Lane Kiffin wasn’t interested in softening the edge of LSU’s 31-0 win over Mississippi State.
After the Tigers rolled past the Bulldogs on Saturday, Kiffin was asked whether Mississippi State being without star quarterback Kamario Taylor and running back Fluff Bothwell changed the feel of the result. His answer was blunt.
“I don’t have a lot of empathy for injuries,” Kiffin said. “This team from day one has gotten more bad breaks than any team in the country.
We have a lot of people sitting on our sidelines, and we won 31-0. Really proud of our players and coaches for moving people around.”
“I don’t have a lot of empathy for injuries”
Lane Kiffin on why Kamario Taylor & Fluff Bothwell being out doesn’t water down this win. #lsu #lsufootball #geauxtigers pic.twitter.com/v7ZHaUE5rW
- Alondra Villarreal (@alovillarreal__) October 17, 2026
The score told the story pretty clearly anyway. LSU was in control from start to finish, and quarterback Sam Leavitt turned in a sharp, efficient day to lead the way. He completed 31 of 38 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns, steering the offense without forcing the kind of risky throws that have gotten him into trouble at times this season.
It was the kind of all-around response LSU needed, especially after the Tigers have dealt with plenty of setbacks of their own.
The bigger picture still looks good for LSU, too. The Tigers remain in control of their own College Football Playoff path, with a demanding stretch still ahead. In their final five games, they host Alabama and Texas and also have Tennessee on the schedule.
Before all of that, LSU heads to Auburn for its next game. Georgia on the ropes in Athens.
In Other News...
LSU Just Got The Break It Needed In The Playoff Chase
LSU heads into the second half of its season at 4-2, still needing both cleaner play and a little help if it wants to stay in the College Football Playoff picture. The next step on that road runs through Mississippi State, and the timing could hardly be better for the Tigers, with a matchup against a Bulldogs team already dealing with injury uncertainty at key spots.
Mississippi States quarterback depth could be a factor if Kamario Taylor is limited, leaving Parker Puckett and AJ Swann in the conversation behind center. The Bulldogs are also watching Fluff Bothwell's status, and the ripple effects matter for a team trying to stay competitive while LSU keeps chasing the kind of stretch it needs against ranked opponents to keep its postseason hopes alive. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State Faces A Defining Home Test After Another Brutal Loss
A home date with Oklahoma arrives at a tricky moment for Mississippi State, which is trying to shake off a 31-0 loss to LSU and find some traction on offense. The Bulldogs have spent the week sorting through the fallout from two straight lopsided defeats, and the possibility of quarterback Kamario Taylor returning from injury adds a layer of intrigue to what could otherwise feel like another uphill Saturday.
Oklahoma comes in with momentum after upsetting Texas, but it still has Kentucky ahead before turning its full attention to Starkville. For Mississippi State, this is the kind of game that can either steady a season or deepen the concerns, especially if the offense can finally get back to something closer to full strength. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State Turns To An Unlikely QB In A Brutal LSU Spot
Mississippi States quarterback plan took a sudden turn before kickoff against LSU, with sophomore Billy Puckett stepping into the starting job after Kamario Taylor was ruled out pregame because of an injury. Puckett, a former walk-on, has seen limited action this season, but this is his first career start, a significant change for a team already facing a difficult road environment and a tough opponent.
The move leaves the Bulldogs leaning on an unproven option at the most important spot on the field, and it comes with little clarity beyond Taylor being unavailable. Mississippi State has not disclosed the exact nature of the injury, so the focus shifts to how Puckett handles the moment and whether the Bulldogs can keep their offense steady in a game that suddenly looks much trickier. [Read more 🡒]