LSU walked away with a 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday, but don’t let that final score fool you. Head coach Lane Kiffin was straight up furious with his team’s start, especially after they went into halftime holding onto a measly three-point lead. That kind of performance just doesn’t fly, not for a team with LSU’s standards.
The Turnover Nightmare Kiffin Called “Really Disappointing”
The Tigers absolutely shot themselves in the foot early, turning the ball over a ridiculous four times in the game. Kiffin didn’t mince words, calling the whole thing “really disappointing.” He gave credit where it was due, acknowledging Louisiana Tech’s defense for playing really hard, but the focus was clearly on his own squad’s mistakes. Quarterback Sam Leavitt, after leading a field goal and a touchdown drive in the first quarter, completely lost control in what Kiffin described as a “disastrous second” quarter. Wide receiver Tre Wilson III fumbled on the very first offensive drive of that quarter, setting a rough tone. Then, Leavitt spiraled, ending LSU’s next three possessions with a trio of interceptions, one of which was picked off and returned 100 yards for a pick-six. Ouch. Kiffin said Leavitt is “very competitive,” but admitted you could see him “trying too much” because things weren’t going well. His halftime message? Simple: “Taking care of the ball on offense.”
35-7 Second Half: The Upset Win That Might Be a Wake-Up Call
Whatever Kiffin said at halftime, it clearly worked. LSU came out swinging in the second half, completely dominating the Bulldogs and outscoring them 35-7 in the final two quarters to seal the 45-14 victory. Leavitt, despite his early struggles, still finished the game with solid numbers: 25-for-38 passing for 344 yards and four total touchdowns, to go along with those three frustrating interceptions. But here’s the kicker, and what makes Kiffin so unique: he actually suggested the rough start might be a good thing. “Maybe it was perfect for us, that we needed something like that,” Kiffin told reporters. He added that if they had “played good on offense, and the game was 70-7 or something, then we don’t have their attention.” It’s wild, right? Winning by 31 points, and Kiffin’s still upset. That’s the kind of “good standard” he talks about, and he pointed to that second-half 35-7 score as proof that “a lot of people” were doing things right when it mattered.
The Tigers have just one week to tighten things up and make sure those early-game jitters are a thing of the past. They’ve got a massive matchup ahead, hitting the road next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET to face Ole Miss, Kiffin’s former program and their first SEC opponent of the season. You know he’ll be demanding a clean performance from the jump for that one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply