Kayshon Boutte got behind the Alabama secondary.

He snared TJ Finley’s pass and sprinted toward the end zone.

He appeared headed for an easy touchdown.

But he wasn’t.

He prematurely let the football go before he reached the goal line, leaving a live ball on the ground while he celebrated what he erroneously believed was a touchdown.

Teammate Jontre Kirklin sprinted to the ball and picked it up in the end zone to create a belated touchdown.

The bizarre play was emblematic of LSU’s 55-17 loss to No. 1 Alabama on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.

It was emblematic of the season for the 3-5 Tigers.

It was an example of a talented but immature player (freshman Boutte) not yet understanding how to take care of business.

It was an example of an older, more mature player (senior Kirklin) doing his best to show the way.

But in the end, it just provided a momentary diversion during a lost cause. Just like John Emery Jr.’s 54-yard touchdown run provided another momentary diversion in the embarrassing loss to the Crimson Tide.

Just like victories against teams with losing records – Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Arkansas – provided longer but still short-term diversions during a lost season.

It’s Tell The Truth Monday.

The truth is it’s long past time to stop lamenting the underclassmen who left after last season’s national championship to head to the NFL.

It’s past time to lament the players who have opted out since the defections were thought to have been complete.

This is the LSU team, the LSU program – right now and moving forward.

Those players in the NFL aren’t coming back. Neither are the ones who opted out.

This program, this team, took a few steps backward with the personnel losses. It will take awhile to build it back.

The first step involves growing pains. Young players are being given more responsibility than they are ready to handle. They make mental mistakes and physical mistakes. They’ll learn from them and they’ll get better.

At some point – probably next season – they will start to demonstrate a level of maturation that they will reach sooner than they would have if more players had stayed and they could have been eased into their roles.

The second step involves recruiting – multiple years of it.

More players will leave after this season and inexperienced players will again be rushed into prominent roles before they would ideally be. Some of them are in high school right now. Some might not have committed yet.

The truth is LSU can’t assume that this season is an aberration. There is no guarantee that next season will be significantly better.

LSU should take the approach that it has hit rock bottom. This season is the worst this drop-off is going to get.

The 55-17 beatdown at the hands of Alabama is the worst this season will offer.

This Tell The Truth Monday is where and when the ascent begins.

Things will be difficult at No. 6 Florida on Saturday night. Then comes the regular-season finale at home against Ole Miss.

A bowl game? Who knows?

All that matters in what remains of this season is accelerating the development of the young players most likely to be around next season, most likely to contribute to the restoration of the program.

If a win or two happens along the way, all the better.

Three weeks ago Ed Orgeron said: “I’m not going to take out an older guy just to play a younger guy to give him reps. This is about winning the game, giving our guys the best chance to win.”

Winning is important for sure. The Tigers have been playing the players they think give them the best chance to win all season.

They lost the opener by 10 points to a team that has won once since (Mississippi State). They’ve lost by 5 to Missouri, 37 to Auburn, 13 to Texas A&M and now by 38 to Alabama.

Perhaps there are younger, future starters who can do just as well – or better. Or at the very least, the experience they get this year will make them and the team better in 2021 and beyond than they would be if LSU continues to slow their development for momentary diversions.

The return to respectability will be a long, arduous journey. It won’t happen this season.

But it can start now.