Fournette and LSU to face Wisconsin at Lambeau Field

MADISON, WIS. – The Heisman Trophy campaign for LSU's Leonard Fournette begins Saturday at Lambeau Field.

It could also be the start of yet another make-or-break year for coach Les Miles, with the fifth-ranked Tigers holding national title hopes.

Wisconsin is poised to play spoiler in the marquee season opener at the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers.

"One of the things you always find in your first game is an accurate indicator of who you are at that point, and where you have to go," Badgers coach Paul Chryst said.

A victory over LSU could give Wisconsin a huge confidence boost to start a season with a brutal schedule. The Tigers are just an appetizer with Michigan State, Michigan and Ohio State still awaiting the Badgers — and that's just within the first six games of the year.

To have a shot at beating LSU, Wisconsin must slow down Fournette, the 6-foot-1, 235-pound bruiser who ran for 22 touchdowns and a single-season school record 1,953 yards last season.

"We've got to swarm. We've got to be relentless," Wisconsin linebacker Jack Cichy said.

But with so much at stake this fall, Miles likes the intensity in his players.

"I think this team wants more," said Miles, entering his 12th season as head coach. "I think this team is a little bit more focused than other clubs that I've had."

The Tigers have unique insight on Wisconsin . LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda held the same position the previous three seasons in Madison, where the Badgers had one of the top units in the nation. Aranda's linebacker-led defenses were known for flexibility and unique blitz packages.

"We have a good scouting report on these guys. We know who the strong points in the defense are," LSU guard Will Clapp said.

Badgers senior Bart Houston is making his first career start at the home of his namesake, former Packers QB and Hall of Famer Bart Starr. Houston won a training camp competition with redshirt freshman Alex Hornibrook. He has the benefit of having worked already for a full season with the offensive-minded Chryst, entering his second year as head coach. But as debuts go, it doesn't get much tougher than facing an LSU defense led by Aranda.

His first season at LSU was 2005, when the double blow of hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated communities along the Gulf Coast.

"LSU football, I think, and what the team thinks, will help the community out, no matter what they're going through, just to bring their hopes up high," Fournette said.