BATON ROUGE – Turns out that LSU’s game against Western Kentucky will be the top non-conference matchup in college football this weekend as the contest is the only game nationwide to feature two teams that are bowl-eligible.
LSU and Western Kentucky meet at 6 p.m. on Saturday in Tiger Stadium for the school’s annual Homecoming contest. Fewer than 100 tickets remain for the LSU-Western Kentucky game that features teams with a combined 12 victories, that’s more than any other matchup in college football this weekend.
ESPNU will televise what will be the second-ever meeting between the Tigers and Hilltoppers. LSU won the only other contest between the teams, 42-9, in Tiger Stadium in 2011. Allen Bestwick (play-by-play) and former Colorado and Boise State head coach Dan Hawkins will call the action on ESPNU.
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The game will also be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network with Hall of Famer Jim Hawthorne calling the action in what is his 33rd and final season as the Voice of the Tigers. Hawthorne is joined in the booth by former LSU great Doug Moreau along with former LSU letterwinner and special teams sensation Gordy Rush reporting from the sidelines.
LSU, ranked No. 5 in both the USA Today/Amway Coaches Poll and the Associated Press Top 25, brings a 6-0 overall mark into the game against the Hilltoppers. LSU is coming off a 35-28 win over then-No. 8 Florida last week in Tiger Stadium.
LSU goes into the WKU game riding the nation’s longest non-conference regular season winning streak at 51 straight. The Tigers haven’t lost a non-conference regular season game since 2002 when LSU dropped a 26-8 decision at Virginia Tech in the season-opener.
Western Kentucky, who features one of the top quarterbacks in college football in sixth-year senior quarterback Brandon Doughty, is 6-1 overall and receiving votes in both the USA Today poll and the AP Top 25. The Hilltoppers, members of Conference USA, have won four straight since dropping a 38-35 decision to Indiana in week 3.
“We have tremendous respect for Western Kentucky,” LSU coach Les Miles said following Thursday’s practice. “They are well-coached and they are very talented. They have our attention.”
“This is a complete team. This team will stop you on defense, will move the football and score on offense and will play very dangerous special teams. We recognize it and our players have seen what they can do on film.”
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GameDay Info #5 LSU vs. Western Kentucky – GameDay Central: Video, Social & More Saturday, Oct. 24 GameDay Forecast Times of Interest 8:30 a.m. 4:10 p.m. Recognitions and Presentations | 2015 Football Promotions Pregame First Quarter/First Break First Quarter/Second Break Halftime: SEC Network Replay |
Saturday’s game will feature two of the most explosive offensive players in college football this year – LSU sophomore running back Leonard Fournette and Western Kentucky’s Doughty. Fournette goes into the game leading the nation in rushing (1,202 yards), rushing yards per game (200.4) and rushing TDs (14).
Doughty ranks among the NCAA leaders in numerous categories, including completion percentage (1st at .741), passing yards (2nd with 2,709) and passing touchdowns (T-3rd with 24). He has thrown for at least 400 yards in four straight games, and is 132-of-183 (72.1) for 2,036 yards and 21 touchdowns before halftime this year.
The Hilltopper offense is no one-man show as Western Kentucky has five players with at least 24 catches led by Taywan Taylor with 45 receptions for 825 yards and 10 TDs. Running back Anthony Wales has emerged as WKU’s top running back, rushing for 193 yards and two TDs last week against North Texas and 111 yards and a score two weeks ago in a win over Middle Tennessee.
As a unit, Western Kentucky is averaging 44.0 points and 535.4 total yards (128.3 rushing, 407.1 passing) per game.
“(Brandon) Doughty is every bit an SEC quarterback,” Miles said. “It is very significant challenge. Anytime you have a quality quarterback who leads the nation in a lot of statistical categories, you find yourself watching film and saying this guy has talent and ability. One of the strengths of this football team has been our secondary and our pass rush. It will be a nice matchup.”
LSU’s defense will look to slow Doughty with pressure from the defensive front, a group that has already accumulated 14.5 sacks this season. Junior defensive end Lewis Neal is coming off his best performance as a Tiger with 10 tackles. 3.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks in the win over Florida. Neal, who was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, ranks No. 2 in the SEC in sacks with 7.0 and is tied for seventh in the league with 7.5 tackles for loss.
Neal is joined up front by tackles Davon Godchaux (22 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks) and Christian LaCouture (19 tackles) along with true freshman defensive end Arden Key (18 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks).
LSU’s secondary will also face its toughest challenge to date, however the Tigers will be at full strength for the first time this season with the return of safety Jalen Mills to the lineup. Mills, who missed the first five games of the season with an ankle injury, played sparingly last week against Florida. He’s expected to see extensive action on Saturday against Western Kentucky.
LSU goes into the game rated No. 3 in the SEC in total defense, allowing 297.2 yards per game (92.2 rushing, 205.0 passing).
Linebackers Kendell Beckwith and Deion Jones each have 41 tackles to lead the Tigers, while Neal is third on the team with 30 tackles.
Offensively, the Tigers will continue to rely on the running of Fournette, who has rushed for 100 yards or more in eight straight games dating back to last year. Fournette and the Tigers lead the SEC and rank No. 3 in the nation with 325.5 rushing yards per game.
LSU is averaging 37.3 points per game and 460.8 total yards (325.5 rushing, 135.3 passing).
Last week, LSU had its best passing effort of the season with 202 yards and two TDs in the win over Florida. Sophomore quarterback Brandon Harris is now 6-1 as a starter and he’s completed 64-of-108 passes for 812 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions.
His top target is that of junior Travin Dural (19 rec., 294 yards, 1 TD) and sophomore Malachi Dupre (18 rec., 311, 4 TDs).
“We’ve had a good week of practice,” Miles said. “The focus and attention to detail has been just what we needed. Our players understand how good this Western Kentucky team is. They are 6-1 for a reason. We are going to have to play well.”