LSU TIGERS NOTES:
LSU To Face Purdue in Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
LSU (9-4) closes out its first season under head coach Brian Kelly on Monday, Jan. 2 when the Tigers face Purdue (8-5) in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando. Kickoff for the contest is scheduled for noon CT and will be televised on ABC with Bob Wischusen (pxp), Dan Orlovsky (analyst) and Kris Budden (sideline reporter) on the call. LSU, champions of the SEC Western Division, enters the game ranked No. 15 in the AFCA Coaches Poll, No. 16 in the AP Poll and No. 17 in the CFP Rankings. The Tigers are coming off a 50-30 loss to No. 1 Georgia in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 3 in Atlanta. Purdue, winners of the Big Ten Western Division, is coming off a 43-22 loss to Michigan in the Big Ten Championship Game. It will mark the first meeting between LSU and Purdue in football. Coach Kelly is 6-0 all-time against Purdue with all six victories coming as head coach at Notre Dame. LSU will be making its 54th bowl game appearance and its sixth in the Citrus Bowl. The Tigers are 28-24-1 all-time in bowl game/playoff appearances. Dating back to 2000, LSU has appeared in a bowl game 22 times in 23 years, only exception came in 2020. LSU is 2-3 all-time in the Citrus Bowl with its most recent appearance coming on Jan. 1, 2018 when the Tigers dropped to a 21-17 decision to Notre Dame (coached by Brian Kelly). LSU will be after the 17th 10-win season in school history and the first since going 15-0 during the national championship in 2019. LSU goes into the game riding the arm and legs of QB Jayden Daniels. Daniels has accounted for 3,592 yards of total offense (818 rushing, 2,774 passing) and 27 TDs (11 rushing, 156passing). His 3,592 yards of total offense rank No. 2 in LSU history behind only Joe Burrow (6,093 in 2019). Defensively, true freshman LB Harold Perkins leads the Tigers in sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (11.5), while senior LB Micah Baskerville (84 tackles) and sophomore LB Greg Penn (72) lead the team in tackles.
Brian Kelly: Most Accomplished Hire in LSU History
First-year LSU coach Brian Kelly joined the program as the most accomplished hire in school history, coming to Baton Rouge after winning 284 games and claiming three National Coach of the Year honors in his previous 31 years as a head coach. Kelly’s career-mark stands at 293-101 and includes 10, 10-win seasons at the FBS level (7 at Notre Dame, 3 at Cincinnati). In 12 years at Notre Dame, Kelly guided the Irish to 10 bowl appearances, including two College Football Playoff games and the BCS National Championship Game in 2012. Kelly ranks first among all active FBS head coaches in career wins (no matter the division) with 293. He went 113-40 at Notre Dame (12 years), 34-6 at Cincinnati (4 years), 19-16 at Central Michigan (3 years) and 118-35-2 at Grand Valley State (13 years). He’s the only 3-time winner of the Home Depot National Coach of the Year Award as he claimed the honor in 2009 (Cincinnati) and 2012 and 2018 at Notre Dame. Kelly is 7-6 all-time in bowl games (5-5 at Notre Dame, 2-1 at Cincinnati).
QUICK NOTES
• LSU’s Jayden Daniels is one of only 2 FBS QBs to have 800+ rushing yards and 2,000+ passing yards this year. Daniels has rushed for 818 yards and passed for another 2,774 yards. He’s joined by John Rhys Plumlee of UCF (841 rush, 2,404 pass).
• Daniels ranks No. 2 nationally in rushing yards (818) by a QB and he’s tied for No. 4 in rushing TDs by a QB with 11.
• Daniels has rushed for a TD and passed for a score in 6 games this year, the most for any player in LSU history in a single season breaking previous mark of 5 by Joe Burrow (2019) and Herb Tyler (1999).
• LSU has used 6 different starting combinations on its offensive line this year. Miles Frazier is the only player to start every game on the offensive line this year and he’s done so at 3 positions (10 at LG, 2 at RG, 1 at RT).
• LSU starts true freshmen Will Campbell (12 starts LT) and Emery Jones Jr. (11 starts at RT) on the offensive line. The Tigers are 8-2 with Campbell and Jones in the starting lineup.
