Humbled Tigers hoping to regroup after unexpected bye

BATON ROUGE, LA. — LSU coach Ed Orgeronwas grateful for an extraweek to help the Tigers confront considerable challenges on both sides of the ball.

He’ l l have t o hope that’s enough time for the unranked Tigers ( 1- 2, 1- 2 SEC) to turn back South Carolina ( 2- 2, 2- 2), which is riding high after its first victory over Auburn in nearly a century.

“Our players were tired, our players were beat up. They needed the time off,” Orgeron said, referring to last weekend’s postponement of a game at Florida because of a COVID- 19 outbreak among the Gators. “We had two extra days on South Carolina, sowe should be ahead.”

Not only did LSU’s defense look in disarray the last time it took the field in a 45- 41 loss at Missouri, but starting quarterbackMyles Brennan cameaway fromthe loss with an abdomen injury that would have prevented him from playing in the Swamp last weekend and will sideline him thisweekend, Orgeron said.

On Thursday, Orgeron named freshman TJ Finley thisweek’s starting quarterback, sayinghenarrowlyoutperformed fellowfreshman Max Johnson in practice.

“The team loves both of those guys. It was a very close battle,” Orgeron said. “I told Max I want to play him, but it all depends on the flowof the game. ... I just want to give both a chance.”

The Gamecocks will enter LSU’s Death Valley on the heels of a 30- 22 triumph last Saturday that marked South Carolina’s first victory over Auburn since 1933.

“Auburnwas a good team that happened to be ranked 15th in the country. Hadn’t beaten them in a while,” said South Carolina QB Collin Hill, a Colorado State graduate transfer who has helped the Gamecocks average 30.5 points. “That definitely gave us a boost.”

LSUhardly has the look of a defending national champion through three games. But South Carolina defensive lineman Brad Johnson noted, “They are the defending national champions, so that’s a fact, whether you look at them thatway or not.

“Obviously, they do have talent that can make plays,” he added. “But so do we.”

Orgeronsaid his two freshman QBs both have looked “very impressive” while splitting first- team snaps in practice, which is why he wants to see both play tonight.

“I believe both of those guys have NFL talent,” Orgeron said.