L.S.U. Suspends 3 Players for Auburn Game

Top-ranked Louisiana State will be without its two best players for Saturday’s game against Auburn, according to multiple reports.

Spencer Ware has scored 6 touchdowns this season for the Tigers.

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Tyrann Mathieu, left, has emerged as one of the college game's top defensive players.

The dynamic cornerback Tyrann Mathieu and the bruising tailback Spencer Ware have been suspended, along with a reserve defensive back, Tharold Simon. In a news conference Wednesday night, L.S.U. Coach Les Miles would not confirm the suspensions, calling the situation a matter of “internal discipline.”

After overcoming an early suspension to the starting quarterback Jordan Jefferson, L.S.U. (7-0, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) appeared to be on a seamless path to meet No. 2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 5 for a slot in the SEC title game. The winner of that contest is expected to have an inside track to the national title game.

But Saturday’s game in Baton Rouge against No. 19 Auburn (5-2, 3-1), the defending national champion, suddenly becomes more problematic. L.S.U. had been listed as a three-touchdown favorite.

Mathieu, a New Orleans native, has emerged as a folk hero in Louisiana, earning the nickname Honey Badger for his fearless play. He has been considered an outside contender for the Heisman Trophy after beginning the season by scoring a special-teams touchdown after ripping the ball away from Oregon’s Kenjon Barner on a punt return in the season-opening blowout of the Ducks.

Since then, Mathieu has emerged as the country’s most aggressive ball hawk. He has forced fumbles, nabbed two interceptions and registered 1.5 sacks. At just 5 feet 9 inches and 175 pounds, Mathieu has become a larger-than-life figure, with Honey Badger Takes What He Wants T-shirts becoming the rage on campus.

Ware is not as flashy, but his 512 yards lead L.S.U. and his 6 touchdowns are tied with the backup Michael Ford for the team lead.

Simon’s absence will also hurt the Tigers. He is the team’s fourth-leading tackler and might have started against Auburn, which runs a frenetic spread offense that forces teams into schemes that employ multiple defensive backs.

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AP Source: LSU Suspends Mathieu, Simon, Ware

The person told The Associated Press about the suspensions on Wednesday on condition of anonymity because they have not been announced. But the person did not specify the drug for which the players tested positive.

LSU coach Les Miles declined to confirm any punishment for members of his No. 1 Tigers after Wednesday's practice.

"I understand the interest which surrounds what seems to be news. There is internal discipline and internal news," Miles said. "I have a process I go through. ... It's a procedure I'm true to. There is no real information about any player that I'll address at this point."

Mathieu has been one of the stars of the first half of the college football season. He has forced four fumbles, recovering three and returning two for scores. He also has two interceptions and 42 tackles, including 1½ sacks.

Mathieu has made so many big plays in nationally televised games that a grass-roots Heisman Trophy campaign has sprouted for the hard-hitting 5-foot-9 defensive back nicknamed "Honey Badger," after the YouTube sensation about a small but fearless animal by the same name.

Ware is the leading rusher for the unbeaten Tigers with 512 yards and six touchdowns.

Simon has one interception and 29 tackles.

LSU is deep at running back and should be able to cope with Ware's absence. Michael Ford, who has rushed for 359 yards and six touchdowns, and Alfred Blue, who has 235 yards rushing and four TDs, likely will be LSU's top two running backs against Auburn.

In the defensive backfield, senior Ron Brooks would be the likely candidate to step in at cornerback for Mathieu, while fellow senior Derrick Bryant could play nickel back. When LSU fields six defensive backs, sophomore Craig Loston or redshirt freshman Ronnie Vinson could take the field.

The Tigers have a week off after Saturday's game, and play No. 2 Alabama on Nov. 5 in what could be the biggest game of the regular season.

LSU (7-0, 4-0 Southeastern Conference) has already managed to stay unbeaten while dealing with early season suspensions.

"This football team understands what distraction is," Miles said. "I haven't seen a change in their get-along. I expect the team to take the field ably manned at all positions."

Quarterback Jordan Jefferson missed the first four games of the season, including matchups against Oregon and West Virginia, after he was involved in a bar fight.

Jefferson, who was slated to start, was reinstated on Sept. 28 after a grand jury reduced his felony second-degree battery charge to a misdemeanor. He and Jarrett Lee have been sharing the quarterback job since he returned.

Receiver Russell Shepard missed the first three games because of an NCAA rules violation.

LSU is a three-touchdown favorite at home against No. 19 Auburn, but the Alabama game is in Tuscaloosa.

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