LSU’s season is teetering on the edge of diminished expectations and disappointment.

As the offensive line comes together, the running game improves and the defense gains experience, it seems possible that things aren’t quite as bad in Baton Rouge as they looked after a 41-7 whitewashing at the hands of the Auburn Tigers.

It would be a mistake to say LSU has pulled it together after they barely beat a Florida team in turmoil. Quarterback play was not the reason for victory.

Anthony Jennings has been given the opportunity to show that he can be a capable passer and a leader for the offense. Despite the win against Florida, he’s shown he’s not the guy.

Whether or not all of the other elements holding LSU back this season come together — inexperience, lack of talent or straight-up poor play — the Tigers aren’t going anywhere with their current quarterback situation. In Baton Rouge, the expectation is to contend for the SEC West title, not a mid-tier bowl game. Regardless of who is slinging passes for LSU this season, it’s far more likely they’ll be playing for the latter. That’s what makes Les Miles’ quarterback charade a folly.

LSU’s identity is clear: they’re a team that wants to pound the ball on the ground, and as the season progresses they’re looking more like a unit capable of doing so. The middle of the offensive line struggled early in the season, but things seem smoothed out. Behind Leonard Fournette’s best game, they ran it right at a very good Florida run defense committed to shutting down LSU’s ground game.

Even with Florida’s defense prioritizing the run, Jennings only completed 10-of-21 passes. He made two excellent throws on LSU’s last touchdown drive, both to his favorite (and it sometimes feels like only) target, Travin Dural. But Dural deserves the credit for getting wide open on a third-and-long conversion and for hauling in a difficult touchdown catch despite pass interference.

Even if LSU is going to run the ball as often as possible, there will always be third-and-long situations which necessitate throwing. LSU improved markedly from an 0-for-13 effort on third downs against Auburn to 7-of-16 against Florida, with Jennings going 5-for-9, taking two sacks and coming up short on another run. Three of those completed third down passes came in the fourth quarter, with Florida’s porous secondary already missing its best cornerback, Vernon Hargreaves.

Les Miles said that he couldn’t put freshman Brandon Harris into the game because of how close it was, seemingly forgetting about the spectacular plays he made to get LSU back into the game against Mississippi State and the way he torched a New Mexico State defense that confounded Jennings.

Even though Harris was terrible in his first and only start of the season against Auburn, the odds were stacked against him. Jordan-Hare Stadium is a tough place for anyone to play, let alone a freshman making his first career start, and Auburn’s defense has been an underrated unit all season. Auburn is very good against the run, and it shut down LSU’s efforts without committing extra resources.

Harris needs to continue to get an equal shot at the quarterback spot. He’s shown he’s much more dangerous throwing the ball than Jennings, he’s as good or better as a runner and he seems to have better field vision. Outside of Dural, it seems every receiver struggles to get looks with Jennings. Malachi Dupre, the ultra-talented freshman receiver, barely gets any attention from Jennings, whereas Harris gets them both involved.

Miles has said he will go with the quarterback that gives him the opportunity to win. Realistically, it’s not the quarterback that’s going to win or lose games. The offensive and defensive lines’ performances will play a much bigger role.

Still, neither one of these quarterbacks is going to be a game-breaker, and their floors are just as low. It’s time to at least give the time to the player with the higher ceiling.