Despite getting to 2-0, LSU Football fans were left scratching their hands after LSU's 23-7 win over Louisiana Tech in Week 2. The Tigers put together a lackluster performance that leaves Brian Kelly and his staff with a lot of work to do before the SEC opener against Florida on Saturday night. Here are our grades for LSU's Week 2 performance.
Offense: C
Once again, the LSU offense started slow. After scoring just three points in the first half against Clemson, the Tigers scored just 10 points in the first half against Louisiana Tech. Joe Sloan's offensive game plan wasn't effective, which brought the energy down in Tiger Stadium for a bit. The running game couldn't get going, as Caden Durham managed just 2.2 yards per carry over 13 rushing attempts. LSU's lackluster rushing attack put the offense in a tough spot.
Garrett Nussmeier wasn't on his game either, as he missed several throws down the field early in the game that should have been made. He threw and interception on the fourth play of the game, which was due to a severely underthrown deep ball down the left sideline. He ended the night with a 63 percent completion percentage on 41 attempts for 237 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Needless to say, he is capable of much more.
A bright spot on offense came in the form of Harlem Berry's team-leading 56 rushing yards on just six carrires, which included a long of 43. Berry was the nation’s top-rated running back in the 2025 class and a consensus five-star prospect from St. Martin’s Episcopal School in Metairie. It will be interesting to see if Berry sees more touches this Saturday against Florida. WR Zavion Thomas was also involved in the run game, totaling 54 yards on six carries.
Defense: A
The LSU defense did what it was supposed to do against Louisiana Tech. The Tigers held the Bulldogs to just 154 yards of total offense, which consisted of a measly 96 passing yards and 58 rushing yards. The third down defense was great once again, as LSU held Louisiana Tech to a 3-for-13 mark on third downs. Between Clemson and Louisiana Tech, LSU has held its opponents to a 6-for-26 mark on third downs so far this season.
The Tigers didn't create a turnover, but it didn't ultimately matter all that much. Louisiana Tech rarely pushed the ball down the field, as LSU's superior advantage on the outside handcuffed the Bulldogs' offensive strategy. LSU picked up two sacks, with West Weeks, Jack Pyburn, Whit Weeks, and Jardin Gilbert each collecting half a sack.
Special Teams: B
Damian Ramos missed his second field goal of the season in Week 2. He missed a 51-yard attempt on LSU's second drive of the game, but rebounded to make three consecutive made field goals from 23, 46, and 19 yards the rest of the way. On the season, Ramos is 4-for-6 on field goal attempts and 4-for-4 on extra points.
Barion Brown was brought in from Kentucky due in large part to his exceptional kick return abilities. That skill set was on display on Saturday night as he reeled off a strong 42-yard kick return against Louisiana Tech. Brown has five career kickoff returns for a touchdown to his name, which has him close to an NCAA record. The electric playmaker needs two more to tie the NCAA record for most in a career, and three to become the all-time leader.
Coaching: C-
By Brian Kelly's own admission, LSU was out-coached by Louisiana Tech in several areas. The Tigers looked unprepared, lackadaisical, and simply didn't perform to expectations against the Bulldogs. Favored by 36.5 points, LSU won by just 16.
"We're not happy with the production across the board. We've got to coach better. That's the bottom line, and tonight we didn't coach well enough. We got out-coached in a lot of areas. "Brian Kelly
Praise needs to be given to Sonny Cumbie and his staff, as Louisiana Tech put up a solid fight - especially on defense. The Bulldog defense stood tall, holding the LSU offense to just 10 first half points and forced the Tigers to settle for field goals in the red zone on several occasions.
This is a vital week of preparation for the LSU coaching staff. The Tiger offense has started slow in back-to-back games to begin the season, and another slow start would not do them any favors against Florida. Sloan needs to have a better game plan prepared, and the Tigers need to execute on a consistent basis in order to avoid an upset in front of their home fans.