LSU football just took a brutal 35-34 overtime punch from Kentucky, dropping them to 4-2 in Lane Kiffin’s first season. Ouch. Talk about a gut-wrenching loss that puts their College Football Playoff dreams on life support, forcing them to basically win out from here. But you know what? Buried in that heartbreak was an offensive explosion, especially from quarterback Sam Leavitt and some unexpected heroes who finally found their rhythm against the Wildcats.
Leavitt’s Show and the Offense’s New Gear
Listen, the defense sputtered against Kentucky, and defensive coordinator Blake Baker has to make some big adjustments to replace DaShawn Spears and Whit Weeks with heavy competition coming up. No doubt there. But the offense, man, it just woke up. Sam Leavitt put together an impressive showing in Lexington, spreading the ball around to eight different receivers and slinging two touchdowns, both of which went for 10 or more yards. This dude’s confidence in the pocket was on full display, but he also turned into a ball carrier when he needed to, finishing with a touchdown and a solid 56 rushing yards. Leavitt tossed for 275 yards, completed 74% of his attempts, with six passes going for 15-plus yards. It was one of his most complete games this season. Dilin Jones also had a super well-rounded showing, but we’ll get to him in a sec. The good news for the Tigers is they’re heading back to Baton Rouge to host Mississippi State on Saturday. Playing in front of the Tiger Stadium faithful will be huge, especially with three ranked teams rolling into Death Valley in their next four games. This offense needs that home field boost.
The PFF Grades Don’t Lie: Unsung Heroes Stepped Up Big Time
The advanced stats from PFF really highlight where LSU shined, even in a tough loss. They had five players with 20+ snaps hit some serious grades against Kentucky.
Number one? Wide receiver Jackson Harris. This guy finished with a 75.9 grade on 63 snaps and was directly involved in two of LSU’s four touchdowns. He snagged a 10-yard pass from Leavitt in the second quarter to get them back in the game. But the real shocker? In the fourth quarter, Harris became the primary playmaker and THREW a 41-yard touchdown pass to Roman Mothershed! A receiver throwing a touchdown in a critical moment? That’s electric. He also caught six passes for 54 yards. What a performance.
Then there’s Dilin Jones, our number three PFF graded player at 71.9. This running back absolutely shined in every facet of the offense. He was the leading receiver AND rusher, piling up 140 all-purpose yards,56 on the ground and 84 through the air. Jones was targeted seven times and caught every single pass, averaging 12 yards a catch and even ripping off a 20-yard reception. He carried the ball 16 times, including a sweet 14-yard gain. What a workhorse!
Dylan Carpenter, a rotational edge rusher, came in at number two with a 72.3 grade, the highest of any LSU defender on only 20 snaps. He even snagged a tackle. Winston Watkins, another receiver, grabbed the number five spot with a 69.8 grade, catching six passes for 62 yards and averaging over 10 yards per catch. LSU went to him in big moments, like on third down during the final offensive drive of the fourth quarter. These guys are stepping up when it counts.
What’s Next for the Tigers
LSU’s path to the College Football Playoff is super tight now, requiring a perfect run from here on out. They’ve gotta regroup fast before Mississippi State rolls into Baton Rouge this Saturday. The defense needs to figure things out, especially with all that heavy competition looming. But if this offense, led by Leavitt’s arm, Harris’s playmaking, and Jones’s all-purpose brilliance, can keep this energy going at home, maybe, just maybe, they can pull off the impossible. It’s going to be a wild finish to the season, for sure.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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