Tony Thomas
Writer
The reaper of Death Valley has betrayed his soldiers of the purple and gold, motioning his skeletal finger toward the LSU sideline and conjuring a three-game losing streak.
The evil feared in Death Valley is normally reserved for the invading armies of Southeastern Conference opponents. However, it has manifested itself in the now fragile psyche of the favorite sons of LSU in the most nightmarish of ways.
Coming off their lowest scoring output of the season in a 20-9 loss to arch-nemesis Alabama, interim head coach Frank Wilson must regroup offensively and prepare for the defensively inept Arkansas Razorbacks (2-7) next Saturday in Tiger Stadium. LSU holds a 43-23-2 record in the series.
Death Valley has been the site of a pig roast more often than not. The Razorbacks have won in this iconic venue only three times since in recent memory: 2021, 2015 and 2007. So, history bodes well in the Tigers favor. However, history is scribed by those who have scorned football heroes.
Arkansas is winless in the SEC at 0-5. Their defense is vulnerable and mistake-prone. The Razorbacks defense ranks in the SEC like this:
Rush defense: 16th in the SEC, 184 yards/game
Total defense: 16th in the SEC, 430 yards/game
Pass defense: 15th in the SEC, 246 yards/game
Opponents’ 3rd down conversions: 42.34 percent
Opponents’ red zone conversions: 14th in the SEC, 90 percent
A perilous LSU offense has avoided the end zone like Thanksgiving at Brian Kelly’s house. The Tigers average just 23 points per game and have scored 25 points or less in eight of their nine contests this season.
Now, could LSU decimate this Razorbacks’ defense? Yes, they could. The LSU offense is talented and loaded, which make this 2025 LSU season even more befuddling and perplexing.
However, the LSU offense is one-dimensional to say the least, and sometimes they have no dimension at all. The Tigers cannot run the ball to save their lives. LSU has averaged a horrendous 101 yards per game on the ground and that is bad enough to rank 15th in the SEC in rushing offense (127th nationally).
Against Alabama, LSU managed just 59 net yards rushing against a Crimson Tide defense that was ranked 73rd in the FBS in stopping the run. A missed opportunity for sure for the Tigers.
LSU has gained just 909 yards rushing and has averaged 3.62 per carry. They have eight rushing touchdowns to their credit.
By contrast, the Arkansas offense is one of the best in the SEC. The Razorbacks have averaged 484 yards of total offense, which is No. 3 in the conference and No. 8 nationally. Arkansas scores 35 points per game, throws for 275 yards per contest and runs for 208 yards a game.
Quarterback Taylen Green leads the nation in total offense, and has averaged 335 yards per game for the Razorbacks. Thus far, Green has passed for 2,372 yards, 19 TDs and eight INTs. In addition, Green has rushed for 649 yards and six more scores. Green has averaged over six yards per carry.
Banged up against Mississippi State, Arkansas interim head coach Bobby Petrino has said that Green was back at practice he is confident in his potential to be good to go and start against LSU.
The only bright spot this season for the Tigers has been their defense. Talented and opportunistic, LSU has allowed just 19 points per game and is tied for 19th in the FBS. Opponents find it difficult to score in the red zone against the Tigers as they allow teams to score from inside the 20-yard line about 73 percent of the time. That’s good enough for No. 2 in the SEC (13th nationally).
The 2025 college football season cannot end fast enough for LSU. The Tigers cannot escape the chaos and turmoil following the firing of head coach Brian Kelly, offensive coordinator Joe Sloan and athletic director Scott Woodward.
The spirits of Death Valley must be summoned and unleashed onto the Razorbacks. LSU can and should present a sacrificial swine upon the alter of the Reaper. Anything short of absolute victory by the Tigers is unacceptable and will be yet another black mark on an LSU season that could have, and should have been triumphant.
Tony Thomas
Writer
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