Game Notes: LSU hosts New Mexico in non-conference contest in Tiger Stadium

LSU (2-1, 1-0 SEC) steps out of conference play for the final time until late November when the Tigers host New Mexico (2-1, 0-1 Mountain West) at 6:30 p.m. in Tiger Stadium. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and the SEC Network+. LSU enters the contest coming off a 31-16 win over Mississippi State last week, while the Lobos ran their record to 2-1 with a 27-10 victory over UTEP. It will be the first meeting between LSU and New Mexico in football. LSU returns to SEC action next week when the Tigers travel to Auburn for a 6 p.m. CT contest televised on ESPN.

Brian Kelly: Most Accomplished Hire in LSU History
First-year LSU coach Brian Kelly joined the program as the most accomplished hire in school history, coming to Baton Rouge after winning 284 games and claiming three National Coach of the Year honors in his previous 31 years as a head coach. Kelly’s career-mark stands at 286-98-2 and includes seven 10-win seasons at Notre Dame. In 12 years at Notre Dame, Kelly guided the Irish to 10 bowl appearances, including two College Football Playoff games and the BCS National Championship Game in 2012. Kelly ranks first among all active FBS head coaches in career wins (no matter the division) with 286. He went 113-40 at Notre Dame (12 years), 34-6 at Cincinnati (4 years), 19-16 at Central Michigan (3 years) and 118-35-2 at Grand Valley State (13 years).

Quick Notes on the Tigers
• LSU enters the New Mexico game having won 10 straight and 59 of its last 60 games against non-conference opponents in Tiger Stadium.
• LSU has won 8 straight games, including 2 in 2022, when reaching the 30-point mark.
• LSU S Jay Ward earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against Mississippi State (11 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 interception).
• LSU DE/JACK BJ Ojulari earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors – the third of his career – for his play against Mississippi State (4 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 2 QB hurries).
• In 3 games as LSU’s starting QB, Jayden Daniels has accounted for 8 TDs (6 pass, 2 rush) and he’s completed 69.5 percent of his passes (57-of-82) for 556 yards, 6 TDs and no interceptions. He also leads the team in rushing with 225 yards and 2 TDs on 35 carries.
• In his LSU debut, Daniels became first QB in school history to pass for 200 yards and rush for 100 yards in a game decided in regulation
• In 10 fourth quarter possessions as LSU’s QB, Daniels has led the Tigers to 7 scoring drives (6 TDs, 1 FG).
• LSU started 3 true freshmen last week vs. Mississippi State – LT Will Campbell, RT Emery Jones Jr., and TE Mason Taylor.
• Offensively, LSU is averaging 439.3 yards per game (193.0 rushing, 246.3 passing) and 39.7 points per game.
• Defensively, LSU is allowing 313.7 yards per game (135.3 rushing, 178.3 passing).
• LSU are limiting opponents to just 5-of-8 on redzone opportunities (3 TDs, 2 FGs).
• The Tigers have held its last 2 opponents to just 5-of-24 on third-down opportunities (Southern 2-of-10; Mississippi State (3-of-14). LSU also denied Mississippi State on 3 of its 4 fourth-down chances last week.
• S Jay Ward leads the Tigers in tackles with 19, while S Major Burns has 17 tackles and 2.5 TFL to his credit.
• 8 players have been credited with at least a half-sack with LB Harold Perkins, DE BJ Ojulari and DE Sai’vion Jones leading the way with 1.5 each.
• Thru 3 games, 14 players have earned their first start in an LSU uniform (vs. Florida State – QB Daniels, LT Campbell, LG Frazier, RB Cain, CB Richardson, CB Garner, and Nickel Brooks; vs. Southern – RB Goodwin, TE M. Taylor, LB Little, DE S. Jones, DB Bernard-Converse; vs. Miss. State – RT Emery Jones, Jr., DT J. Guillory).

5
Dating back to last year, LSU has started a different combination on offensive line in 5 straight games

6
Number of fourth quarter TD drives led by Jayden Daniels this year (out of 10 possessions).

45
LSU has thrown at least one passing TD in 44 straight games, the longest streak in school history

LSU’s Non-Conference Tiger Stadium Winning Streak
LSU has won 10 straight and 59 of its last 60 games against non-conference opponents in Tiger Stadium. LSU’s last loss against a non-conference foe came in 2017 when Troy beat the Tigers, 24-21 on Sept. 30. Prior to that loss, LSU had won 49 straight non-conference games in Tiger Stadium, which ranks as the third-longest streak in college football history, trailing only Harvard (55 from 1890-1895) and Carlisle (54 from 1901-1915). Before the Troy loss in 2017, LSU’s last defeat in Tiger Stadium to a non-conference team came in 2000 against UAB.

LSU vs. Mountain West
The Tigers are 7-1 against current members of the Mountain West Conference. Colorado State, Fresno State, San Jose State, and Wyoming were all members of the WAC when LSU faced them, but they have since joined the Mountain West. LSU’s only loss to a current member of the Mountain West Conference came in 1992 when Colorado State beat the Tigers, 17-14, in Tiger Stadium. LSU last faced a member of the Mountain West Conference in 2019 when the Tigers beat Utah State, 42-6, in Tiger Stadium.