Facing one of the most important snaps of perhaps the most consequential game of the past five seasons, LSU let its defense play man coverage.

It was fourth down. Clemson needed only 5 yards. LSU led by just one touchdown — a lead that could quickly either shrink or disappear if it let star quarterback Cade Klubnik lead a scoring drive. Just a few ticks over nine minutes were left in the fourth quarter.

Klubnik liked what he saw — enough to stare down his first read and fire away.

His pass would’ve been completed for a first down. But LSU transfer corner Mansoor Delane read the in-breaking route, glued himself to the receiver’s hip and made a play on the ball, swatting it out of harm’s way and allowing his offense to take over on downs and try to build its lead.

Two years ago, Fl

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