• LSU’s Citrus Bowl roster features 2 receivers with 1,000 career receiving yards – Kayshon Boutte (1,782) and Malik Nabers (1,271).
• TE Mason Taylor, one of 3 true freshmen to start on offense, has 33 receptions, which ranks 5th among all tight ends in LSU history for a single-season. Taylor has caught at least 1 pass in 12 of his 13 career games.
• WR Malik Nabers goes into the Citrus Bowl with 19 catches for 326 yards and a TD in LSU’s last 3 games. He’s coming off a 5-catch, 128-yard, 1 TD game vs. Georgia.
• As a team, LSU has rushed for 35 TDs, the sixth-highest total in school history and 2 from tying the LSU record of 37 set in 2013. Daniels leads the team with 11 rushing TDs, followed by
• In the SEC Championship Game vs. Georgia, LSU had 2 QBs throw for 200+ yards – the first time in school history it’s happened. Daniels passed for 208 yards and a TD in the first half and Garrett Nussmeier set a school-record for passing yards in a half with 294 and 2 scores in the second half.
• Josh Williams is LSU’s top rusher from the running back position with 532 yards and 6 TDs. He has 2, 100-yard rushing games this year (106 vs. Florida, 118 s. Arkansas).
• Malik Nabers leads all receivers with 63 receptions for 854 yards and 2 TDs, followed by Kayshon Boutte (48-538-2 TDs).
• Offensively, LSU is averaging 32.3 points and 442.7 total yards per game (181.1 rushing, 261.6 passing).
• Defensively, the Tigers are allowing 23.7 points and 361.5 total yards per game (152.5 rushing, 209.1 passing).
• In its last 11 games, Tennessee and Georgia are the only teams to score third quarter TDs on the Tigers. Tennessee scored 2 TDs in the 3Q in week 6, while Georgia had a TD in the SEC Championship Game. Outside of those 3 TDs, the only points LSU’s defense has allowed in the 3Q since week 3 are field goals to Mississippi State and Alabama
NOTEBOOK
LSU to Face Purdue for First Time on Gridiron
LSU will face Purdue for the first time on the gridiron when the teams meet on Jan. 2 in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando. LSU and Purdue have met in men’s basketball, women’s basketball and baseball. LSU is 1-1 vs. Purdue in men’s basketball (W, 94-87 in 20T in 1986 NCAA Tournament first round; L, 80-56 in 2003 NCAA Tournament first round). LSU is 2-3 vs. Purdue in women’s basketball. The Tigers are 7-0 vs. Purdue in baseball.
LSU To Appear In A Bowl Game For 54th Time
LSU will make its 54th bowl appearance when the Tigers meet Purdue in the Cheez-It Bowl on Jan. 2 in Orlando. LSU is 28-24-1 all-time in bowl games, which includes a 2-0 mark in the College Football Playoffs. LSU is 2-3 in Citrus Bowl games. Dating back to the 2000 season, LSU has appeared in a bowl game every year with the exception of 2020. Last year, with a depleted LSU roster featuring only 39 scholarship players and no quarterback, dropped a 42-20 decision to Kansas State in the Texas Bowl in Houston.
LSU After 10-Win Season
LSU enters the Purdue game with a 9-4 mark and in search of its 10th win of the season. LSU has won at least 10 games 17 times in its history, most recently in 2019 when the Tigers went 15-0 and won the CFP National Championship. Eleven of LSU’s 16 10-wins seasons have come since the Tigers went 10-3 in 2001. Head coach Brian Kelly looks to join Mike Archer (10 wins in 1987) and Les Miles (11 wins in 2005) as the only first-year coaches in school history to win 10 games in their initial season with the Tigers. The one difference between Kelly and Miles and Archer is Kelly took over a team coming off a losing record (6-7), while Archer took over a 9-3 squad that won the SEC title in 1986 and Miles took over a 9-3 team from Nick Saban.
