By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE — Two types of college football teams play in bowl games.

Those extremely motivated with something to prove.

And those still disappointed from regular season failures who’d rather put away the equipment until spring practice.

That there’s a smoldering anger among LSU’s defensive players bodes well for the 9-3 13th-ranked Tigers as they began on-site preparations Wednesday in Tampa for next Monday’s ReliaQuest Bowl matchup with unranked 7-5 Wisconsin.

Since the Tigers are ranked first nationally in total offense (547.8 yards per game) and scoring offense (46.4 ppg), it’s been no secret from the opening game of the season that LSU’s porous defense was the reason why the team fell short of being in the discussion for the College Football Playoffs.

Of the 130 FBS (Division 1-A) teams, the Tigers rank No. 101 in total defense (409.2 yards per game allowed), No. 97 in scoring defense (27.8 ppg allowed) and No. 104 in passing yardage allowed (245.4 ypg).

“Everyone knows we didn’t play well,” said LSU junior linebacker Greg Penn III, the Tigers’ season tackles leader with 82. “Everyone in the (LSU football operations) building that knows that defense knows it’s not the standard.

“It will get better. I promise you it will get better. We know what we need to do, and it starts with this game. We’re trying to start 2024 off right.”

Except for starting cornerback Zy Alexander, who has been out since October with an ankle injury, and the five reserves who entered the transfer portal that combined for 25 tackles and no starts, LSU’s defense will be at full strength for the bowl game.

Starting junior defensive tackle Mehki Wingo, who missed the last six games after undergoing surgery to repair a torn abductor, made it a goal to return to action for a bowl game.

“I’m the captain of this team,” said Wingo, who has started 21 of 22 games for the Tigers since he transferred to LSU from Missouri in the spring of 2022. “I feel like I owe those guys to come back and play and help get that team that 10tn win. It’s important to me to finish off the season with these guys.”

Wingo hasn’t decided on whether he will enter the NFL Draft or return for his senior season in 2024. But Penn said he’s coming back for a senior swan song because he can provide the leadership to flip a poor defense to a great one.

“The year we had defensively, I want to come back and get that right,” Penn said. “I wouldn’t want to go out on that type of note. As a defense, we need to play better. We left too many plays out there.

“Everyone needs to play with effort, everyone needs to play fast. It’s helping out your teammate and running to the ball. Somebody misses a tackle and someone else is there to help out. Everyone needs to play relentlessly.”

On the surface, LSU’s defense is getting a break against Wisconsin. Three Badgers’ offensive starters and two backups have either opted out of the bowl to enter the NFL draft or the transfer portal.

That includes junior running back Braelon Allen, who declared for the NFL Draft after the final regular season. He led Wisconsin this past season with 984 rushing yards and 12 TDs and was the team’s third-leading receiver with 28 catches for 132 yards.

Including Allen, three of Wisconsin’s top six pass catchers opted out of the bowl.

The others are starting wide receiver Chimere Dike (19 catches for 328 yards, 1 TD) and backup Skyler Bell (38 catches for 297 yards, 1 TD). They both entered the transfer portal with Dike transferring to Florida, and Bell remains undecided.

Wisconsin junior starting center Tanor Bortolini opted out to enter the NFL Draft. He’s been replaced by Cincinnati transfer Jake Renfro, who has not played this season and missed all of 2022 after suffering a knee injury. He last played in a game on Dec. 31, 2021, when Cincinnati tangled with Alabama in a College Football Playoff semifinal.

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com