No. 16 LSU was on upset watch all Saturday afternoon against SEC foe South Carolina.
The Tigers never led in the game until late in the fourth quarter when running back Josh Williams punched in the go-ahead touchdown with just over a minute remaining.
Head coach Brian Kelly was sweating it out on the sideline after a sub-optimal 1-1 start to the season — a crushing loss to Southern California and a tight shootout with FCS Nicholls State. Questions have been swirling over how much longer he might last in Baton Rouge if the team didn’t meet perennial high expectations.
But his quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who was making his first SEC start Saturday, led the team down the field multiple times to squeak out a critical win. He notched 285 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on the day.
South Carolina fans will be frustrated by this loss as the Gamecocks had two massive pick-sixes that could’ve put the game away but both were ultimately called back by questionable penalties.
LSU’s survival gives it new life in its attempt to run the table in a stacked SEC and make the case for an at-large bid to the expanded College Football Playoff.
The Tigers move on to Week 4 where it will host a sneaky good UCLA team and try to avoid being swept by both Los Angeles schools this season.
