LSU entered the 2023 season with high expectations and hopes to compete in the SEC West this fall. While the SEC picture remains intact, the Tigers did lose in Week 1, and the way that game developed should have fans more than concerned moving forward.

Concerns for LSU started on the opening drive of the game. After starting things off with a 55-yard gain, quarterback Jayden Daniels would eventually be sacked on a 4th-and-goal play. That proved to be a good gauge of what to expect throughout the game.

When it was all said and done, Florida State ran away from LSU in the second half for a 45-24 win. And in a battle of top-10 teams, it was the Seminoles that looked like a true College Football Playoff contender.

Jordan Travis outshines Jayden Daniels in prime matchup

Daniels started the game with some electricity for LSU, posting nearly 250 yards of total offense prior to halftime and carrying the major offensive load for the Tigers. He finished the game with over 400 yards of total offense but was largely held in check and did not find the end zone until very late in the game.

The same cannot be said for Travis. While he did throw a bad interception in the first half, Travis threw for 342 yards and 4 touchdowns against the LSU defense. Travis also scored a short rushing touchdown on a beautiful read-option play.

Overall, there should not be a major concern for Daniels’ performance moving forward, but there is some reason to be concerned about the overall performance of the Tiger offense.

Will the real LSU defense please show up?

Last season LSU won 10 games while running out the 34th-best scoring defense in the country at 22.5 points allowed per game. While Florida State is a top-10 team with some elite offensive talent, it’s fair to question what the Tiger defense is going to look like after that Week 1 performance.

Travis’ playmaking ability certainly set the tone, but the Seminoles also finished with 135 rushing yards and 4 yards per carry. And that’s without getting into the secondary issues.

LSU fans likely remember Johnny Wilson from a season ago, but Seminole newcomer Keon Coleman — a Michigan State transfer — recorded 9 catches for 122 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Tiger secondary never had an answer for Coleman.

And if those previous aren’t enough to sicken LSU fans, the Seminoles finished with 45 points and held the ball for more than 34 minutes time of possession.

Brian Kelly goes 0-for-2 in marquee season openers

There are still a multitude of reasons to believe that Kelly’s tenure in Baton Rouge will become an ultimate success for the program. However, it’s also true he cannot dodge the failures of LSU on the big stage in back-to-back seasons.

A year ago, the Tigers squandered a chance in a very winnable game to open the season. And while last year’s loss stung, this feels worse. Much worse.

With so much talent returning and another year in the offense, many expected Daniels and the Tigers to have some explosive numbers. Those performances might materialize throughout the season, but it most certainly did not happen in Week 1.