Where LSU Football differs from USC in replacing Quarterbacks

When LSU and USC face off in Las Vegas there will be one clear difference for each head coach heading into his third year at their respective program. For both seasons, Brian Kelly had Jayden Daniels while Lincoln Riley had Caleb Williams for three years dating back to Oklahoma. The quarterbacks accounted for the past two Heismans and went 1st and 2nd overall in this year's NFL Draft.

In step Garrett Nussmeier and Miller Moss quarterbacks who went the rare route of waiting their turn to start and will now look to lead their respective teams to the College Football Playoff. The biggest thing both quarterbacks have in common is question marks as everyone around the country is questioning whether or not they can replace their Heisman-winning predecessors. These two quarterbacks however, shouldn't face the same questions.

Jayden Daniels won the Heisman for LSU last season while going 10-3 with losses to Florida State, Ole Miss, and Alabama. The LSU Football team never lost due to the failures of the offense however as LSU fielded one of the worst defenses ever. Garrett Nussmeier could be worse than Jayden Daniels this season and LSU could take a massive jump with minimal defensive improvement.

The USC Trojans on the other hand finished 8-5 with a defense just as bad as LSU Football's 2023 unit. The Trojans lost to Notre Dame, Utah, Washington, Oregon, and UCLA while hardly beating California, Arizona, and Colorado. The Trojans needed Caleb Williams to play like Superman so even compete most weeks albeit in a far inferior conference.

When USC and LSU take the field, the Tigers won't need to have the better quarterback like the Trojans will. The Tigers will be far superior in the trenches with better running backs, tight ends, linebackers, and defensive backs. The only other position you can call a toss-up is at wide receiver where both teams underwent a ton of turnover.

Trojan expectations are too high in 2024

The reason LSU Football fans are so high on the Tigers is because of the nation's best offensive line, a defense that should be improved, and a ton of pieces that should hit the next level in 2024. The reason USC fans are high on their team is at quarterback after fielding Caleb Williams the past two seasons. The biggest difference in the defensive turnaround hopes is the fact that USC doesn't have the defensive pieces, Brian Kelly has fielded good defenses, Lincoln Riley never has.

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