Four Reasons to Watch LSU vs. Western Kentucky

With apologies for bearing bad news, we have reached the November cupcake week for the SEC. The conference currently has five teams ranked in the College Football Playoff’s top 10, but some teams have the audacity to schedule lesser competition before rivalry week. LSU will welcome the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers to Baton Rouge for a 6:45 p.m. (CST) kickoff on the SEC Network. Obviously, this game won’t have playoff implications nor national appeal, but there are still plenty of reasons to watch.

Four Reasons to Watch LSU vs. Western Kentucky

Strength on Strength

Although we’ve made light of the matchup, Western Kentucky has shown that it’s no joke while sitting in the thick of the Conference USA race. The Hilltoppers are currently 8-2 on the season and 6-1 in the league. Make no mistake, this is a team that LSU must take seriously. Thanks to Troy and UAB, we’ve seen the Tigers lose to teams from smaller conferences once their bigger goals have faded. It can happen again if the Tigers aren’t focused. If Western Kentucky pulls off the upset against LSU, it’ll be because of its offense. To be more specific, the Hilltoppers’ passing offense is one of the best in the country. Freshman quarterback Rodney Tisdale has stepped in impressively the last three games for injured starter Maverick McIvor in WKU’s 11th-ranked passing offense. The Hilltoppers have an impressive group of wide receivers to match up against LSU’s defensive strength, its cornerbacks. Like LSU, Western Kentucky hasn’t had extensive success in the running game. But its passing attack can present a challenge for any team at any level.

Quarterback Development

Speaking of young quarterbacks getting thrown in the fire, LSU’s Michael Van Buren was also forced into action as a freshman last year while at Mississippi State. Van Buren will get his second start in two weeks on Saturday, as all signs point towards Garrett Nussmeier focusing on getting completely healthy to prepare for the draft. There will continue to be snap judgments from fans and media alike when it comes to Van Buren, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s still a young player. Despite Van Buren’s inexperience as a full-time starter, there’s a lot to like about him. He puts bad plays behind him, as evidenced by his efficient play after a rough start against Arkansas. Ball security is at a premium, and Van Buren has not thrown an interception this season. Of course, his mobility is invaluable behind the leaky LSU offensive line. We won’t assume that Van Buren will make the routine throws more consistently as he gets more reps with the first-team receivers, but it’s a natural progression that’s typical at the position. If he can make his layups, it’s only a matter of time before we see more deep shots to an underutilized wide receiver group.

Young Stars

Our next reason to watch could very well be the determining factor that tilts the scale in LSU’s favor for its next head coach. The Tigers have young talent on both sides of the ball who can serve as keystones to build around for the future. There will be a maximum of three more opportunities to watch these explosive playmakers in 2025. Here’s your next chance. Freshman running back Harlem Berry has teamed up with sophomore running back Caden Durham to form one of the most talented yet frustrating duos to watch at the position. Competent run blocking would allow this tandem to be appreciated at a much broader level, but they’re talented nonetheless. Tight end Trey’Dez Green has changed games in his short career, even with no recent discernible game plans that are intentional about getting him involved. Defensively, DJ Pickett has lived up to his five-star status at cornerback as a true freshman. Sophomore PJ Woodland has been targeted at times. But that’s inevitable when playing among future day-one draft picks like Mansoor Delane and Pickett. While we might not know who the next coach will be for LSU, we know the cupboard won’t be bare.