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I’ve seen a number of articles predicting LSU to lose 3, 4, even 5 games this year — and almost every one of them has LSU losing the opener to Clemson.
I’ve been following LSU closely for 25 years — so I may be biased, but I know a lot about this team’s history. And I’ve got five reasons LSU will will be in the playoff and compete for the National Championship this year.
We’re starting with Reason #5 — The secret weapon for LSU:
Alex Atkins & The Running Game
I know what you’re thinking… LSU’s running game was horrendous last year. The Tigers ranked last in the SEC in rushing, with just 1,513 net yards all season. Pro Football Focus gave them a run-blocking grade of 58.2 — 12th in the SEC. Nationally, LSU was outside the top 100 at 4.1 yards per carry. And one of the worst stats out there? LSU was stuffed on 18.7% of its runs. That’s brutal.
Then things got worse. In the Texas A&M game, center Garrett Dellinger — a senior vet holding the line together — suffered a high ankle sprain. Even with a below-average offensive line, that injury completely changed the trajectory of LSU’s season.
LSU was forced to bring in a redshirt freshman at center (Chester), playing next to another redshirt freshman (Mubenga), neither of which was ready for the SEC.
When you have constant pressure up the middle, it becomes nearly impossible to run the ball or even pass effectively. The center is also in charge of alignments and adjustments at the line. We saw that collapse against A&M and Alabama, where LSU allowed 31 QB pressures in just those two games combined.
We saw it again in the Florida game, where LSU gave up seven sacks — six of them in the second half. For perspective, LSU had only allowed six sacks total before that game.
Because of these issues, Joe Sloan often abandoned the run. Play-calling became predictable. Final stat — and then we’ll stop reliving the tragedy: LSU ran the ball on first down just 42.4% of the time, ranking dead last among Power Four conferences. They also ranked last in rushing attempts per game. That screams “no confidence” in the ground game.
What’s Different This Year?
LSU has a secret weapon nobody is talking about: Alex Atkins.
Atkins was Florida State’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 2022–2024. LSU hired him as run game coordinator, and I’m telling you — this was a home-run hire. He did get himself in some hot water with recruiting violations before NIL went wild, which meant LSU landed him at a discount.
Atkins is known for developing a dynamic, physical run game — and he’s considered an expert in gap-scheme concepts, especially the counter play.
At Florida State, they ran counter more than any other team in the country. They also created more explosive plays off counter than anyone else — leading the nation in yards gained before the ball carrier was even touched.
Why does this matter for LSU? Because with counter, you don’t have to be bigger or stronger in man-to-man matchups. It’s about leverage. Down blocks, pulling guards — that’s how you win.
Let’s break it down:
- The line blocks like it’s a play to the strong side.
- The backside guard and tight end pull to the weak side, giving you more blockers than defenders.
- The guard kicks out the end, the tight end seals the linebacker, and the RB follows through the hole.
It’s misdirection. Defenses struggle because you can always audible into stretch or off-tackle if they overcommit.
Atkins also coaches physicality — violent hands, leverage, and adaptability. He’ll adjust blocking rules on the fly based on defensive looks, switching pullers or using techniques like gallop blocking to neutralize attacking defenders.
And here’s the beauty: once counter is established, Sloan can layer the offense — play-action, screens, you name it. At FSU, Atkins ran a gorgeous counter-screen variation. Imagine LSU’s speed — Caden Durham catching that? Game-changing.
Other Keys to the Run Game
- Deep Passing Threats: With Barion Brown, Chris Hilton (healthy), and Aaron Anderson, defenses won’t be able to keep safeties in the box. That’s huge.
- Stability at Center: LSU added Braelin Moore, the No. 1 interior OL in the portal. No more redshirt freshmen getting blown up at center.
- Talent Across the Line: Josh Thompson (#2 interior OL in the portal), Weston Davis (five-star RT), and Cohen Echols (my pick at LG — an absolute mauler). The line finally has the talent and the scheme.
Clemson’s Run Defense
And finally — let’s talk about Clemson. They were 16th (dead last) in the ACC in rush defense last year.
They’ve got talented linemen and future pros, but they struggled with missed tackles, poor gap fits, and inconsistent physicality. That’s why DC Wes Goodwin was fired.
Now they’re switching to a 4–2–5 under new DC Tom Allen. Good coach, modern scheme, but history shows first-year coordinators usually hit lower ceilings in year one. Clemson would need to improve just to be “average” against the run in the ACC.
Flip side? LSU only needs to be average in the run game to have success with this scheme.
Wrap-Up
So, in summary: LSU’s run game will be much improved this year. And that’s Reason #5 why LSU will beat Clemson this Saturday.
Learn anything new today? Drop it in the comments. Clemson fans — tell me why I’m wrong, I want to hear from you too.
And remember — there are far more important things in life than football. Enjoy the season… but don’t let it steal your joy.