After becoming the first LSU running back to rush for 200 yards in back-to-back games, Leonard Fournette and the Tigers’ array of rushers will now have a chance to feast on Eastern Michigan.

LSU (3-0) will line up against Eastern Michigan’s rushing defense, which ranks 128th in the nation. Another way to put it: the Eagles are dead last in that category.

Eastern Michigan (1-3) has given up a shade over 373 yards per game on the ground this season, in addition to 18 touchdowns, the most among qualifying FBS schools. No team has given up more total rushing yardage than the Eagles, who are also allowing 6.7 yards per carry.

That porous rushing defense will come to Death Valley on Saturday to face the Heisman Trophy front-runner and an LSU rushing attack that boasts the nation’s seventh-ranked rushing offense.

Fournette is obviously a big reason why. The true sophomore from New Orleans is third in the nation in rushing (631) and tied for fourth in touchdowns (8). Fournette’s 210.3 yards per game is the highest mark in the country, about 40 yards per game more than the next-closest running back.

Eastern Michigan coach Chris Creighton is very cognizant of what his defense must prepare for in this game.

“(Fournette) hasn’t been stopped,” Creighton said. “Running the ball 70 percent of the time and giving the ball to Fournette, who’s obviously a Heisman candidate and rushed the ball for 244 yards last week vs. Syracuse. They’ve got a fullback that is very physical. They like to run inside and outside zone, and can run some man schemes as well.”

Fournette won SEC Player of the Week honors for the third consecutive week, and going up against an Eastern Michigan defense that’s proven to be vulnerable against the run may lead the LSU sensation to a fourth.

But while the Heisman Trophy candidate will likely get his numbers, expect LSU to spread the workload out and allow many of its backfield contributors to tote the rock this weekend.

Numerous backs that don’t don the No. 7 could enjoy similar success, especially behind an offensive line that’s clicking through three games.

EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES CLOSER LOOK

Top player, offense: Darius Jackson, Sr., RB: Eastern Michigan’s bell cow, Jackson ranks 36th in the country with 407 rushing yards so far this season. Jackson has averaged a whopping 6.9 yards per attempt and has found the end zone seven times, once fewer than LSU’s Fournette. Last week, Jackson rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns against Army.

Top player, defense: Great Ibe, R-Sr., LB: Ibe’s 43 tackles through four games puts him seventh in the country in that category. Of those 43, 18 have been solo, and the senior linebacker has averaged nearly 11 tackles per game. Against Army, Ibe registered 13 total tackles, including seven unassisted.

Top player, special teams: Eddie Daughtery, Fr., KR: A wide receiver that doubles on kickoff return duties, Daughtery is one of Eastern Michigan’s most dynamic weapons in multiple phases of the game. The freshman is averaging 20.2 yards per kickoff return this season. As a team, Eastern Michigan has racked up 258 yards via kickoff returns, with much of the credit going to Daughtery.