LSU can rebound and still win the SEC and play in the college football playoffs. Besides facing Wisconsin just two seasons ago, LSU’s new defensive coordinator, Dave Aranda, held the same position in Madison previous year.
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While Fournette ran 23 times for 138 yards, the Tigers struggled to sustain drives much of the game against a stingy Wisconsin defense.
Wisconsin had taken a 3-0 lead on a 30-yard field goal by Gaglianone with 4:13 left in the second quarter.
After the INT, Dixon took an illegal hit by LSU’s Josh Boutte. The safety had sealed the win with an interception with 57 seconds left. The pick was a fitting end for LSU, as its offense let the defense and special teams down for the previous 59 minutes as well.
Preseason watch lists are not the end all be all, but LSU has helped fill out a lot of them, especially on defense. Dixon intercepted the ball as he was falling to the ground so by rule he was down and the play was over. A nearby official waved both arms above his head as if signaling the play was over, while Dixon ran off with teammates with his right index finger pointed in the air in celebration.
“I’m going to have to look at it, but it’s very logical he didn’t know he was down and was just running”, Miles said.
Either way, the play will likely be reviewed for possible discipline.
LSU subsequently drove into Wisconsin territory, with a 15-yard Leonard Fournette run getting the Tigers to the 30-yard line.
It was still scoreless midway in the 2nd quarter when LSU running back Derrius Guice fumbled the ball.
The LSU Tigers and Wisconsin Badgers met up in the first ever college football game at Lambeau Field. Les Miles almost lost his job after a disappointing 2015 season, and now he is sure to be right back on the hot seat like he never left it.
A win like this for this UW defense can go a long way when it comes to the season as a whole. Cornerback Tre’Davious White is entering his fourth year as a starter. The Badgers were stopped, but they took the points when kicker Rafael Gaglianone kicked a field goal.
LSU put together its longest drive of the game – seven plays, 49 yards – but was stalled at the Wisconsin 34 when Dupre couldn’t haul in a pass inside the red zone. He made the mistake of bringing all the beat writers donuts during a spring practice earlier this year, leading us all to naturally expect more donuts from him in the future (hasn’t happened again).
“Far from flawless, but our guys just kept playing and found ways to make plays”, Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said.
“It was not what we wanted”, Miles said. However, LSU defensive back Donte Jackson stripped the ball from Rushing and White recovered for the Tigers at the Wisconsin 41.
Corey Clement rushed for 86 yards on 21 carries, and scored the Badgers’ lone touchdown of the game. The defense did however keep quarterback Brandon Harris under duress all day. But Wisconsin led just 6-0 at halftime after squandering early scoring chances, including a stop on fourth-and-1 from the LSU 23. On Aug. 24, Chryst announced senior Bart Houston will get the start at quarterback against LSU. The Badgers celebrated at Lambeau Field, home of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. The Badgers’ defense reestablished themselves as a group that can not be overlooked, as they did what many others have struggled to do. But what are we?
WISCONSIN: Welcome back to the Top 25.
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LSU: FCS school Jacksonville State visits Tiger Stadium for LSU’s home opener on September 10. But on the Badgers third drive of the game, a 13 play, 51 yard drive that chewed a lot of the clock, Houston made a awful decision and threw an interception in the end zone right into the hands of LSU defensive back Rickey Jefferson.
