Sep 193 min read

LSU Meets UCLA as Bruins make First Trip to Death Valley

LSU | QB Garrett Nussmeier — ©Ken Ruinard/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

The No. 16 LSU Tigers (2-1, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) look to keep up their winning streak as the UCLA Bruins (1-1, 0-1 Big Ten Conference) come to town. This will be the first ever game for the Bruins in Death Valley. LSU and UCLA will meet at 3:30 p.m. EST on Sept. 21 at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

What's at Stake?

Tigers head coach Brian Kelly is looking to continue his streak of seven straight 10-win seasons. He is the winningest active coach in college football and holds an overall record of 306-104-2.

The Bruins look to improve to 2-0 over the Tigers as they won the first-ever meeting between the two teams. The Bruins defeated the Tigers in 2021 at Rose Bowl Stadium on Sept. 4 by a score of 38-27.

Key Players: LSU

Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, Wide Receiver Kyren Lacy

Nussmeier leads the SEC and ranks No. 2 in the entire FBS in passing touchdowns with 10 on the year. He also ranks No. 1 in the SEC with 81 pass completions. He has been a hidden gem especially after sitting behind now Washington Commanders quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels.

Lacy also has put up some nice numbers to start the year for the Tigers and he also has high rankings just like Nussmeier. Lacy ranks No. 2 in the entire FBS and leads the SEC in receiving touchdowns with 5. Lacy also has caught 17 passes for 222 yards. He is going to be one that the LSU offense will continue to lean on because of his reliability.

Defensive End Bradyn Swinson, Linebacker Whit Weeks

Swinson had himself an amazing game against the South Carolina Gamecocks (2-1, 0-1 SEC) in Week 3. He set a career best in sacks with 3 and totaled 23 yards lost on those 3 sacks. He ranks No. 2 in the SEC in sacks so far this season.

Weeks ended up making his first start in 2024 in Week 3 against the Gamecocks and put up a stellar performance. He set a career-high with 11 tackles and leads the Tigers through 3 weeks with 23 tackles.

Key Players: UCLA

Quarterback Ethan Garbers, Wide Receiver Rico Flores

Garbers had a very mediocre game in Week 3 in a loss to the Indiana Hoosiers (3-0, 1-0 Big Ten Conference). He completed 14-of-23 passes for 137 yards and 1 interception. If the Bruins offense hopes to beat the Tigers, they are definitely going to need a better showing from him.

Flores did not put up a great game against the Hoosiers either, but he does have some good numbers put through 2 games. He has 5 receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown and is a crucial part of this Bruins offense.

Linebacker Kain Medrano, Linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo

Medrano enters this matchup against the Tigers as the leader in solo tackles for the Big Ten with 6.5 and also leads in tackles for loss with 2.

Oladejo had himself a game against the Hoosiers. He had 7 tackles and assisted on 3 more. He has 10 tackles on the season and looks to continue to be an anchor for this Bruins defense.

Trends to Watch

The Tigers are looking to make it 12 straight wins at Tiger Stadium. The Bruins are looking for a better start in this upcoming matchup after they were just defeated by the Hoosiers by a score of 42-13.