USDA GAME OF THE WEEK: THE TRENCH WAR!
USDA SPORTS | SEASON 2 | WEEK 4
USDA GAME OF THE WEEK: THE TRENCH WAR!
NO. 7 OKLAHOMA SOONERS (3–0) VS. NO. 6 LSU TIGERS (3–0)
Coach Quon vs. Coach KJ | Tiger Stadium — Baton Rouge, Louisiana
THE PLAYOFF REMATCH EVERYBODY HAS BEEN WAITING FOR! TWO UNDEFEATED POWERHOUSES. TWO NEW DEFENSIVE COORDINATORS. TWO NEW QUARTERBACKS. ONE WAR IN THE TRENCHES!
The USDA Game of the Week is heading straight into Death Valley, where Coach KJ and his No. 6 LSU Tigers welcome Coach Quon and his No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners for what promises to be one of the most physical matchups of Season 2!
This isn't just another regular-season game. This is a rematch of last season's College Football Playoff semifinals, where Coach Quon and Oklahoma ended LSU's championship dreams on their way to the National Championship Game.
And you better believe Coach KJ hasn't forgotten about that!
Both teams enter Week 4 with perfect 3–0 records, but neither squad looks exactly like the team that took the field in last season's semifinal showdown. New quarterbacks, new defensive coordinators, different schemes, and several new faces have completely changed the landscape of this matchup.
But one thing hasn't changed: WHOEVER CONTROLS THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE WILL CONTROL THIS FOOTBALL GAME!
And with over 100,000 screaming LSU fans expected to make Tiger Stadium a nightmare, Coach Quon better have his Sooners ready for a fight!
LSU TIGERS: REVENGE STARTS IN THE TRENCHES!
Coach KJ | 3–0 | No. 6 nationally
Coach KJ has his Tigers rolling through the first three weeks of the season, and after dismantling No. 22 Minnesota 37–7, LSU looks ready for its biggest challenge yet.
Against Minnesota, the Tigers put up 420 total yards, including 272 passing yards and 148 rushing yards, while holding the Golden Gophers to just 129 total yards.
But Oklahoma isn't Minnesota, and KJ knows it!
Harlem Berry: Feed the Beast!
If LSU wants revenge, the offensive game plan needs to start with junior running back Harlem Berry, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound East/West Playmaker who possesses the speed and explosiveness to change a game in one carry.
Berry brings 95 speed, 97 acceleration, and 94 change of direction to the LSU backfield. He's a nightmare in space, and Coach KJ needs to make him the centerpiece of this offense.
The magic number? Four yards per carry.
If Berry can consistently pick up four or more yards, LSU can stay ahead of the chains, control the clock, and prevent Oklahoma's defensive front from pinning its ears back and attacking the quarterback.
KJ doesn't need Berry to rush for 250 yards. He needs him to move the chains, wear Oklahoma down, and force those linebackers to respect the run.
Because the more Oklahoma worries about Berry, the more opportunities LSU quarterback Drake Lindsey will have through the air.
Drake Lindsey and Trey'Dez Green: The Safety Blanket!
Junior quarterback Drake Lindsey takes over an LSU offense loaded with weapons, but this will easily be his toughest test of the season.
Lindsey, a 6-foot-5 pocket passer, has the arm talent to make every throw on the field. But against Oklahoma's defensive front, he'll need to make quick decisions, protect the football, and avoid unnecessary sacks.
Fortunately, he has one of the best security blankets in USDA.
Trey'Dez Green — 6-foot-7, 238 pounds, 93 overall!
Green is an absolute matchup nightmare. With 90 speed, 91 acceleration, and his physical route-running ability, he's almost impossible to defend one-on-one.
Need eight yards on third down? Find Green.
Need a big catch across the middle? Find Green.
Need somebody to bail Lindsey out when the pocket collapses? You already know who he's looking for!
Green's reliable hands and precise routes make him the perfect weapon against Oklahoma's aggressive defense. Expect Lindsey to target his big tight end early and often.
But there's one problem that could ruin everything.
CAN LSU'S OFFENSIVE LINE SURVIVE DAVID STONE?
Let's talk about the elephant in the room.
LSU's offensive line hasn't exactly looked like the dominant group Coach KJ expected coming into the season, and now those boys have to line up against arguably the most dangerous defensive tackle in the entire country.
DAVID STONE.
The Oklahoma senior is a 6-foot-3, 315-pound monster with a 97 overall rating, 94 strength, and a collection of elite physical abilities that make him a nightmare for offensive linemen.
Stone isn't just another defensive tackle. He's a legitimate candidate to become the first player selected in next year's NFL Draft.
His combination of pure power, explosiveness, and ability to destroy the pocket could completely change LSU's offensive game plan.
