will be favored to beat you, right?
“Here’s our underdog story. Let’s talk about that, and then let’s prepare, and let’s see. Let’s just see how we perform when our backs are against the wall. We’ve been here before.”
It’s an appropriate rah-rah angle, but it still doesn’t address the fact that the Tigers’ offensive line decimated by injuries, is facing an Oklahoma defense ranked first nationally in sacks.
Starting center Braelin Moore and left offensive tackle Ory Williams both have lower leg injuries and are doubtful. Former starting left offensive tackle Tyree Adams (tightrope ankle surgery) will more than likely be ready for LSU’s yet-to-be-determined bowl game.
For an offensive line that wasn’t good, even when healthy, the latest injuries endanger the health of whoever will start at quarterback for LSU.
Wilson left the door slightly ajar for former starter senior Garrett Nussmeier to return vs. OU. Nussmeier has missed the last two games after reaggravating a torso injury in practice before the Arkansas game two weeks ago.
“We’re going to try to see what he looks like (Tuesday) in practice,” Wilson said. “He was good in treatment this weekend. We’ll give him a go at it and see how he feels, and probably mid-week will be able to give you a better answer to that.”
If Nussmeier is again sidelined, sophomore Michael Van Buren Jr. will get his third straight start.
The Mississippi State transfer has completed 64 of 100 passes for 647 yards, four TDs, and one interception. He’s also rushed for 72 yards and one TD on 32 carries.
He’s coming off a shaky performance in LSU’s 13-10 victory over Western Kentucky last Saturday, when he completed less than 60 percent of his passes (25 of 42) for 202 yards, one TD, and one interception.
“Experience is the best teacher, right?” Wilson said of Van Buren. “You’ve got to do it against live bullets. And he’s imperfect. He didn’t play a perfect game, but he’s a talented player who will get better with time and with game reps.
“I said to him, `Pick your head up. Work’s not done yet.’”
KNOW YOUR ENEMY
LSU (7-4 overall, 3-4 SEC) vs. No. 8 Oklahoma (9-2, 5-2), Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Saturday, 2:30 p.m., ESPN
Last game for Sooners: Oklahoma managed just 276 total yards, and quarterback John Mateer threw for two TDs in 17-6 home win over No. 23 Missouri last Saturday. Missouri had 301 yards total offense but didn’t score in the second half.
Series record and last meeting: LSU leads 3-1. Last season in Baton Rouge, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier overcame a second-quarter ankle injury to throw for 277 yards and three TDs in the Tigers’ 37-17 win over the Sooners.
Oklahoma head coach: Brent Venables (31-19 in fourth season overall and at Oklahoma)
THIS AND THAT
Early betting line: Oklahoma by 10.
Number of Louisiana natives on Oklahoma roster: 3
Number of Oklahoma natives on LSU roster: 1
Number of transfers on Oklahoma roster from 4-year schools: 27 players from 23 schools, including 11 players from 9 Power 4 Conference schools
OKLAHOMA PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB John Mateer (198 of 318 for 2,260 passing yards, 10 TDs, 7 interceptions, 389 rushing yards and 7 TDs on 122 carries, WR Isaiah Sategna (56 catches for 827 receiving yards, 6 TDs), RB Xavier Robinson (408 rushing yards and 4 TDs on 74 carries), LB Kip Lewis (66 tackles, 8½ TFL), DE Taylor Wein (35 tackles, 14 TFL, 6 sacks, 6 QB hurries), DE Mason Thomas (23 tackles, 9½ TFL, 6½ sacks), PK Tate Sandell (22 of 23 FG, 30 of 30 PAT), P Grayson Miller (47 for 46.6 ypk, 5 touchbacks, 22 inside the 20, 21 50-plus yards).
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com