LSU kicks off SEC play in style with a win in Starkville

The No. 14 LSU Tigers traveled to Starkville and made a statement in the Southeastern Conference opener against Mississippi State with a 41-14 win.

For the first time this season, the Tigers started fast and closed things out in the second half with four quarters of quality football.

The storyline on offense was the connection between Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Malik Nabers, who connected 13 times on 13 targets for 239 yards and two touchdowns – and nearly a third when Nabers was pushed out at the 1-yard line.

Daniels flashed the deep passing game LSU had hoped to see, and Nabers responded with a career day.

Daniels also completed 88.2% of his pass attempts, which was an LSU program record for a quarterback who attempted more than 25 passes in a game. He finished 30-for-34 passing for 361 yards and two touchdowns through the air while adding two touchdowns and 64 yards on the ground.

Defensively, LSU forced punts on the first five drives of the game – including a stretch of four three-and-outs in a row. While MSU got into the end zone just before halftime, the Tigers came out in the second half and forced a turnover on downs and two punts on the first three MSU offensive possessions.

Here’s the recap of how the entire game unfolded, as well as the stats from each quarter, half and the game.

FIRST QUARTER

MSU won the toss and elected to receive

The Bulldogs picked up a quick first down on a 12-yard pass, but the LSU defense didn’t budge after stopping MSU starting running back Ja’Quavious Marks for no gain before a pair of incompletions from quarterback Will Rogers.

LSU freshman Whit Weeks started at linebacker in place of the injured Omar Speights, where he was joined by Greg Penn III. The Tigers kept Harold Perkins as an edge rusher for the second week in a row after he was a starting linebacker in the week one loss to Florida State.

LSU punt returner Gregory Clayton brought in the fair catch to give the Tigers the ball, and much like the first two games, LSU’s offense marched right down the field and into the red-zone. Running back Logan Diggs got the start and was involved in the pass attack right away with a pair of catches for a combined 24 yards. Then, LSU’s top receiver Malik Nabers hauled in multiple catches, including a key fourth down on a pitch play.

Logan Diggs got the Tigers a big six-yard run to put the ball near the goal line on 3rd-and-Goal, but his attempt to get into the end zone on third down fell inches short of the line. Much like the Tigers did against Florida State, Brian Kelly elected to go for it on 4th-and-Goal from the 1-yard line, but a false start – the second of the drive – backed the Tigers up. From there, Damian Ramos hit the field goal to give LSU the 3-0 lead.

LSU 3, MSU 0 – 6:36 remaining in first quarter

LSU gave up a kickoff that was returned to the 41-yard line, but the defense made MSU go backwards from there.

Defensive end Saivion Jones came up with a huge sack on first down, putting the offense in a hole from the start. Bradyn Swinson broke up the second down pass attempt, and the Tigers hurried Rogers into an incompletion on third down. For the second series in a row, MSU punted after gaining a combined five yards.

From there, the LSU offense kept rolling. First, Daniels went deep to Nabers for a 32-yard gain. After an 8-yard run from Logan Diggs, Daniels got wide receiver Chris Hilton involved on a four-yard catch. Then, Daniels went with the deep ball to Nabers, which was perfectly thrown into the end zone and Nabers reeled in the 26-yard touchdown catch.

After two drives, Daniels was 12-for-12 passing for 115 yards and one touchdown, while Nabers had caught six passes for 80 yards and a touchdown.

LSU 10, MSU 0 – 3:38 remaining in first quarter

The LSU defense was flawless across the first three drives, quickly forcing MSU’s offense into another three-and-out. The Tigers also brought former five-star and true freshman Da’Shawn Womack into the game to rush the passer on third down.

LSU got the ball back and picked up a first down right away by running back Josh Williams, who hauled in a pass and turned it into a 13-yard gain. Brian Thomas Jr. converted a big third down with an impressive move in the open field, and he hauled in a short pass to give the Tigers a 3rd-and-short as time expired in the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

Jayden Daniels was sacked on third down, but Kelly gave the green light to go for it on 4th-and-7 from the 33-yard line.

Daniels hit Nabers on a perfect throw in the end zone, and Nabers hauled it in for the touchdown.

After three drives, Daniels was 16-for-17 for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns. Nabers was his go-to target, hauling in seven catches for 113 yards and 2 touchdowns.

It is notable given Nabers had 1,000+ receiving yards in 2022, but only 3 touchdowns. He’s now hit that mark in 2.5 games this season.

LSU 17, MSU 0 – 14:11 remaining in second quarter

Another possession, another three-and-out forced by the LSU defense, which had been stellar across the first quarter and into the second quarter.

LSU quickly hit Nabers for a couple more catches, but the drive stalled out when the Tigers were hit with a holding call that was followed up by a sack on third down. Once more, stunts from the MSU defense gave the LSU offensive line and running back in pass protection issues.

