si
The No. 22 LSU Tigers dominated from the opening whistle, shutting out the No. 16 Mississippi State Bulldogs 31-0 on Saturday. The emphatic win was a strong response to LSU's disappointing loss to Kentucky the previous week.
The Tigers have been a different team at home versus on the road. In Tiger Stadium, they are a perfect 5-0 and have outscored opponents 225-44. Away from home, they are 0-2. In a must-win game, LSU took care of business against a Bulldogs team missing starting quarterback Kamario Taylor.
Here's a look at whose stock rose and whose fell on Saturday.
Who Helped Themselves?
Jordan Ross, DE
When one player goes down, another must step up. That has been LSU's story this year, and it held true on Saturday when Princewill Umanmielen left the game with an injury. Multiple defensive players contributed to the shutout, but Jordan Ross stood out. He recorded a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, and consistently pressured Parker Puckett. If Umanmielen misses time, Ross will play a major role up front, and he delivered on Saturday.
Sam Leavitt, QB
Sam Leavitt led by example against Mississippi State. His mobility was limited, but he stood in the pocket and delivered strikes all day. Leavitt completed 31 of 38 pass attempts for 289 yards and four touchdowns. His turnover-free game was encouraging—it was his first game without a turnover. While the Tigers' offense fumbled the ball, Leavitt's mistake-free performance was a standout. LSU needs similar games from Leavitt if it is to remain an SEC contender.
LSU's Secondary
The Tigers' secondary was tremendous. Ty Benefield recorded an interception, while DJ Pickett and PJ Woodland had multiple pass deflections. They kept everything in front and forced Parker Puckett to make difficult decisions. LSU followed the formula to wreak havoc on a freshman quarterback. The Bulldogs finished with 121 passing yards and never found a rhythm because of the Tigers' secondary.
Who Hurt Themselves?
LSU's Depth
A lopsided victory results in very few negatives. However, the injury bug caught up to the Tigers again. Umanmielen, Jackson Harris, and Lamar Brown all suffered injuries on Saturday. LSU was already without several key contributors, including Trey'Dez Green, Dashawn Spears, and Whit Weeks. If the injuries suffered today are serious, the Tigers are going to be short-handed. Lane Kiffin will happily take an SEC win, but there are serious questions about this team's depth moving forward. They could be without multiple star players next week, which is concerning.