BATON ROUGE — No. 3 LSU finally delivered the offensive breakout fans had been waiting for, crushing in-state foe Southeastern 56-10 to move to 4-0 on the year.
The Tigers debuted their first alternate look of the season—gold helmets with white jerseys and pants—while the offense rolled to its best showing yet. Meanwhile, the defense stayed dominant, holding an opponent to 10 points or fewer for the fourth straight game.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
LSU opened with a seven-yard loss on a screen to Caden Durham, leading to a three-and-out.
The Tiger defense answered with a stop of its own. Southeastern punter Alec Mahler muffed his kick, giving LSU the ball at the Lions’ 45.
LSU’s second drive went 13 plays for 45 yards. Short runs by Durham and LCA Product Juwan Johnson, plus quick passes to Aaron Anderson and Barion Brown, set up Garrett Nussmeier for a 1-yard QB sneak and the game’s first touchdown.
The defense forced another quick stop, though a running-into-the-punter penalty briefly extended the Lions’ drive. LSU stuffed three more plays and denied QB Carson Camp on a 4th-and-1 sneak, taking over at the Southeastern 44.
Nussmeier opened the next drive with a 10-yard completion to Nic Anderson, but an 11-yard sack ended the series and the first quarter. LSU’s defense allowed just 27 yards in the opening frame, while the offense totaled 51.
Early in the second, LSU faced 4th-and-11 but converted on a strike from Nussmeier to Zavion Thomas. Johnson capped the drive with a short touchdown run, finishing a 44-yard march.
Southeastern turned to QB Kyle Lowe, but his first drive ended with a batted pass from Jimari Butler.
A Thomas punt return set LSU at its own 26. Nussmeier hit Aaron Anderson for 25 yards, then Kaleb Jackson for eight more. On the next play, he scrambled for a career-long 26-yard gain before Johnson punched in his second score of the night from 10 yards out.
The defense forced another three-and-out.
Two Lion penalties gave LSU the ball at the 23. Johnson converted a 4th-and-1, and after Nussmeier was sacked for an 11-yard loss, he rebounded with a 17-yard touchdown to Brown.
Looking to add one more before halftime, Nussmeier escaped pressure and found Thomas for a 9-yard score.
Halftime: LSU 35, Southeastern 0
LSU kept rolling to start the third quarter. Nussmeier hit Bauer Sharp on a crossing route for a 23-yard touchdown, highlighted by Sharp hurdling a defender into the end zone.
Southeastern finally broke through on its next drive, with Deantre Jackson scoring on a screen pass to put the Lions on the board.
LSU 42 – Southeastern 7
Michael Van Buren replaced Nussmeier, who finished 25-of-31 for 273 yards and three passing touchdowns, plus a rushing score.
With the backups in, LSU focused on running clock. Van Buren showed poise when needed, though his first drive ended with a bizarre 59-yard field goal attempt. The kick was returned, but penalties gave LSU the ball back. The downfall being a targeting call on O-Lineman DJ Chester which saw him get ejected, he will now sit for the first half of next week’s Ole Miss game.
Van Buren made the most of it, scoring his first touchdown in purple & gold on a 1-yard QB keeper. On the next drive, he fired a 27-yard strike to Kyle Parker to push LSU’s total to 56.
Southeastern added a late 37-yard field goal, but LSU closed out a comfortable 56-10 victory.
BIG NUMBER: 56
In one night, LSU’s offense scored 56 points—just four fewer than its 60-point total from the first three games combined. The Tigers found balance, with four touchdowns through the air and four on the ground, showing no signs of a Florida hangover.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Garrett Nussmeier
Nussmeier returned to form, delivering the breakout fans had been waiting for. He went 25-of-31 for 273 yards, three passing touchdowns, and one rushing score, while avoiding turnovers. He also showed mobility, highlighted by a career-best 26-yard scramble.
UP NEXT: LSU (4-0) will hit the road to Oxford to take on Ole Miss (4-0) in an SEC matchup. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m., and you can listen to the game live on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles — Southwest Louisiana’s Sports Station.