2018 LSU Tigers football team

The 2018 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University during the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers played their home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and competed in the West Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They were led by second-year head coach Ed Orgeron.

2018 LSU Tigers football
Fiesta Bowl champion
Fiesta Bowl, W 40–32 vs. UCF
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionWestern Division
Ranking
CoachesNo. 7
APNo. 6
2018 record10–3 (5–3 SEC)
Head coach
  • Ed Orgeron (2nd full year as HC; 3rd overall season)
Offensive coordinatorSteve Ensminger (1st full year as OC; 9th overall season)
Offensive schemePro-style/Spread
Defensive coordinatorDave Aranda (3rd season)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumTiger Stadium (Capacity: 102,321)
2018 Southeastern Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
East Division
No. 7т Georgia x  7 –1     11 –3  
No. 12 Kentucky  5 –3     10 –3  
No. 7т Florida  5 –3     10 –3  
South Carolina  4 –4     7 –6  
Missouri  4 –4     8 –5  
Vanderbilt  3 –5     6 –7  
Tennessee  2 –6     5 –7  
West Division
No. 2 Alabama x$^  8 –0     14 –1  
No. 16 Texas A&M  5 –3     9 –4  
No. 6 LSU  5 –3     10 –3  
Auburn  3 –5     8 –5  
Ole Miss  1 –7     5 –7  
Arkansas  0 –8     2 –10  
Mississippi State*  0 –4     0 –5  
Championship: Alabama 35, Georgia 28
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • * Mississippi State vacated four conference and eight total wins due to NCAA violations.[1]
Rankings from AP Poll

The Tigers, coming off a 9–4 season in Orgeron's first full season, began the year ranked 25th in the preseason AP Poll. In the first game of the year, the team defeated No. 8 Miami (FL) in the Advocare Classic played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. LSU won its next four games, including on the road against then-No. 7 Auburn, and rose to fifth in the AP Poll, before falling on the road to Florida. The team rebounded with wins over No. 2 Georgia and No. 22 Mississippi State before being shutout by eventual SEC champions Alabama. In the last game of the regular season, LSU lost on the road against Texas A&M in an FBS record-tying seven overtimes. The final score of the game, 74–72, set the FBS record for combined points in a single game (146). The team finished the regular season tied for second in the SEC's West Division and was invited to the Fiesta Bowl to play UCF, which the Tigers won by a score of 40–32 to end UCF's active win streak of 25 games. LSU finished the season with an overall record of 10–3 and was ranked 6th in the final AP Poll.

The team's defense featured three consensus All-Americans in defensive backs Grant Delpit and Greedy Williams, and linebacker Devin White, who was awarded the Dick Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker. On offense, the Tigers were led by redshirt junior quarterback Joe Burrow, who finished with 2,894 passing yards and 23 total touchdowns (16 passing and 7 rushing). Senior running back Nick Brossette led the team in rushing with 1,039 yards and 14 touchdowns.[2]

Previous season

The Tigers finished the 2017 season 9–4, 6–2 in SEC play to finish in third place in the Western Division. They were invited to the Citrus Bowl where they lost to Notre Dame.

Recruiting

Position key
Back B Center C Cornerback CB Defensive back DB
Defensive end DE Defensive lineman DL Defensive tackle DT End E
Fullback FB Guard G Halfback HB Kicker K
Kickoff returner KR Offensive tackle OT Offensive lineman OL Linebacker LB
Long snapper LS Punter P Punt returner PR Quarterback QB
Running back RB Safety S Tight end TE Wide receiver WR

Recruits

The Tigers signed a total of 22 recruits.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Award Player Position Year
Lott Trophy[3] Devin White LB JR
Chuck Bednarik Award[4] Devin White LB JR
Greedy Williams CB SO
Fred Biletnikoff Award[5] Jonathan Giles WR JR
John Mackey Award[6] Foster Moreau TE SR
Butkus Award[7] Devin White LB JR
Jim Thorpe Award[8] Greedy Williams CB SO
Wuerffel Trophy[9] Blake Ferguson LS JR
Walter Camp Award[10] Greedy Williams CB SO

SEC media poll

The SEC media poll was released on July 20, 2018 with the Tigers selected to finish in fifth place in the West Division.[11]

Media poll (West)
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1Alabama1,971 (263)
2Auburn1,664 (19)
3Mississippi State1,239 (2)
4Texas A&M1,091
5LSU1,025
6Ole Miss578
7Arkansas412

