Death Valley will be illuminated on October 11 as the LSU Tigers host the South Carolina Gamecocks in a marquee SEC matchup. LSU is the obvious favorite, they history on their side with a 22-2 record at home under Brian Kelly and 19-1 at night. Both teams enter fresh off a bye week, which gives them a window to address lingering issues. Yet, while excitement is high, ESPN’s Greg McElroy has raised a few questions about how ready LSU truly is for this one.

Earlier this week, McElroy said that if the rest of South Carolina’s defense steps up, Stewart could have another productive season, and the Gamecocks’ defense could challenge some of the SEC’s top units. Then, in a conversation with ESPN College Football, Greg McElroy asked, “Can LSU’s offensive line take the necessary step? They have not been great this year. As a result, they’ve struggled to create the desired balance.”

The Tigers’ offense continued to sputter in their 24–19 loss at Ole Miss, managing only 256 total yards and a mere 59 on the ground. Greg McElroy pointed to the running game as a major factor in LSU’s lack of offensive momentum. LSU hasn’t managed to average four yards per carry in any contest this season. Even against Southeastern Louisiana, where they carried the ball 35 times for 135 yards, they fell short of that mark (3.9 YPC).

Against Ole Miss, their rushing attack was even less productive, averaging just 2.8 yards per carry, a shortfall that, according to McElroy, placed added strain on quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and the passing game. “Their offensive line is clearly a weak spot,” McElroy said.

McElroy also noted that the Gamecocks have their own challenges to sort out, which likely influenced his pick of LSU as the heavy favorite. “Can South Carolina’s O-line hold up against LSU’s front? This is the most critical mismatch right now because the offensive line for South Carolina has really struggled.” That said, he stressed that if South Carolina can capitalize on certain key matchups, an upset is not out of the question. “I think South Carolina will play well on defense, and I do think they can move the ball with some of their quarterback run.” This won’t be the straightforward victory that LSU fans might expect.

He proceeded, “And then question three, can Garrett Nussmeier get back on track? I think he’s due. I think this time off was significant. I’m hoping he’s back to 100%” hoping that he had made progress in the bye week. Now, both the QBs will be tested in Death Valley.

LSU and South Carolina are up for a QB test in the Death Valley

This Saturday night’s historic SEC matchup between LSU and South Carolina is going to electrify Tiger Stadium for sure. Following their 24-19 defeat to Ole Miss, the Tigers are coming off a bye week, which will give them more time to reflect and recover, especially QB Garrett Nussmeier. “He’s feeling better, and we didn’t do a lot with him last week. We wanted to use that as a recovery week.,” Brian Kelly said. All eyes will be on Nussmeier to help LSU regain the form that had raised them to one of the best passing offenses in the country last year. He has now been actively participating in team exercises and even worked through virtual reality sessions.

Meanwhile, South Carolina is attempting to overcome a rocky start to the season after defeating Kentucky 35–13. With his dual-threat skills, LaNorris Sellers has been the Gamecocks’ spark, but he hasn’t yet replicated the magic on the field yet. Shane Beamer is aware of the difficulty that lies ahead: “We’re not running the ball consistently enough right now… We have to be able to throw more consistently than we have.” The offensive line must hold up against the powerful and loaded LSU front for Sellers to shine on the field.

Also, both QBs’ confidence going into the rest of the SEC grind will be determined by this game. Although Nussmeier has thrown for 1,159 yards and seven touchdowns in five games, LSU is near the bottom of the SEC in passing efficiency, and the deep ball hasn’t clicked yet. On the other side, every yard play counts because Sellers is leading the Gamecocks when they rank last in the SEC in terms of overall offense. For fans, it may eventually come down to which QB can lead his team and make plays when it matters most.