5 plays that helped LSU past Vanderbilt, back into the win column
LSU returned home Saturday badly needing a win after dropping its past three.
And after a shaky start, the Tigers (7-4, 4-3) responded to grind their way past Vanderbilt, 24-17, and avoid their first four-game losing streak since 1999 or first loss to the Commodores (6-5, 3-4) since 1990.
Several veteran leaders helped provide critical sparks in key moments to help get back into the win column.
Here’s a look at five of the most pivotal plays along the way.
Badly needed early spark
LSU badly needed a spark as a pair of concerning kickoff returns, an early false start, a three-and-out and a one-play Vanderbilt touchdown strike had the restlessness and frustration in Tiger Stadium quickly mounting. The home team picked up its first two first downs of the game and then connected for 30 yards between Garrett Nussmeier and Kyren Lacy. The play drew the biggest early jolt of energy from the crowd that continued to grow as another veteran leader, running back Josh Williams, somehow snuck through a scrum and dashed off for a 20-yard score. The Tigers went 90 yards in eight plays on the drive to tie the game, 7-7. And the 30-yard strike deep down the right sideline held up as the team’s longest play of the game.
Defense settling in, picking up
Each team struggled to sustain much on its next couple possessions, including a failed fourth-down attempt by LSU from the 3-yard line. The Tigers’ defense returned the favor in getting off the field on a Vanderbilt fourth down from the 20-yard line, surviving the Commodores’ farthest-reaching drive of the game without giving up a share of the lead. Sophomore linebacker Whit Weeks hurried quarterback Diego Pavia on the play, with senior defensive end Sai’vion Jones also helping cut off the roll-out to the right. And the eventual pass manages to escape senior receiver Quincy Skinner Jr. and fall harmlessly to the turf. The turnover on downs highlight four straight stops for the LSU defense after allowing an early 63-yard touchdown strike. And the Tigers held Vanderbilt to just 160 yards over a six-possession span, while Nussmeier and company took and extended a lead.
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Josh Williams helping lead the way
Williams’ 20-yard touchdown run early put LSU on the board. And the sixth-year senior added a 21-yarder just before half to give the Tigers their first lead heading into the break. Williams had managed just one run of more than 13 yards through the first nine and a half games of the season: a 23-yarder early against UCLA on Sept. 21. But the pair of big scores in the first half Saturday followed up on 16- and 22-yard runs in the third quarter at Florida last week to give him four of his five longest runs of the season in the past four quarters. Williams finished with 14 carries for a game-high 90 yards, his highest rushing total in more than two years going back to Nov. 12, 2022, at Arkansas. The multi-touchdown game was his first since Oct. 14, 2023, at Auburn last season — when he reached the end zone on a run and on a reception — and the first game of his career with two rushing touchdowns.
Creating breathing room
Vanderbilt trimmed LSU’s advantage to 14-10 with a field goal on its opening possession of the first half. And the Tigers found themselves in another fourth-down decision, at the Commodores’ 36-yard line, on their ensuing drive. This time, they moved the chains as Nussmeier hit C.J. Daniels for a 24-yard gain down into the red zone. The quarterback dropped back and slung a 12-yard touchdown to Lacy on the next play to push the lead to 21-10 with the extra point. Nussmeier completed five straight passes for 68 yards to highlight the drive. The junior completed 28 of his 37 passes for 332 yards on the night. And Daniels finished with four catches for 56 yards, his highest total since LSU’s most recent win at Arkansas on Oct. 19. His five highest receiving totals have all come in Tigers’ victories, while his four lowest totals have come in the team’s losses.
Icing away the victory
Pavia helped lead Vanderbilt’s longest drive of the game late and found the end zone to cut the Tigers’ lead to 24-17 with 5:47 remaining. Rather than play the situation conservatively, LSU came out firing downfield with a long, 21-yard throw from Nussmeier to Lacy to the right sideline. The play immediately moved the drive out toward the 50-yard line, put the Commodores on their heels and helped the Tigers start building their momentum down the field. LSU picked up five first downs on the possession, eating the remember of the clock, eventually kneeling out the game in the red zone. Lacy finished the night with game-highs for six catches for 85 yards and a score.
