Mississippi State Bulldogs at LSU Tigers

Leavitt throws for 4 TDs as No. 22 LSU routs No. 16 Mississippi State 31-0

“I know people are going to talk about injuries and that will be a storyline," LSU coach Lane Kiffin said, alluding to the absences of Bulldogs starting quarterback Kamario Taylor and top running back Fluff Bothwell.

"But there ain’t a team in America that has more significant players standing on the sideline than us," Kiffin added. “So, not a lot of pity there.”

Jackson Harris had six catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns for LSU (5-2, 2-2 SEC) before leaving the game with an apparent lower left leg injury in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs (4-2, 2-2), who had a bye last week, lost their second straight — each by more than 30 points.

Mississippi State's offense took the field with second-year quarterback Parker Puckett making his first start. He was intercepted once — by Ty Benefield — and sacked three times before finishing 16 of 26 for 121 yards.

Puckett had “put himself in position to be the guy today,” Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby said. "That was the decision I made because he gave us the best chance to do what we needed to do.”

Puckett drove the Bulldogs inside the LSU 40 five times, but all five of those drives ended on failed fourth down plays, including one from the Tigers 6-yard line.

“Offensively, we had chances,” Lebby said. "We didn’t do what we needed to do to be able to keep us in it.”

The victory was methodical and convincing for LSU, which was looking to bounce back from a 35-34 overtime loss at Kentucky the previous week that had caused the Tigers to drop 12 spots in the AP Top 25. It was also LSU's first shutout of an SEC opponent since winning 45-0 at Mississippi State in 2007 — en route to a national championship.

“I’m really happy with our response,” Kiffin said, noting that he took the unusual approach in his Friday night speech to the team of telling them they “have to win” this week.

Leavitt played his cleanest game of the season, completing 31 of 38 passes.

“I feel like game by game he just keeps getting better and better," said running back Dilin Jones. "I expect him to play even better next game.”

Leavitt connected with nine different receivers and kept scrambles to a minimum, rushing just 4 times for 11 yards. His other scoring passes went for 10 yards to Eugene Wilson III and 6 yards to Malik Elzy.

“We talked a lot this week about trusting the receivers and allowing them to go make plays,” Kiffin said. “We are starting to show that we can be a passing team and really be attacking that way.”

Jones highlighted his 18-carry, 84-yard day with a 21-yard, tackle-breaking run during which his helmet was dislodged.

LSU outgained MSU in total yards 379 to 291, converting eight of 13 third downs, as well as its only fourth down attempt during a first-half touchdown drive.

Kolin Wilson rushed for 75 yards for Mississippi State, which outgained LSU on the ground, 170 yards to 90.

The takeaway Mississippi State: The absences of Taylor and Bothwell were big ones for the Bulldogs' offense, which was seven of 15 on third downs and drove inside the LSU 20 only once. Puckett showed potential, but only sporadically. His best play was a 33-yard gain on a designed run. His longest completion went for 22 yards to Sanfrisco Magee.

LSU: Top edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen left the game with an apparent head injury in the first half, but paced around the bench area after being examined. As Kiffin noted, the Tigers were already playing without several key starters who were injured earlier this season, including top tight end Trey'Dez Green and linebacker Whit Weeks. ... Leavitt finally made it through an entire game without throwing an interception. He'd thrown eight interceptions during LSU's first six games, and, before Saturday, was the only QB in the Football Bowl Subdivision this season who'd been intercepted in each of his team's games.

Up next Mississippi State: hosts Oklahoma next Saturday.

LSU: visits Auburn next Saturday.

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