We asked the team at 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge which game they’re most looking forward to this season. Here’s what they had to say.
Jacob Hester, Co-Host Off the Bench: The game at Texas A&M is the most important game on the 20024 schedule. You haven’t won at Kyle Field since 2016, and it will likely be the difference between 9-3 and 10-2.
T-Bob Hebert, Co-Host, Off the Bench: I love so much of this schedule. I believe the USC game is the most important of the Brian Kelly era. I think the chance for revenge against Ole Miss in what could be an undefeated-on-undefeated matchup at night in Death Valley is sublime. I am terrified and ready to FIGHT at the very thought of a trip to College Station. But in the end, I cannot help but think about how incredible Nov 30th Oklahoma in Death Valley will be. Holiday and cool autumnal crisp in the air for a game that could have MAJOR playoff implications if everything goes according to plan?! YES PLEASE.
Taylor Sharp, Video Producer, Off the Bench: Alabama is the obvious answer because of the Kalen DeBoer era. I’ll go somewhere different since you’ll get Bama a lot. I’m excited about Oklahoma inside of Tiger Stadium. It’ll be fun to see a new team inside of Tiger Stadium and I’d love to see this game as our permanent opponent to end the season going forward. Turn this into a rivalry. (Texas A&M isn’t good enough to be our rival.)
Alondra Villareal, Audio Producer, Off the Bench: The Ole Miss game is one that I always look forward to, but this year I’m most anticipating the OU game. They’re new to the SEC, coming off a good season, and are ranked 16th in the preseason rankings. I think this will be a fun game.
Charles Hanagriff, Co-Host, Live at Lunch: I’m cheating here, because I couldn’t choose between the first one and the last one. USC will give LSU a very good idea of where they stand to start the season, and plenty of fans for both sides remember the bad blood of 2003. The last game will mark the first trip ever for Oklahoma into Tiger Stadium, and the game has the possibility of huge playoff implications.
Hunt Palmer, Host, The Hunt Palmer Show: Picture this. There’s a chill in the Louisiana November night. The smells of jambalaya and Jim Beam engulf campus. Tigers are firmly in the mix for a College Football Playoff birth. Out of the south end zone tunnel comes, not Florida or Alabama who we have seen for decades. It’s the Oklahoma Sooners. That’s a scene no one has ever witnessed. That’s because it’s never happened. Lane Kiffin riding a hot streak into Tiger Stadium? Seen it. Bama-LSU in Primetime? Seen it. Not OU with a playoff birth on the line. The Tigers have a ton of work to do to get there, but the possibility is delicious.
Jacob Beck, Audio Producer, The Hunt Palmer Show: Ole Miss. If both teams handle their business before October 12th, this will be a Top 10 matchup at night in Tiger Stadium. I’m aware that the team in Crimson will be in Baton Rouge on November 9th, but if the Tigers can get a win over a very good Rebels team, 10-2 becomes a very real possibility and with that an almost assured spot in the College Football Playoff.
Matt Moscona, Host, After Further Review: Ole Miss. Both teams should be undefeated, and LSU gets a bye before the Rebels come to Baton Rouge while Ole Miss will be playing the second of back-to-back road conference games. If LSU wins, it’s hard to imagine anything less than 10-2 and with a head-to-head win over the Rebels. That would feel like a CFP spot would be a virtual lock.
Matthew Musso, Audio Producer, After Further Review: USC. It’s easy to say Ole Miss or Alabama, but the opener will set the tone for the whole season. You have lost four straight. It’s time to get back on the winning side. It will give you a great first look at a defense desperate for improvement. What better test than a Lincoln Riley offense? We will learn a lot about the 2024 LSU Tigers in the opener like we have the previous four years. The lessons learned will tell us how much we should look forward to the potential of future matchups.