Preseason All-SEC teams

The Tigers had five players selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
September 26:30 p.m.vs. No. 8 Miami (FL)*No. 25
ABCW 33–1768,841
September 86:00 p.m.Southeastern Louisiana*No. 11
ESPN2W 31–096,883
September 152:30 p.m.at No. 7 AuburnNo. 12
CBSW 22–2186,787
September 226:00 p.m.Louisiana Tech*No. 6
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA
ESPNUW 38–21102,321
September 298:00 p.m.Ole MissNo. 5
ESPNW 45–16100,224
October 62:30 p.m.at No. 22 FloridaNo. 5
CBSL 19–2790,283
October 132:30 p.m.No. 2 GeorgiaNo. 13
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA
CBSW 36–16102,321
October 206:00 p.m.No. 22 Mississippi StateNo. 5
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA (rivalry)
ESPNW 19–3101,340
November 37:00 p.m.No. 1 AlabamaNo. 3
CBSL 0–29102,321
November 106:30 p.m.at ArkansasNo. 9
SECNW 24–1764,135
November 176:30 p.m.Rice*No. 10
  • Tiger Stadium
  • Baton Rouge, LA
ESPNUW 42–10100,323
November 246:30 p.m.at Texas A&MNo. 8
SECNL 72–74 7OT101,501
January 1, 201912:00 p.m.vs. No. 7 UCF*No. 11
ESPNW 40–3257,246
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

Roster
2018 LSU Tigers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
WR 1 Ja'Marr Chase Fr
WR 2 Justin Jefferson So
QB 3 A. J. Aycock Fr
RB 4 Nick Brossette Sr
QB 5 Alex Aucoin Fr
WR 6 Terrace Marshall Jr. Fr
QB 8 Jordan Loving Fr
QB 9 Joe Burrow Jr
WR 10 Stephen Sullivan Jr
WR 11 Dee Anderson Jr
WR 12 Jonathan Giles Jr
QB 13 Andre Sale So
RB 14 Justin Jones  So
QB 15 Myles Brennan So
QB 16 Tiger Scheyd Sr
TE 17 Racey McMath So
TE 18 Foster Moreau Sr
WR 19 Derrick Dillon Jr
RB 22 Clyde Edwards-Helaire So
RB 24 Chris Curry Fr
RB 25 Tae Provens Fr
RB 27 Lanard Fournette Jr
WR 28 Danny Bushland Fr
WR 30 Michael Ostrom Sr
TE 34 Zach Sheffer Fr
WR 38 Keith Fulton So
TE 41 David Ducre Sr
TE 41 Carlton Smith  Fr
TE 42 Aaron Moffitt  Fr
FB 43 Matt Brock Jr
FB 44 Tory Carter So
TE 45 Stephen King Fr
FB 47 Trey Gallman Sr
TE 49 Jansen Mayea Fr
OL 51 Dare Rosenthal Fr
OL 54 Rory Luke Jr
OL 57 Chasen Hines Fr
OL 61 Cameron Wire Fr
OL 62 Justin Mikush Sr
OL 65 Jakori Savage  So
OL 67 Cole Smith Fr
OL 68 Damien Lewis Jr
OL 69 Turner Simmers Sr
OL 70 Ed Ingram So
OL 71 Donovaughn Campbell So
OL 73 Adrian Magee Jr
OL 74 Badara Traore Jr
OL 75 Michael Smith  So
OL 76 Austin Deculus So
OL 77 Saahdiq Charles So
OL 78 Garrett Brumfield Sr
OL 79 Lloyd Cushenberry  So
TE 80 Jamal Pettigrew  So
TE 81 Thaddeus Moss So
WR 82 Kenan Jones Fr
WR 83 Jaray Jenkins Fr
WR 85 Michael Martin Fr
WR 87 Wesley McKoy Jr
TE 88 Jacory Washington Sr
WR 89 Colby Brunet  So
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DB 1 Kelvin Joseph Fr
DB 3 JaCoby Stevens So
LB 4 K'Lavon Chaisson So
DB 5 Kary Vincent Jr. So
LB 6 Jacob Phillips So
LB 8 Patrick Queen So
DB 9 Grant Delpit So
DB 11 Terrence Alexander Sr
DB 13 Jontre Kirklin So
DB 14 Ja'Vaughn Narcisse  Fr
DB 17 Jabari Murray Fr
DB 21 Ed Paris Sr
DB 22 Kristian Fulton Jr
LB 23 Micah Bakersfield Fr
LB 24 Tyler Taylor So
DB 25 Jonathan Baker Jr
DB 26 John Battle Sr
DB 27 Treven Kately  Fr
DB 28 Mannie Netherly So
DB 29 Greedy Williams  So
DB 30 Eric Monroe  So
DB 31 Cameron Lewis  So
DB 32 Amire Loftis Jr
DB 33 Todd Harris Jr. So
LB 35 Damone Clark Fr
DB 39 Lloyd Cole Jr
LB 40 Devin White Jr
LB 42 Hunter Faust Fr
LB 43 Ray Thornton  So
LB 45 Michael Divinity Jr
LB 46 Andre Anthony  So
DL 47 Nelson Jenkins III Fr
LB 48 Dantrieze Scott Fr
DL 49 Travez Moore Jr
LB 52 Kody Hall Jr
LB 53 Cameron Prudhomme Fr
DL 54 Davin Cotton Fr
LB 55 Jarell Cherry Fr
LB 58 Jared Small  Fr
DL 59 Seth Newsome  So
DL 72 Tyler Shelvin  Fr
DL 90 Rashard Lawrence Jr
DL 91 Breiden Fehoko Jr
DL 92 Neil Farrell Jr. So
DL 93 Justin Thomas So
DL 95 Ed Alexander So
DL 96 Glenn Logan  So
DL 98 Dominic Livingston Fr
DL 99 Ed Alexander Jr
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 32 Avery Atkins Fr
K 34 Connor Culp  So
K 36 Cole Tracy Sr
P 38 Josh Growden Jr
K 39 Jack Gonsoulin Jr
P 46 Zack Von Rosenberg  So
LS 48 Blake Ferguson Jr
LS 53 Will Cox Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Steve Ensminger – Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
  • Dave Aranda – Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
  • Greg McMahon – Special Teams Coordinator
  • Tommie Robinson – Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator
  • Jerry Sullivan – Offensive Assistant/Passing Game Coordinator
  • Mickey Joseph – Wide Receivers
  • James Cregg – Offensive Line
  • Dennis Johnson – Defensive Line
  • Corey Raymond – Defensive Backs
  • Bill Busch – Safeties
  • Tommy Moffitt – Assistant Athletic Director/Strength and Conditioning
  • Dr. Sam Nader – Assistant Athletic Director – Football
  • Sharon Lewis – Assistant Athletic Director/Football Recruiting and Alumni Relations
  • Kevin Faulk – Director, Player Development
  • Derek Ponamsky – Special Assistant to the Head Coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Roster
Last update: 10/26/18

