Much of the conversation regarding No. 9 LSU is around the offense, and for good reason.

Last week at Syracuse, Leonard Fournette became the first LSU running back to rush for 200 yards in back-to-back games. The Heisman Trophy candidate has been a breath of fresh air for an offense many questioned because of the true sophomore starting at quarterback after a roller-coaster freshman campaign.

As electrifying as the Tigers’ offense has been, the defense has been a bit overshadowed.

LSU is tied for 24th in the nation in total defense, allowing 306.3 yards per game. Meanwhile, the team is ranked 26th against the run, having allowed 110 rushing yards per game. The Tigers’ pass defense isn’t ranked as high, slotted at 48th, but it’s surrendering a modest 196.3 yards per game through the air.

A perennially stout unit, why haven’t the Bayou Bengals received much recognition for their defense this year?

The LSU defense has forced only three turnovers so far, lagging a bit in a department that Les Miles’ teams usually thrive in. More pressing is the fact that LSU has played Mississippi State and Auburn in its first two games, teams that thus far are a combined -7 in turnover margin.

Syracuse, conversely, is +6 in that category, the seventh-best mark in the country.

LSU’s upcoming schedule features games vs. Eastern Michigan, at South Carolina and vs. No. 25 Florida. That then leads into the final stretch of the season in November when LSU must travel to both No. 13 Alabama and No. 3 Ole Miss.

The majority of LSU’s remaining opponents are not Mississippi State or Auburn. They are teams that are very much on the positive side of the turnover margin and won’t be giving games away.

As strong as the LSU defense has played against both the run and the pass so far this season, turnovers will inevitably be the difference when the team hosts the unbeaten Gators or travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala. and Oxford, Miss., with a College Football Playoff berth perhaps in the balance.

Adding incentive to get takeaways is the LSU offense, which under Brandon Harris’ lead has been quite careful with the football. Harris has yet to throw an interception this season as the Tigers — along with Georgia and Mississippi State — are the only SEC teams that haven’t.

With a turnover-resistant offense, it falls onto the defense to become ballhawks. The LSU secondary has the weapons in Jamal Adams, Tre’Davious White and Kevin Toliver, among others, to nab interceptions as the front seven pressures opposing quarterbacks. Speaking of that front seven, linebackers Deion Jones and Kendell Beckwith are among the best at their craft in the nation. With Lewis Neal and Lamar Louis also in the mix, the unit can aim not just to get after the quarterback, but go for the strip-sack.

LSU has skated by with a dynamic offense and stout defense. Fortunately for the Tigers, there is enough talent that the defense can be equally as game-changing as Fournette and Co.

That defense will need to be if LSU wants to continue to make a push toward the College Football Playoff.