Both LSU and Notre Dame entered the 2014 season with high expectations and equally high rankings. At some point in the year both teams were ranked in the top 10, but suffered big stumbles during the year that dropped the Tigers to No. 22 and the Fighting Irish out of the top 25 altogether. With eyes on the future, both LSU and Notre Dame will aim to end disappointing seasons on a high note with a win in the Music City Bowl.
LSU started the season off on a high note getting the win over Wisconsin before starting on a 3-0 win streak, shutting out two of those opponents. However, the SEC West proved to be too much for the Tigers this season as they stumbled against teams like Alabama and Texas A&M while getting a win over then-No. 1 Ole Miss. Most of the struggles for the Tigers can be blamed on their offense while the defense remained one of the best in the nation. The Tigers were led the country in defensive passing efficiency while ranking fourth in passing yards allowed and total yards allowed.
The offense was simply not the same. Quarterback Anthony Jennings struggled heavily at times this season. He threw for just 1,460 yards and 10 touchdowns while getting benched at one point. Leonard Fournette was the best of the running back rotation, but only had 891 yards and eight touchdowns. However, Kenny Hilliard and Terrence Magee were worthy backups and as a rotation they averaged 219.5 yards per game, something that will work in their favor against Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish started 6-0 with dreams of the college football playoffs, but that ended with a controversial loss to Florida State. That changed their season as Notre Dame ended on a 1-5 stretch. Notre Dame merely fell apart at the end of the year to finish 7-5 on the season. The team could put things back together if they had Everett Golson at quarterback, but head coach Brian Kelly announced that Malik Zaire will get his first start instead.
Golson threw for 3,355 yards and 29 touchdowns this season, but committed 22 turnovers overall. The senior will now watch Zaire play who has only gotten garbage minutes this season with 170 yards to his name all coming against USC. The real issue for the Irish is their defense which allowed 291 total points over the last seven games.
