Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst’s tone was understandably different, as his team knocked off what was viewed as a national title contender.
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After being out-gained by Wisconsin, 180-64, in the first half, LSU (0-1) found some momentum in the second half with 257 total offensive yards.
Fans tailgate before game between the LSU Tigers and Wisconsin Badgers at Lambeau Field. And the Big Ten is 3-0 thus far, with wins by IN and Minnesota on Thursday and Michigan State on Friday.
Including bowls and SEC Championship games, this is the 25th time GameDay that will originate from an LSU game. I think a lot of these guys are just going to feed off that energy.
Wisconsin was thought to be a middle-of-the-road team in the Big Ten, so this loss could be a big hit to the Tigers’ College Football Playoff résumé if – and that’s a big if – they can play up to their potential for the rest of the season.
Saturday, though, was all about LSU.
Wisconsin: The Badgers play their first game at Camp Randall Stadium by hosting Akron on September 10.
And what a game it was. The loss for No. 5 LSU – as well as No. 3 Oklahoma, who was thumped by Houston – is the first time since 1972 that two Top 5 teams have lost on the opening week of the season.
Wisconsin owned the first half, and continued that dominance into the second, forcing a three-and-out on LSU’s first possession, then stuffing the ball 58 yards in five snaps to notch the game’s first touchdown – a five-yard Corey Clement jaunt to put Wisconsin up 13-0 at the 10:47 mark of the third quarter.
It only took one minute, seven seconds for that lead to evaporate.
LSU, which struggled to muster an offensive pulse against the Badger’s stifling defense, finally broke through on the scoreboard when cornerback Tre’Davious White picked off Wisconsin quarterback Bart Houston and scampered for a score. “I think the chemistry’s there. The good news is it ensures that we will have real quality tackles”, LSU coach Les Miles said.
Tiger quarterback Brandon Harris threw 12 of 21 for 131 passing yards including one touchdown pass to Travin Dural, who had 50 receiving yards.
The 3rd quarter did not start much better for the Tigers.
In a game that required every bit of Wisconsin’s fortitude, the Badgers came back to fend off No. 5 LSU, 16-14, Saturday afternoon in the Lambeau College Classic.
Those errant throws resulted in two interceptions for Wisconsin, the second one sealing the victory as a hurried Harris placed it right in the arms of Dixon.
Clapp sprained his ankle during Wednesday’s practice, and the boot is a precautionary measure stabilize the right ankle and prevent swelling, a source said. It became 14-13 Tigers. But as debuts go, it doesn’t get much tougher than facing an LSU defense led by Aranda.
Watson tells WBAY-TV Saturday was overwhelming, in the best way possible, and he’s hoping all the businesses in town saw a big boost. His team was 2 of 10 on third-down conversions. Fournette will get his touches, but Harris simply has to provide enough of an aerial threat to keep Wisconsin from stacking the box. “In the end that’s the way they play football and we have our ways to play football”.
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“At times, we executed, but at the same time you know there were spots here and there where we weren’t on the same page”, said Pocic, a three-year starter.
