LSU’s final non-conference tune-up turned into a stress-free night at home, and the Tigers used it to keep building momentum on offense in a 63-14 rout of McNeese State.
After dealing with the injury bug through the first four games, LSU got the kind of game it wanted: clean, controlled, and over quickly. The Tigers didn’t need any late drama or rescue act. They simply handled business against the Cowboys and kept their win streak rolling.
One of the biggest questions entering the game centered on Leavitt, who was questionable before kickoff since there was no availability report for the non-conference matchup. He answered the bell and, just like in the win over Texas A&M last weekend, showed plenty of toughness. This time, though, he stayed in the pocket and did his damage with his arm rather than his legs.
That approach fit the night. Leavitt finished 18 of 23 for 176 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, completing 78 percent of his throws. His mobility still gives LSU another layer, but his passing has become the part of his game that has stood out most over the last few weeks.
The Tigers also had some room to be better in the passing game. Watkins, who has been one of the team’s steadier receivers this season, had two costly drops that would have gone for touchdowns.
It didn’t change the outcome in a game LSU controlled from start to finish, but the missed chances were obvious. With the depth in the receiver room, others picked up the slack, yet Leavitt and Watkins could have posted huge numbers if those plays were finished.
LSU also deserves credit for how cleanly it played. The Tigers entered the contest ranked 73rd in penalties per game, averaging seven, so discipline had been a talking point.
They had trimmed that to five penalties in last week’s dominant win over Texas A&M, and this time the operation looked even sharper. LSU had zero interceptions heading into the fourth quarter, when the backups were already in the game, and that kind of ball security matters even more when the competition stiffens.
The offense also finally opened with a punch. For the first time all season, five games in, LSU scored on its opening drive.
Dilin Jones finished that possession by punching it in from the one-yard line. It wasn’t just a nice early touch; it was a sign of an offense starting fast and settling in with confidence.
That matters as the Tigers move deeper into SEC play, where early momentum can make all the difference.
On the ground, LSU is still searching for the right balance behind Jones, who remains the clear No. 1 in the backfield. The rest of the rotation is still being sorted out, but Harlem Berry made a real case for a bigger role.
He produced his best game of the season by a wide margin, finishing with more than 100 rushing yards and a touchdown. His previous high came just last weekend against Texas A&M, and he’s continuing to push for the No. 2 spot behind Jones.
In Other News...
LSU May Have Found A New Weapon In Saturday's Rout
Saturdays rout offered LSU something it has been searching for on offense: another young target who can do real damage as soon as the ball is snapped. True freshman Corey Barber Jr. made the most of his chances in the first half, hauling in four passes for 45 yards and two touchdowns as the Tigers quickly separated from McNeese State and turned the game into a runaway before halftime.
The timing matters, too, because LSU got that burst while quarterback Sam Leavitt was still managing a hamstring injury and still finished the day efficiently through the air. By halftime, the Tigers had already piled up a 35-0 lead, outgained McNeese State 347 yards to 31 and owned a 20-2 edge in first downs, a sign that the offense was operating with more rhythm and more answers than the opponent could handle. [Read more 🡒]
LSU's QB Plan Just Got More Complicated Than Fans Hoped
LSUs quarterback picture already had a little fog around it, and the McNeese State game only made it thicker. Sam Leavitt was back under center as the regular starter even while working through a hamstring injury from the previous week, a reminder that the Tigers are managing more than just the normal September wear and tear. Behind him, Landen Clark and Husan Longstreet were also slated for meaningful snaps, keeping the offense in a state of shared responsibility rather than a clean, settled hierarchy.
It was not just the quarterback room feeling the strain. Safety Ty Benefield and William Satterwhite II also started in place of injured or replaced players, which says plenty about how many moving parts LSU has had to sort through at once. For a team trying to establish rhythm early, the challenge is no longer simply who starts, but how quickly the Tigers can get continuity while those rotations keep shifting around them. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Sent LSU A Clear Message In A Blowout Win
LSUs 63-14 win over McNeese State looked one-sided long before it was over, but the bigger takeaway may have been the way Lane Kiffin handled it. The Tigers piled up a program-record number of first downs and offensive plays while finishing with the second-most total yards in school history, a reminder that the performance stayed sharp from start to finish even after the margin opened up.
Kiffin still found ways to keep the edge intact, calling timeout before the second half despite the comfortable lead and making substitutions that were as much about message as matchup. It was a clear push to reinforce his standards and the culture he wants in place, even in a game that could have easily drifted into empty snaps and soft focus. [Read more 🡒]