Game summaries

vs Miami (FL)
See also: 2018 Miami Hurricanes football team and Advocare Classic
LSU vs. Miami (FL) – Game summary
1 2 34Total
No. 8 Hurricanes 3 0 01417
No. 25 Tigers 10 17 6033

at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

  • Date: September 2
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C); N/A (Indoors)
  • Game attendance: 68,841
  • Referee: Mike Defee
  • TV: ABC
Game information

Southeastern Louisiana
See also: 2018 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team
Southeastern Louisiana at LSU – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Lions 0 0 000
No. 11 Tigers 14 10 0731

at Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA

  • Date: September 8
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 90 °F (32 °C); fair
  • Game attendance: 96,883
  • Referee: James Carter
  • TV: ESPN2
Game information

at Auburn
See also: 2018 Auburn Tigers football team and Auburn–LSU football rivalry
LSU at Auburn – Game summary
1 2 34Total
No. 11 LSU Tigers 7 3 3922
No. 7 AUB Tigers 0 14 7021

at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL

  • Date: September 15
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 93 °F (34 °C); partly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 86,787
  • Referee: John McDaid
  • TV: CBS
Game information

Louisiana Tech
See also: 2018 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team
Louisiana Tech at LSU – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Bulldogs 0 7 7721
No. 6 Tigers 7 17 01438

at Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA

  • Date: September 22
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 78 °F (26 °C); light rain
  • Game attendance: 102,321
  • Referee: David Smith
  • TV: ESPNU
Game information

Ole Miss
See also: 2018 Ole Miss Rebels football team and Magnolia Bowl
Ole Miss at LSU – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Rebels 3 3 7316
No. 5 Tigers 14 14 71045

at Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA

  • Date: September 29
  • Game time: 8:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C); cloudy
  • Game attendance: 100,224
  • Referee: Ken Williamson
  • TV: ESPN
Game information

at Florida
See also: 2018 Florida Gators football team and Florida–LSU football rivalry
LSU at Florida – Game summary
1 2 34Total
No. 5 Tigers 7 3 3619
No. 22 Gators 0 14 01327

at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL

  • Date: October 6
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 88 °F (31 °C); sunny and humid
  • Game attendance: 90,283
  • Referee: Matt Loeffler
  • TV: CBS
Game information

