LSU Ends SEC Road Skid as Harris, Leavitt and Defense Power Win at Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. — LSU found a combination of explosive offense and relentless defense to end a long Southeastern Conference road drought Saturday, defeating Auburn 38-17 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

The victory snapped an eight-game SEC road losing streak for LSU, which improved to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in conference play. Auburn fell to 4-3 overall and 2-3 in the SEC, one week after upsetting then-No. 1 Georgia.

Quarterback Sam Leavitt completed 32 of 45 passes for a career-high 387 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. He also ran for a score, while wide receiver Jackson Harris caught nine passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns.

LSU built a 31-10 halftime lead, finished with 552 yards of offense and held Auburn to 271. Its defense recorded seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss, while the offensive line did not surrender a sack.

The performance gave LSU coach Lane Kiffin’s team a strong finish to October and a foundation for its next challenge: a Nov. 7 home game against Alabama following an open week.

Harris leads the way

Harris continued his emergence as Leavitt’s leading target, turning 14 targets into nine receptions. His biggest play was a 70-yard touchdown on a short pass over the middle that he turned into a long run.

According to Pro Football Focus, Harris gained 71 yards after the catch and did not drop a pass. His 90.2 overall grade led LSU’s players.

Leavitt made frequent use of the middle of the field, completing 17 of 22 passes there for 233 yards and two touchdowns, according to the PFF breakdown. An apparent interception was overturned by replay, allowing him to finish the game without a turnover.

Tight end Trey’Dez Green also returned after missing time with an injury and caught five passes for 50 yards and a touchdown. Running back Dilin Jones added 92 rushing yards and a score.

Pressure changes the game

LSU’s defensive front helped prevent Auburn from building on the momentum of its victory over Georgia.

Edge rusher Jordan Ross recorded two sacks, and Princewill Umanmielen added another. PFF credited Ross with two quarterback hurries and gave him a 77.4 grade against the run. Umanmielen generated seven pressures, including four hurries, a quarterback hit and a sack. His 68.9 pass-rush grade was the highest on the LSU defense.

Cornerback DJ Pickett also helped limit Auburn’s passing attack. Targeted five times, he allowed one reception for 1 yard, according to PFF. His 84.6 overall grade ranked second on the team behind Harris; he earned an 83.9 coverage grade and a 76.6 tackling grade.

Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown provided one of his team’s biggest plays with a 34-yard run that set up his 1-yard touchdown keeper. The score cut LSU’s lead to 17-10 in the second quarter, but LSU pulled away before halftime.

Grades point to work ahead

PFF’s top five LSU grades reflected the Tigers’ production on both sides of the ball:

Pro Football Focus gave wide receiver Jackson Harris LSU’s highest overall grade at 90.2. Cornerback DJ Pickett followed at 84.6, while quarterback Sam Leavitt earned an 84.0. Defensive ends Jordan Ross and Princewill Umanmielen rounded out the Tigers’ top five, with grades of 74.0 and 72.0, respectively.

The grades also identified areas for improvement before LSU returns to conference play.

Wide receiver Winston Watkins had LSU’s lowest overall grade at 54.8. He caught four of six targets for 40 yards, but a drop contributed to his assessment.

Left guard William Satterwhite received a 58.4 overall grade and center Braelin Moore a 59.4. Both graded better in pass protection than run blocking: Satterwhite earned a 73.0 pass-protection grade and a 52.5 run-blocking grade, while Moore received a 72.5 in pass protection and a 54.0 in run blocking. LSU rushed for 165 yards as a team.

Tight end Zach Grace, who caught all three passes thrown his way for 33 yards, received a 61.6 overall grade. His pass-protection grade was 71.5, while his run-blocking grade was 42.9. With Green back from injury, the distribution of playing time at tight end will be worth watching.

Cornerback PJ Woodland received a 61.9 overall grade. Five of the six passes thrown his way were completed, and he missed a tackle, though he also broke up a pass. His 48.2 run-defense grade lowered his overall mark.

For LSU, the open week offers time to address those details and prepare for Alabama. After a commanding road win, the Tigers will return to Tiger Stadium looking to carry their offensive and defensive progress into November.