LSU Outlasts Arkansas 34-31: 3 Takeaways From the Tigers’ Victory

The LSU Tigers had to keep the ball away from the Arkansas Razorbacks to win 34-31 on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Tiger Stadium. The game was a see-saw experience for both Tiger and Hogs fans.

Arkansas opened with a 13-3 lead in the first quarter as the Tigers had no answer for the fleet-footed and sturdy play of Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jefferson.

Here are three takeaways from the Tigers’ victory:

1. LSU Continues To Start Slow

For the second time out of four games, the Bayou Bengals played a lackluster opening stanza. All the way back to the Florida State game, LSU has not opened strong out of the gate and has had to come from behind to win.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels looked out of sync in the first half, but he turned it around in a big way in the second half.

“Everyone before that was just kind of out of whack,” Daniels told reporters after the game. “I’m the leader of this offense and once I find my rhythm, everybody is in a good rhythm and we put up points.”

Daniels finished with four touchdowns. Early on, his favorite target was receiver Brian Thomas, who caught two 49-yard touchdowns.

2. LSU’s Defense Struggles With Running Quarterbacks

It’s not a secret but LSU’s fast defensive linemen and linebackers continue to have trouble with quarterbacks that are mobile.

Jefferson wouldn’t let the Razorbacks roll over though. The quarterback had a number of stellar scrambles for first downs. He finished with 289 yards and three touchdowns, with many of them being last-second heaves under heavy rushes.

3. Brian Kelly Has Common Sense

Sometimes, you’ll run into a coach that goes against the obvious because he believes his team is bigger and stronger. Or he thinks the crowd will affect the opposing team.

LSU Head Coach Brian Kelly isn’t like that. He sees what we see and against the Razorbacks he saw that his defense couldn’t stop Jefferson. He defended his clock management late in the game, saying that he was just trying to win the game.

“It’s just the nature of two teams in proximity, playing for a rivalry trophy and a team we knew was going to play their very best — and they did,” Kelly said in post-game comments. “We were the last one to have the football and I wasn’t interested in letting Arkansas have another chance.”

Watch the highlights of the LSU-Arkansas game.

Now the LSU schedule toughens considerably as the SEC West beckons. Will the wins continue?

Follow LSU’s football schedule week in and week out.

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