LSU finishes below .500 for first time since 1999 after getting blown out by Kansas State in bizarre Texas Bowl
Koki Riley, Lafayette Daily Advertiser - Yesterday 10:22 PM
HOUSTON — The LSU football team played one of the strangest games in program history Tuesday night in the Texas Bowl against Kansas State.
The Tigers only had 39 scholarship players available and started a wide receiver, Jontre Kirklin, at quarterback. Even the most hardcore of fans would've had trouble recognizing some of the names on the backs of LSU's white, purple and gold jerseys.
With that in mind, the outcome was predictable. LSU (6-7) lost to Kansas State (8-5) in unspectacular fashion, 42-20, and finish the season with the program's first losing record since 1999. For Kansas State, coach Chris Klieman became the first man not named Bill Snyder to lead the Wildcats to victory in a bowl game.
Here are a few takeaways from the Tigers' final game of the 2021-22 campaign.
Jontre Kirklin's first start
With freshman Garrett Nussmeier sitting out the game in order to maintain his redshirt status, LSU turned to Kirklin, the senior wide receiver, as its starting quarterback.
Predictably, Kirklin struggled as the Tigers rarely attempted a pass in the first half. He had 4 passing yards until he found Jaraya Jenkins for a 23-yard score in the back of the end zone that cut the LSU deficit to 14 with seconds left in the half.
fwiw He was a HS AA at QB
in College he was switched to WR
So, with that, did UCLA even beat a team that finished at .500?