The numbers have improved since then. Now, the Tigers rank fifth among SEC teams in points allowed per possession (0.92), ...

Whatever comes for LSU in the expending college football playoffs, the 2019 team was lightning in a bottle, likely to never be caught again.

With many of the same players back last fall, there always appeared to be a ceiling on the defense. LSU gave up 24.3 points per game, which ranked 59th in the country, and 5.88 yards per play in 2024.

"And our guards did such a good job at setting up our defense when we didn't get the board. Fortunately for us, they didn't score much off their second-chance points." The Gamecocks held LSU to 30 ...