Georgia
See also: 2018 Georgia Bulldogs football team
Georgia at LSU – Game summary
1 2 34Total
No. 2 Bulldogs 0 0 9716
No. 13 Tigers 3 13 31736

at Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA

  • Date: October 13
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 86 °F (30 °C); sunny
  • Game attendance: 102,321
  • Referee: James Carter
  • TV: CBS
Game information

Mississippi State
See also: 2018 Mississippi State Bulldogs football team and LSU–Mississippi State football rivalry
Mississippi State at LSU – Game summary
1 2 34Total
No. 22 Bulldogs 3 0 003
No. 5 Tigers 7 3 6319

at Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA

  • Date: October 20
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C); cloudy w/ light rain
  • Game attendance: 101,340
  • Referee: John McDaid
  • TV: ESPN
Game information

Alabama
See also: 2018 Alabama Crimson Tide football team and Alabama–LSU football rivalry
Alabama at LSU – Game summary
1 2 34Total
No. 1 Crimson Tide 6 10 6729
No. 4 Tigers 0 0 000

at Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA

  • Date: November 3
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C); clear
  • Game attendance: 102,321
  • Referee: Matt Austin
  • TV: CBS
Game information

at Arkansas
See also: 2018 Arkansas Razorbacks football team and Arkansas–LSU football rivalry
LSU at Arkansas – Game summary
1 2 34Total
No. 9 Tigers 7 7 10024
Razorbacks 0 3 01417

at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, AR

  • Date: November 10
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 38 °F (3 °C); clear
  • Game attendance: 64,135
  • Referee: Lee Hedrick
  • TV: SEC Network
Game information

Rice
See also: 2018 Rice Owls football team
Rice at LSU – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Owls 0 3 0710
No. 10 Tigers 14 14 7742

at Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA

  • Date: November 17
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C); clear
  • Game attendance: 100,323
  • Referee: Marc Curles
  • TV: ESPNU
Game information

at Texas A&M
See also: 2018 Texas A&M Aggies football team, LSU–Texas A&M football rivalry, and 2018 LSU vs. Texas A&M football game
LSU at Texas A&M – Game summary
1 2 34OT2OT3OT4OT5OT6OT7OTTotal
No. 7 Tigers 7 3 714378368672
Aggies 7 10 77378368874

at Kyle Field, College Station, TX

  • Date: November 24
  • Game time: 6:30 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C); clear
  • Game attendance: 101,501
  • Referee: Matt Austin
  • TV: SEC Network
Game information

Highest scoring game in FBS History[12]

vs. UCF (Fiesta Bowl)
See also: 2018 UCF Knights football team and 2019 Fiesta Bowl (January)
UCF vs. LSU – Game summary
1 2 34Total
No. 11 Tigers 10 14 10640
No. 8 Knights 14 7 3832

at State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ

  • Date: January 1
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
  • Game attendance: 57,246
  • Referee: S. Mullins
  • TV: ESPN
Game information

Rankings
Further information: 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Final 
AP 25 11 12 6 5 5 13 5 4 4 9 10 8 12–T 11 6 
Coaches 24 15 13 6 6 6 12 5 4 4 10 10 8 14 11 7 
CFP Not released 3 7 7 7 10 11 Not released

Players drafted into the NFL
See also: 2019 NFL Draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionNFL Club
15Devin WhiteLBTampa Bay Buccaneers
246Greedy WilliamsCBCleveland Browns
4137Foster MoreauTEOakland Raiders

References
  1. Journal, Logan Lowery Daily. "MSU fires Moorhead after two seasons". Daily Journal. All eight of Moorhead's victories in 2018 had to be vacated after 10 football players were reprimanded by the NCAA for academic misconduct involving a former part-time tutor and an online chemistry class.
  2. "2018 LSU Tigers Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  3. "2018 Watch List | Lott IMPACT Trophy | Honoring College Football's Defensive Best". lottimpacttrophy.org. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
  4. "2018 Bednarik Award Watch List – Maxwell Football Club". Maxwell Football Club. 2018-07-16. Retrieved 2018-07-17.
  5. "2018 Biletnikoff Award Watch List". July 19, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  6. "2018 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List Released" (PDF). July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  7. "Butkus Award – 2018 Collegiate Watchlist". The Butkus Award. July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  8. "Paycom Jim Thorpe Award Names 2018 Preseason Watchlist". July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  9. "Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List". July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  10. Carbone, Al (July 27, 2018). "Walter Camp Football Foundation Announces 2018 Player of the Year Preseason "Watch List"". Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  11. http://www.secsports.com/article/24148392/media-predicts-alabama-win-2018-sec-championship
  12. "Texas A&M beats LSU in 7 OT, highest scoring FBS game ever". SI.com. Retrieved 2018-11-25.
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