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Matchups to Watch: LSU vs. UCLA

Sep 18, 2024 | 11:40 AM

By Hunt Palmer

For three decades I’ve walked into Tiger Stadium to watch the Tigers. I never get tired of watching Auburn or Florida come out of that little southeast tunnel. Same goes for Ole Miss and Alabama. I’ll see both of those in the coming weeks.

That doesn’t mean a new sight isn’t exciting, as well. This year prestigious brands UCLA and Oklahoma will take their turn, and that’s really cool.

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UCLA certainly doesn’t boast the recent history of success that Oklahoma does. The Bruins don’t have the historic success the Sooners enjoyed either. But they have crisp, classic uniforms, and the iconic backdrop of Tiger Stadium featuring these two programs will be a unique sight to the college football world.

All of that being said, this UCLA team is pathetic.

Chip Kelly saw the writing on the wall. He had done as much as he could do in Westwood– or as much as he wanted to do in the NIL and transfer portal world. He took the reigns of a program that had gone 10-15 in the two previous seasons and went 25-13 in his final three.

He’d had enough, and he’s now calling plays at Ohio State. UCLA decided to stay in house with the hire, promoting former running backs coach DeShaun Foster to head coach.

Foster hired Eric Bienemy to be his offensive coordinator. On defense, Ikaika Malloe takes over for D’anton Lynn who went across town to run USC’s defense.

It’s a team short on talent, and that has shown through two games.

UCLA didn’t score a point in the first half at Hawaii. The Bruins got a late field goal to beat a Warriors team that got thrashed 31-13 at Sam Houston last week. When UCLA stepped up in class to open Big 10 play, Indiana came into the Rose Bowl and left 42-13 winners.

LSU’s talent is superior across the board in this game, and a Nicholls-style letdown is unlikely. That game was against an FCS opponent on a short week after a gutting loss. This is against a Big 10 team. Anything less than a thorough beating by the Tigers will be a disappointment.

Here’s a look at three matchups I’m watching.

UCLA Interior Offensive Line vs. LSU’s Defensive Tackle Rotation

We got a look last week at LSU’s defensive tackle rotation without Jacobian Guillory. According to Pro Football Focus the snap counts broke down like this:

Gio Paez – 39

Ahmad Breaux – 31

Paris Shand – 37 (DT and DE)

Jalen Lee – 13

Shone Washington – 11

Jay’viar Suggs – 5

Kimo Makane’ole – 2

This is what LSU has. Hopefully Dominic McKinley can offer some help in time, but he’s getting over turf toe. LSU did make some plays against the South Carolina run game, but they gave up their fair share as well. This group is not going to be asked to take over games. Far from it. In fact, when LSU’s defense wants to make a big play, they take this group, minus Shand, off the field. They just need to hold their own.

UCLA pounded the football last season. They led the PAC-12 in yards per game rushing and eclipsed 200 yards six times. That was expected to be the identity of this team with four offensive line starters back, but it hasn’t been thus far.

Spencer Holstege is a fifth-year starter at left guard. He made 31 starts at Purdue and started all 13 for UCLA last year. Josh Carlin moves from right guard to center. Those two tip the scales at a respectable 315 lbs. Alani Makihele at right guard is 6-foot-3, 350lbs.

Breaux and Shand are closer to 275 lbs. at this point, and Paez is 305 lbs. UCLA has a size advantage here, but that’s been the case versus Hawaii and Indiana, as well.

In those two games the Bruins have run the ball 46 times for 167 yards, just 3.6 yards per carry.

Expect Bienemy to try to run early and often against the Tigers. We’ll see how LSU’s front handles it.

LSU Wide Receivers vs. UCLA Cornerbacks

Kyren Lacy is balling. Last season’s third or fourth target is clearly the go-to guy in this offense. His five touchdowns in three games are tied for second nationally. He’s made 17 catches and averaged better than 13 yards per catch.

It was great to see Aaron Anderson stretch the field twice on Saturday. He’s not just a screen threat, now. He can get up the field and make plays.

My contention is that we haven’t seen the best of CJ Daniels just yet. He’s made 11 catches for 143 yards and is without a touchdown. He’s due for a big game at some point.

Kyle Parker is back in the mix after a really solid camp.

Those three will likely take the majority of the reps unless Chris Hilton can return from the bone bruise that has sidelined him since late August.

That group  will face a Bruin secondary loaded with transfers. Last year’s UCLA secondary did an excellent job, but Alex Johnson now plays for the New York Giants, and John Humphry followed Lynn to USC.

Bryan Addison (Oregon), Ramon Henderson (Notre Dame) and KJ Wallace (Georgia Tech) all started games at their previous stops but are in Year 1 at UCLA.

Hawaii and Indiana had success through the air, completing 50-of-75 (67%) of their throws for 534 yards and five touchdowns. The Bruins did collect a couple of interceptions in Honolulu, but much of the game Hawaii moved the ball through the air.

Kurtis Rourke had a field day.

This matchup greatly favors the home team and should produce some fireworks.

UCLA vs. Ray Baker

If I’m not going to use “sissy blue shirt” here, I might as well use another moniker from days gone by. Yes, it has been hot on the west coast this summer. Yes, UCLA went to Hawaii three weeks ago. Still, the high this week in Westwood is 73. Lows are in the 50s. Expected “Real Fee” at kickoff Saturday is 101 degrees. And anyone who has ever sat on the east side of Tiger Stadium in September knows what that’s like. You’re the ant under the magnifying glass. UCLA better have some IVs ready. I watched UC-Irvine’s centerfielder go into full body cramps at the old Alex Box in 2008. It’s a different kind of hot down here. UCLA has never played a football game in Louisiana We’ll see if the Bruins can handle four quarters in pads.

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