SEC power rankings after week 12: 9 - LSU
The Tigers were forced to start backup quarterback Michael Van Buren in this game after it became clear that the nagging injury that continues to affect Garrett Nussmeier is not going to go away. He was benched last week in one of the more awkward eventualities we’ve seen this college football season, given everything that was said about him coming into the year.
They eked out a one-point win over the Arkansas Razorbacks at home in a rare early-day Death Valley game, winning the turnover margin by 3 in the process. It was the first win as an LSU starter for Van Buren, and though he delivered the W, it was not immediately clear that he was better than Nussmeier.
All the same concerns still remain with this LSU team as they move towards the end of the season. They had trouble defending Taylen Green as a mobile quarterback, and they had a pretty poor day running th ball themselves.
This was maybe the worst Power 4 defense they’ll face all year, and they racked up only 390 total yards on 70 plays. It was far from convincing, and the concern this team keeps registering is why they moved down this week.