LSU did what LSU was supposed to do, which is no small feat in college football these days, and especially in the Southeastern Conference.
In their 31-0 romp Saturday, the Tigers bullied the Bulldogs of Mississippi State from the outset of their 11 a.m. kickoff, scoring on the opening drive and immediately establishing defensive dominance.
When eyes confirmed ears and State’s two most productive offensive players, quarterback Kamario Taylor and running back Fluff Broadwell (who will make anybody’s 2026 All-Name Team) were not wearing shoulder pads under their maroon jerseys, the outcome was hardly in doubt, let alone the 14.5-point spread.
Give LSU’s defense credit for a landmark performance, notching the program’s first shutout of an SEC foe in 154 games dating back to the 2007 national championship season. Coach Lane Kiffin was impressed that defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s troops blanked the Bulldogs, largely because Kiffin has great respect for Hail State coach Jeff Lebby – who was Kiffin’s playcaller at Ole Miss in 2020-21.
“That’s a great offensive coach over there,” said Kiffin. “I’ve watched him with backups over the years play really well. Their system can move without great play from the quarterback position.”
It moved OK at times in Tiger Stadium, finishing with 291 yards, 170 on the ground, while going against backups for much of the second half. Playing uphill, Lebby gambled on fourth downs five times, and failed.
Most significantly – though it certainly wouldn’t have changed the outcome – leading 21-0, LSU halted State after first-and-goal at the 2 in the second quarter.
The other denials came at LSU’s 31, 35, 28 and 30, the last three after halftime.
“In every home game this year, we’ve had backups in there in the fourth quarter, including two SEC games and Clemson,” Kiffin said. “So, it was really good to see the guys preserve the shutout as they did.”
The most positive development Saturday wasn’t the goose egg. It was the lack of turnovers and impressive efficiency from quarterback Sam Leavitt, although from his first run it was obvious that hamstring injury was back, aggravated in practice last week, Kiffin said.
Leavitt went 31 of 38 throwing the ball, recording 289 yards and four TDs, with no interceptions for the first time he’s worn purple and gold.
“Sam really played well for someone not 100 percent,” Kiffin said.
LSU did what it should have done, establishing control quickly. That three-touchdown halftime lead reflected a 217-127 yardage advantage that expanded to 379-291 overall.
It soothed frustrations from last week’s 35-34 overtime loss at Kentucky, when mistakes on the field and from the sideline contributed. Seven days later, Kiffin’s confidence was affirmed.
“For the players to regroup, for the coaches to regroup after we handed it away last week,” he said, “really glad about their response. That was really the challenge – to play a complete game.”
As predicted by Kiffin and Leavitt, the Tigers had no struggles with an 11 a.m. kickoff. Coach and QB had pointed to their morning practice routine that means the brunch-time starts on Saturdays are much more troubling for fans.
Good news, since the next game also kicks at 11. Bad news, it’s on the road, where LSU has yet to win or play four quarters of quality football under Kiffin.
A visit to Auburn looked like a walk in the park not long ago. No longer, after the War Eagles (4-2, 2-2) knocked off No. 1 Georgia in Athens 27-24 Saturday.
Not a good day for ‘Dogs in the SEC, unless you’re talking underdogs. Florida won at Texas. Alabama fell convincingly at Tennessee. Those once-apparent superteams now sit alongside the Tigers with two SEC losses, and the November two-step of ‘Bama-UT doesn’t look all that daunting.
First things first. After cleansing its soul with the shutout, LSU needs to demonstrate it can win on the road, no simple task since Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium will be as lively as it’s been in years for anything other than an Iron Bowl.
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