For the first time since Week 1, Jay Bramblett was called on to punt the football, giving it back to the Bulldogs with 7:27 remaining in the first half.

Still, the LSU defense had yet to buckle.

Once again, the Tigers forced MSU into a three-and-out.

When LSU got the ball back, the Tigers went for an early knockout punch. On the first play, Daniels went back to the deep passing game and – no surprise – hit Nabers on a 48-yard gain to get into the red zone. Diggs got the LSU offense inside the 10-yard line, and a run by Daniels put the ball at the goal line. From there, Josh Williams punched it in on the handoff to extend the lead to 24-0 in the second quarter.

LSU 24, MSU 0 – 3:24 remaining in second quarter

MSU got the ball back after five straight punts and four three-and-outs to begin the game, but the Bulldogs found a big play when Marks led off the drive with a 52-yard gain. Harold Perkins then broke up a pass attempt to the end zone before sacking Rogers to put the Tigers in third-and-long. MSU got into a 4th-and-4 situation inside the red zone, and while LSU brought pressure, Rogers made a nice throw to get the first down. On the next play, the Bulldogs punched it in for a touchdown from nine yards out.

LSU 24, MSU 7 – 0:50 remaining in second quarter

LSU got the ball back, but with no timeouts the Tigers ran the ball twice with Josh Williams and headed to the locker room.

HALFTIME: LSU 24, MSU 7

THIRD QUARTER

LSU received the ball to start the second half, and Jayden Daniels picked up where he left off. He quickly Brian Thomas for a gain, then went back to him on a big third down conversion that went for 19 yards.

Daniels scrambled for another first down immediately, and LSU was back knocking on the door of the red zone. The Tigers ran into a 3rd-and-8, but a questionable no call for pass interference ended the push for a touchdown following a first down pass attempt from Daniels to Hilton.

LSU kicker Damian Ramos stepped in to extend the lead with a 41-yard field goal.

LSU 27, MSU 7 – 10:41 remaining in third quarter

Down 20 points, MSU’s offense immediately came up short on third-and-down, but the Bulldogs elected to go for it on fourth down in their own territory. The call worked as Marks converted the fourth down with a run up the middle.

After a 21-yard gain on a sideline completion was reviewed and confirmed, the LSU defense didn’t give way. The Tigers forced a 4th-and-short, and a false start on MSU backed it up to 4th-and-6. The Bulldogs tried to go deep to Zavion Thomas, but LSU’s cornerback and safety were both there in coverage.

LSU took the ball back after the turnover on downs and marched straight down the field for a touchdown.

A 23-yard run by Daniels resulted in MSU’s Shawn Preston being ejected for targeting, which moved the ball from the LSU 37-yard line to the MSU 25-yard line. Daniels later added another scramble to get the ball to the 5-yard line, then he kept it again for his first rushing touchdown of the day.

LSU 34, MSU 7 – 3:27 remaining in the third quarter

It’s been the theme all morning in Starkville. When the MSU offense got the ball, it’s more than likely a three-and-out was coming.

After a punt gave the ball back to the LSU offense, the Tigers got freshman running back Kaleb Jackson involved. On his first catch, Jackson sprinted 24 yards up the field for a huge gain, but it was brought back on a holding call. On his first carry, Jackson got off the initial contact on the line of scrimmage, bounced it outside and run over an MSU defender with a head-turning hit for the first down.

On third down, Daniels went to Nabers for the first down as time expired on the third quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

The fourth quarter began for LSU’s offense in the same fashion the Tigers had operated across the first three quarters.

When it came to the connection between Daniels and Nabers, the pair were perfect.

Daniels found Nabers on yet another deep ball, this one going for 45 yards before being pushed out at the 1-yard line. Daniels finished it off with his second rushing touchdown of the day.

As the fourth quarter began, the stats told the tale. When Daniels went looking for Nabers in the SEC opener against MSU, the results were staggering. He targeted Nabers 13 times, and Nabers caught all 13 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns as LSU eclipsed the 40-point mark.

LSU 41, MSU 7 – 12:11 remaining in the fourth quarter

The teams traded punts before MSU put together the team’s second touchdown drive of the game, this time coming when the outcome was already determined.

With LSU’s punt going out of bounds at the MSU 42-yard line, the Bulldogs drove 58 yards in 10 plays to get into the end zone on a throw from backup quarterback Mike Wright to Antonio Harmon from four yards out.

LSU 41, MSU 14 – 4:26 remaining in fourth quarter

backup quarterback Garrett Nussmeier handed off to running backs Noah Cain and Kaleb Jackson to grind out the clock and secure the road win.

FINAL: LSU 41, MSU 14