If Stone starts living in the backfield, Berry won't have anywhere to run, Lindsey won't have time to throw, and Green might spend half the game helping protect instead of catching passes.
The biggest question for LSU: Are those offensive linemen ready to become grown men, or is David Stone about to put somebody on a highlight reel?
LSU DEFENSE: BRENT PRY BRINGS BACK THE 4-2-5!
Coach KJ made one of the most interesting offseason moves in USDA by hiring defensive coordinator Brent Pry, bringing a familiar 4-2-5 defensive system back to Baton Rouge.
Last season, after losing his defensive coordinator to Texas A&M, KJ operated out of the Multiple defensive scheme during the playoff run.
But this year, he's going back to what he knows best.
The 4-2-5 gives LSU the flexibility to defend the run while keeping enough speed on the field to handle Oklahoma's passing attack.
And the Tigers have two monsters in the middle who could make this defense special.
Sophomore DT Lamar Brown and senior DT Dominick McKinley.
Those two are expected to clog running lanes, collapse the interior offensive line, and make Oklahoma's running backs work for every single yard.
But here's where things get interesting.
Last season, Oklahoma ran all over LSU in the semifinal matchup. Coach Quon knows he can attack KJ on the ground because he's already done it!
Will Brent Pry's new system finally give LSU the answers it didn't have last season?
Or will Coach Quon prove that changing defensive coordinators doesn't mean a damn thing if you still can't stop the run?
OKLAHOMA SOONERS: QUON IS COMING BACK TO FINISH THE JOB!
Coach Quon | 3–0 | No. 7 nationally
Coach Quon has his Oklahoma Sooners undefeated and looking dangerous after a convincing 37–10 victory over San Diego State.
Oklahoma finished that game with 437 total yards, including an impressive 258 rushing yards, while holding San Diego State to negative nine rushing yards.
That's the kind of physical football Quon wants his Sooners playing!
And after knocking LSU out of the playoffs last season, he's heading back into this matchup with one goal: PROVE THAT THE FIRST TIME WASN'T A FLUKE!
Bowe Bentley: The New Face of Oklahoma Football!
John Mateer might be gone, but Coach Quon believes he has found the perfect replacement.
Enter Bowe Bentley, the 6-foot-1, 212-pound redshirt freshman quarterback who brings a completely different level of excitement to Oklahoma's backfield.
Bentley is a pure runner with 87 speed, 89 acceleration, and 91 change of direction. He has the ability to turn a broken play into a 30-yard gain before the defense even realizes what happened.
And after watching Mateer operate Quon's offense last season, Bentley knows exactly what is expected of him.
Run the football. Make defenders miss. Keep the chains moving. And punish defenses that forget about the quarterback run!
But here's the difference between watching somebody do it and actually doing it.
THIS GAME IS IN DEATH VALLEY!
Bentley hasn't faced an environment quite like the one waiting for him in Baton Rouge.
When that LSU crowd gets rocking, communication becomes difficult, offensive linemen start jumping early, and one bad decision can completely change the momentum.
Will Bentley embrace the bright lights and announce himself as USDA's next great dual-threat quarterback?
Or will the pressure of Tiger Stadium expose his inexperience?
Caleb Hawkins: Oklahoma's Home Run Hitter!
If LSU thinks stopping Bentley is enough, Coach Quon has another weapon waiting in the backfield.
CALEB HAWKINS!
Hawkins is the type of running back who can turn a routine carry into six points in the blink of an eye.
One second he's taking the handoff at the 20-yard line. The next second he's celebrating in the end zone!
That's what makes Oklahoma's rushing attack so dangerous. With Bentley threatening defenses on quarterback keepers and Hawkins attacking from the running back position, LSU's linebackers have to be disciplined on every single snap.
One missed assignment, one bad pursuit angle, or one defender getting caught looking into the backfield could lead to a huge play.
Lamar Brown and Dominick McKinley will need to dominate inside, but LSU's linebackers must finish tackles and prevent Hawkins from reaching the second level.
If Hawkins starts breaking explosive runs, Tiger Stadium could get quiet in a hurry.
Kaelan Chudzinski: The Mismatch Nobody Wants!
Just like LSU has Trey'Dez Green, Oklahoma has its own dangerous weapon at tight end.
Kaelan Chudzinski — 6-foot-3, 241 pounds, 89 overall!
The junior vertical threat gives Bentley a reliable option when things get difficult.
Second-and-12? Chudzinski.
Third-and-9? Chudzinski.
Need a big catch to keep a drive alive? Find No. 89!
With 82 speed, 86 acceleration, and excellent route-running ability for his size, Chudzinski can create serious problems for LSU's linebackers.