LSU Returns To Orlando To Open 2023 Season Against Florida State
LSU returns to Orlando for the 2023 season-opener when the Tigers face Florida State on Sunday, Sept. 3 at Camping World Stadium. LSU opened the 2022 season against Florida State in New Orleans, falling to the Seminoles, 24-23, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The last time LSU ended a season in a road/ neutral venue where they open the following year came in 2010 and 2011. That time, LSU beat Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas to cap the 2010 season and then opened 2011 with a 40-27 victory over Oregon in AT&T Stadium.
LSU Ranked No. 15 In Coaches Poll, No. 16 In AP Poll and No. 17 In CFP Rankings
LSU goes into the Purdue game ranked No. 15 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 16 in the AP Top 25. The Tigers were ranked No. 17 in the final CFP Rankings, which were released on Dec. 4. The Tigers peaked at No. 6 in both the AP and Coaches polls following its win over UAB in week 11.
LSU Went 6-3 Against Teams Advancing To Bowl Games
LSU faced 9 teams who are appearing in bowl games this year and the Tigers posted a 6-3 mark in those games. LSU’s win over bowl teams came against Mississippi State (ReliaQuest Bowl), Florida (L, Las Vegas Bowl), Ole Miss (Texas Bowl), Alabama (Sugar Bowl), Arkansas (Liberty Bowl) and UAB (W, Bahamas Bowl). LSU’s losses came to Florida State (Cheez-It Bowl), Tennessee (Orange Bowl) and Georgia (Playoffs).
Brian Kelly vs. Purdue
LSU coach Brian Kelly has a 6-0 mark vs. Purdue, all coming as head coach at Notre Dame. Kelly’s first Notre Dame victory came against the Boilermakers by a 23-12 count on Sept. 4, 2010. Kelly picked up his sixth win over Purdue last year when the Irish beat the Boilermakers, 27-13, in South Bend.
LSU vs. the Big Ten
LSU is 9-15-2 all-time against current members of the Big Ten. LSU last played a Big Ten in the 2016 season-opener, dropping a 16-14 decision to Wisconsin at Lambeau Field. LSU has faced 10 of the 14 current members of the Big Ten. The four Big Ten teams LSU has yet to face in football include Purdue, Michigan, Minnesota and Northwestern. Here’s LSU’s record against current Big Ten teams:
Opponent Record Last Meeting
Illinois 1-0 2002 Sugar Bowl (W, 47-34)
Indiana 2-1 1978
Iowa 1-1 2014 Outback Bowl (W, 21-14)
Maryland 0-3 195
Michigan State 1-0 1995 Independence Bowl (W, 45-26)
Nebraska 0-5-1
Ohio State 1-1-1 2008 BCS National Championship (W, 38-24)
Penn State 0-2 2010
Rutgers 0-1 1922
Wisconsin 3-1 2016
LSU’s Citrus Bowl History
LSU’s game against Purdue will be the program’s sixth appearance in the Citrus Bowl which dates back to the 1979 season when the Tigers posted a 34-10 win over Wake Forest in what was the final game of the Charlie McClendon era. LSU is 2-3 all-time in Citrus Bowl games with wins coming over Wake Forest and Louisville in 2016 and losses to Iowa (2005), Penn State (2010) and Notre Dame (2018). Current LSU head coach Brian Kelly was on the Notre Dame sidelines for the Irish’s victory over the Tigers in the 2018 Citrus Bowl. LSU’s previous Citrus Bowl appearances have all come with drama and interesting storylines.
Here’s a look at some storylines from previous LSU appearances in the Citrus Bowl:
1979 vs. Wake Forest
• Legendary coach Charles McClendon – still the winningest coach in school history – coaches his final game at LSU, beating Wake Forest, 34-10, on Dec. 22, 1979. 2004 vs. Iowa
• In what was Nick Saban’s final game at LSU, Iowa scored on a 56-yard pass as time expired to knock off the Tigers, 30-25. LSU had taken its first lead of the game at 25-24 with 46 seconds remaining when JaMarcus Russell connected with Skyler Green on a 3-yard TD pass.
2009 vs. Penn State
• In a game played in the rain and a muddy field, Penn State kicked a 21-yard field goal with 57 seconds left to win, 19-17. LSU trailed by as many as 16-3 and took its only lead of the game at 17-16 early in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run by Stevan Ridley.
