It's a strange feeling to come out of a game satisfied with your performance when you lose by 16 points. But Towson's performance against the No. 3-ranked LSU Tigers on Saturday night was by far the team's most impressive performance against an FBS foe.  

Towson had lost its previous five FBS games to Navy (by 28 points), Northwestern (33 points), Indiana (34 points), at Maryland (25 points) and at Kent State earlier this year (20 points). So to think that this current Towson team could go into Death Valley, lose 38-22, and play its best game-ever against a big-time BCS program is pretty remarkable.

Towson didn't play a perfect game by any means, fumbling twice, botching two extra points and shanking one punt that traveled six yards.  

Yet the Towson Tigers were down 31-16 with 8:49 left in the game against one of the best teams in FBS.  

The LSU Tigers entered the game ranking fourth in the nation in total defense, allowing just 199.5 yards per game, and were the third rushing defense (56.75 ypg).

This was also a team that beat two non-BCS opponents in North Texas and Idaho by a combined score of 104-28 and hammered Washington, 41-3, on Sept. 8. So even though LSU was considered a a defensive-minded team, they still averaged 39.2 points per game (ppg) and allowed 10.2 ppg. This was a team that was so dominant on both sides of the ball last year they just obliterated everybody but Alabama and had not allowed over 21 points since Sept. 3, 2011 when they beat Oregon, 40-27. That was until they faced Towson last night.  

Towson senior QB Grant Enders ran for 86 yards, while sophomore running back Terrance West rushed for 79. The TU Tigers out-rushed LSU (188-158), had more first downs (19-18), had just four penalties to LSU's 10, had more time of possession (34:12 to 25:18) and amassed four sacks to LSU's three.  

Even LSU head coach Les Miles, was impressed, telling The Times-Picayune: "First, you have to give credit to the Towson Tigers. I told our team that they were a good football team. I insisted that we prepare well. We did. I thought our practice week was good. We didn't play like that though. We didn't give them the credit that they deserved. I thought that their [running] back was a big strong powerful back. I thought their quarterback was a talented guy and could move his feet. Frankly, they did what they should have done defensively. Give them some credit. I thought that they played well."  

Towson' non-conference schedule is over, and it's time get back into the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) slate. The Tigers are back on national television next Saturday when they take on James Madison in Harrisonburg, Va. at 1 p.m. on NBCSN.  

***** 

Madison was off this week, but there was one other CAA team that faced an FBS opponent. Rhode Island dropped a game at Bowling Green, 48-8, to go 0-4 on the season.

The most exciting game of the day took place in Richmond, Va., as Old Dominion got off to a 38-14 start and had to hold on for a 45-37 win. ODU quarterback Taylor Heinicke completed 32-of-42 for 360 yards and two touchdowns but also had two picks. Old Dominion (5-0, 2-0 CAA) produced 592 yards of total offense, a week after the Monarchs put up 725 against New Hampshire (a 64-61 win).  

In other CAA action, Villanova improved to 4-1 on the season and 2-0 in the CAA with a 35-14 road win over Maine. New Hampshire bounced back from last week's loss to Old Dominion and a scoreless first half on Saturday at home to beat Delaware, 34-14.  

Finally, William & Mary won its first game of the season, defeating Georgia State 35-3 at home. The Panthers, gearing up for the Sun Belt next season, are now 0-5 overall and 0-1 in the CAA.