Put a linebacker on him, and he can stretch the field. Put a smaller defensive back on him, and he'll use his size to box that defender out and make the contested catch.
This could be one of the most important matchups of the entire game.
If LSU focuses too much on stopping Bentley and Hawkins, Chudzinski could quietly put together a monster performance.
OKLAHOMA DEFENSE: THE DAVID STONE SHOW!
Coach Quon's defense might have a new coordinator, but one thing remains the same.
DAVID STONE IS STILL A PROBLEM!
The Sooners enter this matchup with a 91-rated defense, and Stone is the centerpiece of everything they want to accomplish.
His ability to command double teams, destroy blocks, and disrupt plays before they develop allows Oklahoma's linebackers to run free and its defensive backs to stay aggressive in coverage.
Stone doesn't need 10 tackles to dominate a football game.
Sometimes all he needs to do is destroy the center, force Lindsey to leave the pocket, and create opportunities for the rest of his defense.
But Coach Quon made a surprising offseason decision that still has people around USDA scratching their heads.
After reaching the National Championship Game, Quon decided not to bring his defensive coordinator back.
Instead, he hired Lyle Hemphill, who brings a 4-2-5 Pressure defensive scheme to Oklahoma.
Some people couldn't believe it. Why change defensive coordinators after making it all the way to the championship?
But Quon clearly has a vision.
He wants an aggressive defense that attacks quarterbacks, creates negative plays, and forces turnovers.
The question is whether Hemphill can get his players comfortable enough in the new system before walking into one of the toughest environments in college football.
This will be a major test for the new coordinator.
If Oklahoma's defensive front dominates LSU's offensive line, Hemphill could look like a genius.
But if Berry starts finding running lanes and Lindsey gets comfortable throwing to Green, the Sooners could find themselves in a shootout they weren't expecting.
THE MATCHUP EVERYBODY SHOULD WATCH: THE TRENCHES!
LSU TIGERS
OKLAHOMA SOONERS
TEAM OVERALL
94
Offense: 94
Defense: 96
TEAM OVERALL
### 92
Offense: 94
Defense: 91
Forget the fancy offensive playbooks. Forget the quarterback hype. Forget the rankings for a minute.
This game will come down to which team can physically dominate the man standing across from them.
For LSU, the challenge is protecting Drake Lindsey from David Stone while creating enough rushing lanes for Harlem Berry.
For Oklahoma, the challenge is handling Lamar Brown and Dominick McKinley while keeping Bowe Bentley and Caleb Hawkins moving forward.
Both teams have dangerous tight ends. Both teams have talented running backs. Both teams have quarterbacks trying to establish themselves as leaders.
And both teams have new defensive coordinators running different versions of the 4-2-5.
But none of that matters if your offensive line is getting thrown around like rag dolls!
THIS IS GOING TO BE A FOUR-QUARTER FISTFIGHT IN THE TRENCHES!
FIVE KEYS TO THE GAME
1\. Harlem Berry must average four yards per carry. LSU needs consistent rushing production to keep Drake Lindsey out of obvious passing situations.
2\. David Stone vs. LSU's offensive line. If Stone takes over the interior, Oklahoma could completely shut down the Tigers' offensive rhythm.
3\. Bowe Bentley must handle Death Valley. The young quarterback can't allow the crowd, pressure, and atmosphere to force costly mistakes.
4\. Third-down conversions will be everything. Both teams need to sustain drives, control possession, and keep their defenses fresh.
5\. Which new defensive coordinator makes the better adjustments? Brent Pry and Lyle Hemphill are both bringing their systems into a massive early-season test.
USDA WIRE FINAL WORD: WHO REALLY OWNS THE TRENCHES?
Coach KJ has revenge on his mind. Coach Quon wants to remind everybody who won when these teams met in the playoffs.
LSU has the home-field advantage, a 96-rated defense, and a crowd that will be ready to explode from the opening kickoff.
Oklahoma has the confidence of last season's semifinal victory, an explosive quarterback-running back combination, and arguably the best defensive tackle in the country.
The Tigers want to prove they're a different team under Brent Pry.
The Sooners want to prove that even with new faces and a new defensive coordinator, the results against LSU will remain the same.
WILL COACH KJ GET HIS REVENGE IN DEATH VALLEY, OR WILL COACH QUON WALK INTO TIGER STADIUM AND BREAK LSU'S HEART ALL OVER AGAIN?
Two undefeated teams enter. Only one leaves 4–0.
And when that final whistle blows, everybody in USDA will know exactly which team controls the trenches.
THE TRENCH WAR!
NO. 6 LSU VS. NO. 7 OKLAHOMA — WEEK 4 — DEATH VALLEY!
NO EXCUSES. NO HIDING. JUST BIG BOY FOOTBALL!