LSU left Saturday’s win over Louisiana Tech with a result that looked comfortable and a warning sign that should not be ignored.
The Tigers rolled to a 45-14 victory, but the first half was far messier than the final score suggests. After LSU jumped ahead 10-0, quarterback Sam Leavitt put the ball in harm’s way three straight times to close the half, including a pick-six that Louisiana Tech defensive back Jordan McRae returned 100 yards for a touchdown.
That stretch is exactly the kind of thing LSU cannot afford this weekend at Ole Miss. Lane Kiffin is back in Oxford, and the Rebels will be waiting for every mistake. If Leavitt gives Trinidad Chambliss extra possessions, LSU will be inviting trouble.
The bigger point is simple: a three-interception night against Ole Miss would put the Tigers in a hole they probably won’t climb out of. Against Louisiana Tech, LSU survived. Against a team like the Rebels, that kind of sloppiness could be decisive.
Leavitt did steady himself after the rough finish to the first half. Louisiana Tech’s defense had every reason to feel good about its chances after forcing three turnovers in Death Valley, but LSU answered in the second half. Leavitt led five scoring drives before leaving the game and finished with three rushing touchdowns.
His passing line was strong outside of the interceptions, too. Leavitt went 25 of 38 for 344 yards and a touchdown, showing he could recover after a brutal stretch that briefly gave Louisiana Tech life.
LSU looked like a national title contender after beating Clemson, but Week 2 showed there is still work to do before the Tigers can fully meet those expectations.
In Other News...
LSU Just Scored Another Court Win In Its SEC Eligibility Fight
Another legal turn went LSUs way this week in the eligibility fight surrounding some of its athletes, as the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal rejected the Southeastern Conferences bid to pause the case and pursue supervisory writs. The ruling keeps in place a Baton Rouge district courts preliminary injunction, which stops the NCAA and SEC from blocking LSU from putting certain players on its football roster while their eligibility claims work through the legal process.
For LSU, the immediate importance is less about the courtroom language than the roster flexibility it preserves in the middle of a dispute that is still very much alive. The SEC has already taken the matter in a different direction as well, filing a separate federal lawsuit against LSU and its officials, so the conference office is clearly not done pressing its side even after this latest setback in state court. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Fans Are Facing A Brutal Price To See This Ole Miss Showdown
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It is, after all, a top-10 meeting with ESPNs College GameDay in town and Lane Kiffin back in Oxford now wearing LSU colors, which only adds to the intrigue. For Tigers fans hoping to make the trip, the challenge is no longer just watching one of the SECs biggest games, but figuring out whether the price of admission is worth it. [Read more 🡒]
Ex-LSU Star Mansoor Delane Made An Instant NFL Impact At A Cost
Mansoor Delane wasted no time making his presence felt in the NFL. Drafted sixth overall by the Kansas City Chiefs, the former LSU standout forced an interception on just his third snap in his debut, a reminder of the sticky coverage and ball skills that made him such a tough target in Baton Rouge.
Delanes first pro moment came with an immediate catch, though it also brought an early concern for Kansas City. He re-injured a right shoulder issue on the play and did not return, leaving the Chiefs with one of the days sharpest defensive flashes and an unsettling update on a player they expected to lean on right away. [Read more 🡒]