2016 vs. Louisville
• LSU held Louisville’s Heisman Trophy QB Lamar Jackson to 186 total yards and to only 3 field goals as the Tiges won going away, 29-9.
2017 vs. Notre Dame
• Notre Dame, coached by Brian Kelly, scored on a 55-yard pass with 1:28 remaining to rally for a 21-17 win over the Tigers. LSU had regained the lead at 17-14 with 2:03 left in the contest on a 17-yard field goal.
The following is a game-by-game recap of LSU’s previous appearances in the Citrus Bowl:
Dec. 22, 1979
LSU 34, Wake Forest 10
LSU’s win over Wake Forest in 1979 marked the final game of the legendary coaching career of the winningest coach in LSU history Charles McClendon. The win over Wake Forest was the 138th for McClendon at LSU, a mark that still stands as the most in school history. The game also featured a quarterback named Steve Ensminger, who is currently the acting offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Tigers. Against Wake Forest, Ensminger scored on a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter for LSU’s final points. Ensminger rushed for 43 yards and completed 5-of-7 passes for 74 yards in the contest as he platooned with David Woodley at quarterback.
Jan. 1, 2005
Iowa 30, LSU 25
In what was the final game of Nick Saban era at LSU, Iowa scored on a 56-yard pass as time expired to shock the Tigers, 30-25. LSU rallied from a 24-12 fourth quarter deficit with a pair of JaMarcus Russell TD passes to Skyler Green. The first was a 22-yard strike with 8:21 to go that cut the deficit to 24-19 and then with 36 seconds left Russell hit Green with a 3-yard TD pass to give the Tigers a 25-24 lead – their first advantage of the game. Iowa needed just three plays to go 71 yards in 46 seconds, capped by the last-second Hail Mary that gave the Hawkeyes a 30-25 victory.
Jan. 1, 2010
Penn State 19, LSU 17
A sloppy field held LSU’s explosive offense in check as the Tigers once again lost another Citrus Bowl late in the fourth quarter, this time coming at the hands of Penn State. The Nittany Lions kicked a 21-yard field goal with 57 seconds left to beat LSU, 19-17. LSU took its only lead of the game early in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run by Stevan Ridley, putting the Tigers up 17-16. Penn State went 65-yards on 12 plays to setup the game winning kick with less than a minute left.
Dec. 31, 2016
LSU 29, Louisville 9
LSU dominated from start to finish as the Tigers limited the high-powered Louisville offense, featuring Heisman Trophy quarterback Lamar Jackson, to a season-low nine points in the 29-9 victory. Derrius Guice rushed for 138 yards, including a 70-yard TD run and a 1-yard scoring reception, to earn game MVP honors. The LSU defense held Louisville to 220 total yard and sacked Jackson a bowl record eight times.
Jan. 1, 2018
Notre Dame 21, LSU 17
Notre Dame, coached by Brian Kelly, scored on a 55-yard pass play with 1:28 left in the contest to beat the 17th-ranked Tigers, 21-17. The teams combined for 13 points in the first three quarters, before a scoring barrage took place in the final stanza. The teams combined for 25 points in the fourth quarter as the Tigers took a 14-6 lead on a Derrius Guice 2-yard TD reception from Danny Etling with 11:13 to go. The Irish tied the score at 14-14 following a TD and two-point conversion with 7:49 remaining. A 17-yard field goal by Jack Gonsulin put the Tigers back on top, 17-14, with 2:03 left in the contest before Notre Dame responded with its game-winning drive.
PURDUE BOILERMAKERS NOTES:
A WIN WOULD
• Give Purdue consecutive nine-win seasons for the first time since 1997-98 when Drew Brees was quarterback.
• Be back-to-back bowl victories, both over SEC teams.
• Improve Purdue to 5-2 over its last seven bowl games.
• Make Brian Brohm 2-0 as Purdue’s acting head coach.
• Be the Boilermakers’ fifth win away from home this season.
STORY LINES
• After playing in the Big Ten Championship for the first time in program history, the Purdue Boilermakers head south to face LSU in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. The Big Ten West champs battle the SEC West champs at Camping World Stadium, Jan. 2. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on ABC.
• The Boilermakers and Tigers meet on the gridiron for the first time in history.
