LSU Tigers vs. South Alabama in Week 5 matchup

No. 14 LSU looks to keep the momentum going against Sun Belt foe South Alabama while the Jaguars take on the Tigers on a Saturday night in Death Valley.

Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has established himself as one of the best players in the country in four weeks of play. According to Pro Football Focus, Nussmeier completed 70% of his passes, completing 112 of 160 passes for 1,243 yards, with 13 touchdowns and seven big throws.

Now it's all about carrying the momentum into Week 5 against South Alabama.

Here's how to watch, the latest injury report and game keys for Saturday's showdown at Death Valley:

Date: Saturday, September 28, 2024
Time: 6:45 p.m. CT
TV channels: SEC Network
City: Baton Rouge, La.
Venue: Tiger Stadium

CB Zy Alexander: Concussion

LSU cornerback Zy Alexander suffered a concussion in Week 4 against the UCLA Bruins after leaving in the first half.

Now it's questionable whether he will play in Week 5 against South Alabama as he continues to work on concussion protocols, Kelly said Thursday.

The experienced defensive back has struggled with the risk of injury this season and has one more hurdle to overcome before kick-off on Saturday evening.

If Alexander is unable to participate this weekend, LSU will continue the rotation of Ashton Stamps, JK Johnson and PJ Woodland against the Jaguars.

WR Chris Hilton: Ankle

LSU wide receiver CHris Hilton was scheduled to make his season debut last weekend against the UCLA Bruins, but did not see the field in Week 4.

Hilton was sidelined after suffering an ankle injury in August, but he continues to trend in the right direction. He warmed up and did the pregame for the first time all season before the UCLA game last weekend.

Now he's once again rated “likely” to play Saturday against the South Alabama Jaguars.

“We're getting him back from a long layoff, so we'll see what he looks like when he's out there on Saturday,” Kelly said.

LSU has rolled with a receiver rotation of Kyren Lacy, Kyle Parker, CJ Daniels, Aaron Anderson and Zavion Thomas so far this season.

Once Hilton gets back in the game, it will provide LSU signal-caller Garrett Nussmeier with another receiver who can unlock the vertical passing game on offense.

No. 1: Limit explosive plays from South Alabama

LSU has given up several explosive plays against inferior opponents this season. On Saturday, they face a South Alabama team that lives and dies on them in the run game.

South Alabama standout Fluff Bothwell has become a notable name in the Sun Belt Conference in his first few weeks as he continues to impress with the Jaguars. The true freshman has already rushed for up to 359 yards on 37 carries and six touchdowns in four games.

The most important number to know for Bothwell: 9.7. He's averaging a whopping 9.7 yards per carry for South Alabama this season and has become the program's focal point offensively.

But it will be a one-two punch at running backs for the Jaguars on Saturday, with Bothwell joining Kentrel Bullock in the backfield. On just 30 carries, Bullock managed up to 203 yards and three scores of his own.

There is a significant boost on South Alabama's offensive line, with Bullock also averaging 6.3 yards per reception.

On Saturday, the LSU defensive line will face the challenge against an offense that likes to run the football more than 50% of the time and has two running backs ready to make some noise.

No. 2: A hot start in Death Valley

Brian Kelly and Co. have been notoriously slow in big games in recent years, and while they are considered heavy favorites on Saturday, it is imperative that the program gets out early.

We've seen the Tigers finish flat in all four games this season. From the early deficit against USC to the 17-0 loss early in the second quarter against South Carolina, LSU has not impressed in the first half against this season's opponents.

The Bayou Bengals are 21.5-point favorites, Las Vegas has high expectations for the program, but they face a South Alabama team that has a chance to make a statement in a big game.

Garrett Nussmeier and the LSU offense will need to score early to get the team in the spirit of what is expected to be a raucous atmosphere at a night game at Tiger Stadium.

#3: Diversify the playbook and take advantage of red zone opportunities

The glaring downside in Week 3 against South Carolina was the missed opportunities in the red zone for the Bayou Bengals. In the second half, it was the defense that took care of business after providing the offense with scoring opportunities, but the unit suffered from inefficiency.

It was a thorn in the side of the program in the first few weeks of the season. LSU simply hasn't been able to convert inside the red zone, but now that they're facing an inferior opponent, they have the opportunity to test the waters inside the 20-yard line.

Look for different running schemes to open up chunk yards for the Tigers this weekend. At LSU, the rushing attack must play a complementary role to the Tigers' offense. It is clear that the passing game led by Nussmeier is efficient, but on Saturday complete football must be played in a “tune-up” game.

Instant Takeaways: No. 16 LSU defeats UCLA 34-17 in big win

What’s next for LSU without Harold Perkins?

Nick Saban calls LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier a “sleeper” ahead of the 2024 season.

Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Tigers on SI: @LSUTigersSI for all coverage surrounding the LSU program.