Diagnosis: LSU’s losses too large to conquer as defending champions upset by Mississippi Advise 44-34

Because it turns out, shedding the Heisman Trophy winner, two of faculty football’s handiest assistant coaches, the Bowl Subdivision’s high-ranked wide receiver and extra will capture its toll on LSU. Who knew?

The first glance on the contemporary-glance Tigers used to be an horrible one: LSU misplaced 44-34 at residence to Mississippi Advise for the program’s first setback since Nov. 24, 2018, rapid revealing how all the losses flee up since winning the national championship in January are going to be too out of the ordinary for this team to conquer.

LSU used to be No. 5 within the Amway Coaches Poll and one in all four groups to impress a first-aim vote, becoming a member of No. 1 Clemson, No. 2 Alabama and No. 10 Ohio Advise. If mathematically conceivable — LSU will earn opportunities against several ranked groups, even though that’s furthermore fragment of the sphere — regaining this aim reach the front of the College Football Playoff fling seems extremely now not likely.

The Tigers aloof earn video games ahead against Alabama, No. 6 Florida, No. 8 Auburn and No. 11 Texas A&M. This used to be presupposed to be one in all the clearer wins: Mississippi Advise is suitable starting up below contemporary coach Mike Leach, whose be conscious document at Washington Advise instructed a one-365 days finding out curve earlier than his offense took flight.

Even given the program’s success against ranked groups below Ed Orgeron, scrambling encourage into the hunt for the national semifinals would request no bigger than one further loss while navigating an SEC-handiest gauntlet of opponents.

The expectations will alternate for LSU. 

The preseason hype used to be the reward for winding up one in all the most dominant seasons in most widespread FBS history. If fashionable for the defending champion, giving LSU the profit of the doubt skipped over what wished to be replaced at some stage in a special offseason:

Joe Burrow. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady. Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda. Running encourage Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Broad receivers Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Tear. Four offensive linemen. Defensive linemen K’Lavon Chaisson and Rashard Lawrence. Linebacker Patrick Queen. Safety Grant Delpit. 

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In all, the Tigers entered September desiring to interchange about 30 members of ultimate 365 days’s roster and both coordinators. In addition, they performed Saturday with out all-the entirety cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., a borderline Heisman Trophy contender.

While Burrow’s replace, Myles Brennan, threw for 344 yards and three touchdowns, the offense lacked the explosiveness and tempo of ultimate 365 days’s document-setting unit. The defense, now flee by dilapidated Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, allowed Mississippi Advise quarterback K.J. Costello to throw for bigger than 600 yards.

Hindsight makes this an effortless level: We must always aloof’ve seen this coming. With 2019 far within the rear-behold take into accout, LSU’s 2020 season is already spiraling — and the hardest ingredients are aloof to come encourage.

Apply USA TODAY Sports activities colleges reporter Paul Myerberg on Twitter @PaulMyerberg