• Purdue won the Big Ten West outright, which included a pair of victories over ranked teams and three straight wins to end the month of November.
• The Boilermakers are appearing in a bowl game for the 21st time in program history, the fourth over the past six seasons.
• Purdue is 11-9 all-time in bowl games, winning four of the past six including a 48-45 overtime victory over Tennessee in last year’s TransPerfect Music City Bowl.
• Purdue had the best passing offense in the B1G, averaging 276.6 yards through the air in league games.
• Brian Brohm, who has served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the past six seasons, will serve as interim head coach following the departure of his brother, Jeff Brohm, to their alma mater Louisville.
• With Brian Brohm moving into the interim head coach role, legendary Purdue quarterback Drew Brees returned to his alma mater to coach the QBs in the Citrus Bowl; Brees broke multiple school records during his time at Purdue (1997-2000).
• Ryan Walters, who spent 2022 season at Illinois as the defensive coordinator of the nation’s best scoring defense, was named the 37th head football coach in program history (December 13).
• For the bowl game, Purdue will be without wide receiver Charlie Jones (Second Team All-America), quarterback Aidan O’Connell (Second Team All-B1G), tight end Payne Durham (Second Team All-B1G) and cornerback Cory Trice (All-B1G Honorable Mention).
NUMBERS TO KNOW
6 – Purdue put together six scoring drives in the Big Ten Championship Game, the most allowed by No. 2 Michigan all season long.
14 – Purdue is playing 14 games in a season for just the second time in program history. The only other time was 2006, which also ended in Orlando (Champs Sports Bowl).
7 – Purdue ranks seventh in the nation in red zone offense, scoring 49 out of 53 opportunities (92%), including 34 touchdowns.
920 – Walk-on running back Devin Mockobee became the first Purdue freshman to run for more than 900 yards in a season, setting a new freshman rushing record.
BOILER NOTES
BOWL HISTORY
• Purdue is appearing in a bowl game for the 21st time in program history, the fourth over the past six seasons.
• The Boilermakers are 11-9 all-time in bowl games, winning four of their past six including a 48-45 overtime victory over Tennessee in last year’s TransPerfect Music City Bowl.
• Purdue won the 2021 Music City Bowl despite missing AllAmericans David Bell and George Karlaftis, who opted out of the game to prepare for the NFL Draft.
• The matchup is Purdue’s third Orlando bowl game, the first since the 2006 Champs Sports Bowl.
• The Boilermakers are playing in the Citrus Bowl for the second time with the other appearance concluding the 2003 campaign.
• Purdue is facing a ranked team in a bowl game for the eighth time, but its first since the 2004 Sun Bowl (No. 21 Arizona State).
MISSING BOILERS
• Purdue enters the matchup without four Boilermakers who opted out of the game to prepare for the 2023 NFL Draft: TE Payne Durham, WR Charlie Jones, QB Aidan O’Connell and CB Cory Trice.
• Jones, a Second Team All-American, led the Big Ten in receptions (110), receiving yards (1,361) and receiving touchdowns (12), cracking the Top 5 nationally in all three categories; his 1,361 receiving yards set a new single-season school record.
• O’Connell, who earned Second Team All-B1G honors, led the conference in passing yards (290.8 per game) and ends his Purdue career with the best career completion percentage in school history (66.7%).
• Durham earned second team all-conference accolades as one of the top tight ends in the country; he ranked second on the team in receptions (56), receiving yards (560) and receiving TDs (8), ending his Boilermaker career with the second-most touchdowns by a tight end (21).
• Trice, a lockdown corner for the Boilermakers with a team-best 10 pass breakups, also added two interceptions and 34 tackles throughout the season; he earned All-B1G Honorable Mention.
BURTON OFF THE BENCH
• With All-B1G quarterback Aidan O’Connell unavailable due to injury, fellow sixth-year senior Austin Burton heard his name called to start as Purdue’s quarterback versus FAU.
• The start was Burton’s first since Oct. 5, 2019 when he was UCLA’s starting quarterback against Oregon State.
• The Newton, Massachusetts, native completed 72.4 percent of his passes (21-of-29) for 166 yards and three touchdowns.
