LSU’s Southeastern Conference title hopes ended a while ago.
Western Kentucky is still in the thick of the Conference USA championship race.
The Tigers (6-4, 3-4 SEC) and the Hilltoppers (8-2, 6-1 C-USA) meet in a nonconference game Saturday night in Baton Rouge, La., before finishing their conference schedules next week.
LSU, which was ranked as high as No. 3 in September, ended a three-game losing streak when it became bowl eligible by defeating Arkansas 23-22 last week. It was the Tigers’ second game under interim head coach Frank Wilson, who replaced the fired Brian Kelly.
The LSU offense got a lift from quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr., who started in place of injured Garrett Nussmeier (abdomen). It’s possible that Nussmeier, who is projected as a potential first-round pick in the NFL draft, won’t play again for the Tigers.
At midweek, Wilson termed Nussmeier as doubtful to play against Western Kentucky.
“I know he’s going to want to (play),” Wilson said of Nussmeier. “We’re going to defer to our medical staff, our trainers, our doctors to do what’s best for him.”
Van Buren began slowly in his first start at LSU, but he settled down and passed for 221 yards and a touchdown that provided the winning points midway through the fourth quarter.
“There’s an adjustment from the guy that comes off the bench compared to the guy who starts and has all the monumental pressure and expectations to live up to,” Wilson said. “It was a first in Tiger Stadium for Michael, and so it took a minute for it to digest. I think he settled down well.”
Western Kentucky coach Tyson Helton challenged his team to put together a complete performance last week and the Hilltoppers responded in a 42-26 victory against Middle Tennessee in the home finale.
But playing an SEC team on the road will present a different challenge.
“I love the opportunity because if you win it makes a big statement about what your football team is like,” Helton said. “You want to play the best of the best. We have shown that our guys love the opportunities to go compete, especially on the road. You’ve got to have an us-against-the-world mentality.”
Hilltoppers freshman quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr. has topped 300 passing yards in each of the past two games. He had 301 yards, four touchdowns and one interception in a 35-16 home win over New Mexico State on Nov. 1 and followed up with 371 yards, three scores and one pick last week against Middle Tennessee.
Tisdale has passed for 1,059 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions. He replaced ailing Maverick McIvor (non-throwing shoulder) as starting quarterback.
