BATON ROUGE – LSU will put the nation’s longest non-conference regular-season winning streak on the line Saturday as the ninth-ranked Tigers host McNeese State at 6 p.m. in Tiger Stadium in what will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
The game will be televised to a regional audience on Fox Sports Net and can be seen in the Baton Rouge area on Cox cable channel 38 and high-definition channel 721. The game will also be broadcast on the internet in areas outside of the SEC footprint on ESPN3.com.
LSU goes into the McNeese State game with a 6-0 overall record after rallying for a 33-29 win over Florida last week in Gainesville. Against Florida, LSU scored on its final possession for the second straight week as the Tigers recorded back-to-back last-minute come-from-behind victories over the Gators and Tennessee.
 |
 |
| LSU At the Game programs are available on campus three hours prior to game time and online while supplies last. |
McNeese brings a 2-3 overall mark into the contest as the Cowboys dropped a 32-27 decision to Stephen F. Austin last week in Lake Charles.
LSU has won 31 straight non-conference regular-season games, the nation’s longest streak. LSU hasn’t lost a non-conference regular-season game since dropping a 26-8 decision to Virginia Tech to open the 2002 season. LSU has also won 29 consecutive non-conference games, a streak that dates back to the 2000 season when the Tigers were stunned at home by UAB, 13-10.
 |
GameDay Info LSU vs. McNeese St.| GameDay Central GameDay Forecast Times of Interest 9 a.m. Buy and Print Tickets Online 1:30 p.m. Club-Level and Suites open at Tiger Stadium 3:15 p.m.
4:10 p.m. Presentations:
Guest Captains |
LSU Football Live Updates: Twitter | Facebook | Stats | Audio | ESPN3.com Video (Regional Blackouts Apply)
The McNeese State game marks the first time that LSU will face a member of the Football Championship Subdivision from the state of Louisiana. LSU is 6-0 all-time against FCS (formerly 1-AA) teams as the Tigers have wins over Arkansas State, The Citadel, Western Carolina, Western Illinois and Appalachian State twice. Next year, LSU will host Northwestern State.
Saturday’s contest also pits the two winningest teams in the state of Louisiana since the turn of the Century as LSU has 105 victories to its credit, while McNeese State has won 84 games during that span.
“We recognize that McNeese State is a very talented team and a team that has been coached well by Matt Viator,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “Historically they have had quality football teams. I know they will play their best and the state will turn out for this game.”
Against the Cowboys, the Tigers bring one of the nation’s top rated defenses into the game as LSU leads the SEC and is ranked No. 5 in nationally in total defense (246.0 yards per game). The Tigers are also tops in the league and No. 6 in the country in rushing defense, allowing just 80.7 yards a contest. LSU hasn’t allowed a team to reach 100 rushing yards this year.
LSU has also established itself as one of the top teams against the pass as the Tigers have recorded 19 sacks and are allowing just 165.3 yards a game through the air.
LSU defensive tackle Drake Nevis leads the Tigers and ranks second in the SEC in both tackles for losses (10.5) and sacks (5.0). Nevis, who has been named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week three times this year, is coming off a Florida game in which he recorded seven tackles, 4.5 tackles for losses and 1.5 sacks.
Offensively, LSU has gone to a two-quarterback system with juniors Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee each getting snaps. Last week against Florida, Jefferson rushed for two TDs in the win over the Gators, while Lee threw for a pair of scores, including the game-winner with six seconds left. It was the first time in over three years that LSU has two quarterbacks account for two scores each in the same game.
Since going to the two-quarterback rotation two weeks ago against Tennessee, LSU has had its two best offensive showings of the season with 434 total yards against the Vols and 385 yards of total offense against the Gators.
The Tiger offense also features one of the top running backs in the SEC in junior Stevan Ridley, who is averaging 106.7 yards on the ground per game. In six games, Ridley has rushed for 640 yards and four scores. Three times this year Ridley has gone over the 100-yard mark.
Senior Terrence Toliver leads the Tigers in receiving with 20 receptions for 259 yards and two touchdowns, both of which came last week in the win over Florida.
Against McNeese, the Tigers will face a Cowboy team that is averaging 20.2 points and 342 total yards per game. The Cowboys are giving up 31.2 points and 380 yards per contest.
After Saturday, the Tigers will travel to face Auburn at 2:30 p.m. on CBS.