LSU Football beats Baylor in the Texas Bowl: 5 Takeaways from the final win

The LSU Football team closes out the 2024 season with a Texas Bowl win beating the Baylor Bears 44-31 in Houston. The Tigers scored with ease and scored in every way possible in the first half while in the second half points were harder to come by. Ending the season on a high note is great for the Tigers as they now head into the offseason adding loads of talent and will have College Football Playoff aspirations.

After the Texas Bowl, here are our five biggest takeaways from the Tigers win over the Baylor Bears.

Garrett Nussmeier is a Heisman Front Runner in 2025

The first half was all LSU and all Garrett Nussmeier as he threw for 3 touchdowns and 200 yards completing 16 of 21 attempts. The second half wasn't as pretty especially as Garrett Nussmeier threw an ugly interception but, you saw everything you'd like to see from Nussmeier. In this game you saw Nussmeier's deep ball working to perfection and you saw Nussmeier in control leading the team down the field and at times using his legs picking up first downs while also throwing great passes on the run.

The incoming defensive backs are badly needed

This transfer cycle, LSU landed two experienced starters in Ja'Keem Jackson and Mansoor Delane along with landing the Nation's top cornerback DJ Pickett. The Tigers struggled all day in the secondary as seemingly every player got beat once for a big play. While some of the struggles may be pointed to playing two new safeties, the cornerbacks also got beat in man to man coverage. When the Tigers put some of the younger defensive backs into the game, the Tigers commited way too many penalties for the staffs liking.

Corey Raymond has used this offseason to go out and land his style of cornerbacks and next season they'll need to see the field. The Tigers have been looking in the transfer portal for starting caliber safeties and if they like any of the players that will enter they'll need to land them as its a clear weakness for this team.

Whit Weeks has to wear the number 18 next season

We only got to watch Whit Weeks for a limited time as the Tigers star linebacker went down with a foot/ankle injury. When Weeks went down, you saw exactly what he means to everyone on the team as the entire sideline emptied to check on Weeks. Even in a low moment, Weeks was all smiles hyping his teammates and the crowd up. Weeks is the clear emotional leader of this team and should replace Greg Penn III with the honor of wearing the 18 next season.

The Tigers need a full-time special teams coach

Slade Nagle left after the end of the regular season to take the Houston offensive coordinator job which left two vacancies on LSU's staff as he was coaching tight ends and special teams. This entire season we've seen LSU struggle in the kicking game as the Tigers have had kicks blocked, bad snaps, bad holds, and missed kicks. The Tigers have a loaded roster next season and losing a game because of special teams would be brutal which means the Tigers need to bring in an experienced special teams coach to improve the kicking and punting games.

Trey'Dez Green has star potential in 2025

All offseason long we heard about Trey'Dez Green and how effective he was for the Tigers in redzone drills. On the opening drive we saw exactly that as Green found space and then went up to haul in a touchdown from Garrett Nussmeier.

Later on we'd watch Nussmeier find Green again for the score this time beating a linebacker in coverage for the score after throwing a block to start the play.

Green finished the game with 6 catches for 53 yards and a pair of touchdowns surpassing his season totals coming into the game.

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