BATON ROUGE – LSU will go after its 400th win in Tiger Stadium on Saturday when the ninth-ranked Tigers host undefeated ULM in what will be just the third meeting between the two programs.
Kickoff for the contest is scheduled for 6:02 p.m. and the game will be televised by ESPNU with Clay Matvick, Anthony Becht and Dawn Davenport on the call. The game can also be heard on the LSU Sports Radio Network (affiliates) with the legendary Voice of the Tigers Jim Hawthorne along with two former LSU standouts Doug Moreau and Gordy Rush calling the action.
LSU enters the game with a 2-0 overall mark following wins over Wisconsin (28-24) and Sam Houston State (56-0) to open the season. The win over Sam Houston State marked the first shutout for the Tigers since a 51-0 victory over ULM in 2010.
LSU has won 10 straight games in Tiger Stadium, currently the nation’s fifth-longest streak. The Tigers also hold the nation’s longest non-conference regular season winning streak at 47 straight games. LSU hasn’t lost a non-conference regular season game since the 2002 season opener against Virginia Tech.
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LSU is 399-144-18 all-time in Tiger Stadium, which dates back to 1924 when the Tigers played Tulane in the first game in the venue.
The Warhawks, members of the Sun Belt Conference, are off to their first 2-0 start since the 1993 season when they were still members of Division I-AA (now Football Championship Subdivision). ULM opened the year with a 17-10 victory over Wake Forest and then followed that with a 38-31 win last week over Idaho.
“I liked our week of preparation,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “ULM is a quality opponent who is very well-coached and will come in here prepared to play well. They are a very athletic team that has had some success against some SEC teams in the past. We recognize that and have prepared to give them our best effort.”
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GameDay Info #10 LSU (2-0) vs. ULM (2-0) Saturday, Sept. 13 GameDay Forecast Times of Interest 9 a.m. 4:05 p.m. In-Game:
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In recent years, ULM has wins over nationally-ranked Arkansas and Alabama on the road. In 2012, the Warhawks posted an 8-5 overall mark and played in the Independence Bowl.
“ULM has played good football for years,” Miles said. “They have a very stingy defense and they are explosive on offense. All you have to do is turn on their film to know that they are a good football team. We have to be prepared to give our best effort and execute for 60 minutes.”
The Tigers got a boost this week with the return of senior center Elliott Porter, who missed the first two games of the season. Porter, a two-year starter on the offensive line for the Tigers, is expected to start at center on Saturday night.
“It’s good to have Elliott back,” Miles said. “I think he will step in and give us exactly what we need at that position. He’s had a good week of practice.”
Sophomore Anthony Jennings will get his fourth straight start at quarterback for the Tigers against ULM. Jennings ranks among the nation’s leaders in pass efficiency rating as he’s completed 16-of-34 passes for 427 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. Jennings is averaging a staggering 26.7 yards a completion with his top target being sophomore Travin Dural (6 rec., 291 yards, 4 TDs).
True freshman quarterback Brandon Harris will likely get snaps against ULM as the Tigers are expected to play two quarterbacks for the third consecutive game. In two games, Harris has completed 4-of-5 passes for 62 yards and a touchdown. Harris has also rushed for a 46-yard touchdown.
Senior Kenny Hilliard leads the Tigers with 165 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns. Freshman Leonard Fournette is second on the team with 110 yards and a TD. As a unit, LSU is averaging 230 yards rushing per game.
Redshirt freshman John Diarse has caught four passes for 77 yards and a score, while rookie Trey Quinn has three catches for 37 yards to round out the offensive leaders for the Tigers. LSU goes into the ULM game averaging 42 points and 474.5 total yards a contest.
Defensively, LSU pitched its first shutout since November of 2010 last week against Sam Houston State. LSU has held its opponents without any points for 19 straight possessions and 85 minutes of game time. The last time LSU’s defense allowed a point came against Wisconsin on the first possession of the third quarter.
Defensive end Danielle Hunter leads the Tigers with 14 tackles, including 2.5 for losses. Defensive back Dwayne Thomas is second on team with 12 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception. LSU’s defense is limiting opponents to 14 points and 262 total yards per game.
Against ULM, the Tigers will face a Warhawk offense that is averaging 27.5 points and 443 total yards per game. In two games, ULM has racked up 50 first downs and connected on 47-of-86 passes for 573 yards and a pair of scores. The Warhawks’ running game is led by Centarius Donald, who is averaging 114 yards a contest.
ULM quarterback Pete Thomas started his college career at Colorado State, where he threw for over 2,600 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie in 2010. Thomas transferred to North Carolina State following his sophomore season in 2011 and started six games for the Wolfpack in 2012 before transferring to ULM in 2013.
Defensively, the Warhawks are limiting opponents to just 57.5 yards rushing and 12.0 points a contest. ULM held Wake Forest to minus-3 rushing yards and to only 94 total yards in the season opening win.
The ULM game is the second of four straight home games for the Tigers. LSU will continue its home stand next week, welcoming Mississippi State to Tiger Stadium for the conference opener for both teams.