• He connected with his roommate Charlie Jones for a pair of scores.
• Burton didn’t seem to have much rust, marching the Boilermakers down the field on the opening drive by completing all six of his passes that resulted in a touchdown toss to Jones.
WELCOME BACK DREW BREES
• Purdue will have a familiar face on the Citrus Bowl sidelines, as former Boilermaker quarterback Drew Brees will serve as an assistant coach.
• Before his 20-year NFL career, Brees was a record-breaking quarterback at Purdue; he remains the school’s all-time leader in passing yards (11,792), completions (1,026) and passing touchdowns (90).
• He concluded his Purdue career by winning the Maxwell Award (nation’s most outstanding player) and leading the Boilermakers to the Rose Bowl.
• Taking his talents to the NFL, Brees was the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for more than 4,000 yards in 12-straight seasons, including an NFL-record five 5,000-yard passing seasons. He was selected 12 times to the Pro Bowl, a Saints record.
• Brees can help the Boilermakers reach nine wins for the second straight season; the last time Purdue had back-to-back nine-win seasons, he was the starting quarterback (1997-98) under legendary coach Joe Tiller.
PUTTING UP POINTS
• The Boilermakers have proved to be one of the top offenses in college football by putting up points against the nation’s best scoring defenses.
• Against Ryan Walters’ Illinois defense, which led the country by averaging only 12.2 points per game, Purdue scored 31 points in a win; it was the most allowed by the Illini all season long.
• Minnesota surrendered 13.3 ppg to rank fourth nationally, and Purdue became one of three teams to score at least 20 points on the Golden Gophers in a 20-10 victory in Minneapolis.
• In the Big Ten Championship, Purdue marched down the field on six scoring drives, the most scoring drives by a Michigan opponent this season. The No. 2 Wolverines enter the College Football Playoff ranked fifth in scoring defense (13.4 ppg).
A NEW ERA
• Ryan Walters, considered one of the nation’s fastest rising young coaches, has been named the 37th head football coach at Purdue University (Dec. 13).
• In his second season as defensive coordinator for Illinois in 2022, Walters emerged as one of the nation’s best defensive play callers. The Illini posted an 8-4 record, with five wins holding their opponents under seven points and seven wins at 10 points or fewer.
• Along with guiding the Illini defense to Top 10 national rankings in 17 different defensive categories, Walters was named 247Sports Defensive Coordinator of the Year and On3 Coordinator of the Year.
• This past season, Walters guided the nation’s No. 1 scoring defense (12.3) and No. 2 defense in yards allowed per game (263.8).
• Walters elevated Illinois’ defensive unit from the back of the pack into one of the nation’s elite in just two seasons. Following the 2020 season, in which the Fighting Illini ranked 97th nationally in scoring defense (34.9) and 114th in yards allowed per game (466.8), Walters’ first year in Champaign saw his side of the ball rise to 29th (21.9) and 49th (367.0), respectively.
• At 36, Walters becomes one of the youngest head coaches in college football; he has hired Graham Harrell as offensive coordinator and Kevin Kane as defensive coordinator.
BIG WINS AWAY FROM HOME
• Playing on the road in Big Ten play hasn’t fazed Purdue lately. The Boilermakers have won seven of their past nine conference games away from home, including the four this season against No. 21 Minnesota (Oct. 1), Maryland (Oct. 8), No. 21 Illinois (Nov. 12) and Indiana (Nov. 26).
• Three of those victories were over ranked teams. Purdue beat No. 2 Iowa 24-7 last season (Oct. 16, 2021), knocked off No. 21 Minnesota this October and took down No. 21 Illinois (Nov. 12).
• Last season, Purdue went 3-1 in B1G games away from home, which included a neutral site win over Northwestern at Wrigley Field. The Boilermakers ended the 2021 campaign with five victories away from Ross-Ade Stadium, their most since 1943.
FOURTH QUARTER DEFENSE
• The Purdue defense steps up in the fourth quarter, allowing only 37 points (4.6 ppg) in the final quarter over the last eight games of the regular season.
• In the final six games leading into the Big Ten Championship Game, the Boilermakers surrendered only three touchdowns and two field goals in fourth quarters to finish strong.
