LSU did exactly what it was supposed to do against McNeese on Saturday night.
The No. 11 Tigers overwhelmed their FCS opponent from the start, building a 35-point halftime lead before cruising to a 63-14 victory in Tiger Stadium.
Improving to 4-1 with the victory, LSU delivered a historic offensive output. The Tigers' sheer dominance was evident as they amassed 729 yards of total offense (second all-time in program history), including 365 rushing yards, across a school-record 102 plays.
McNeese finished with just 196 total yards, 110 of which came on two explosive touchdowns in the second half.
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For LSU, however, Saturday was about more than beating an opponent it was expected to handle. The Tigers got their running game going, gave several young players significant opportunities and largely avoided allowing an inferior opponent to hang around.
Here are three takeaways from LSU's blowout victory.
LSU Finally Gets the Rushing Performance It Has Been Looking For
LSU established its running game Saturday, rushing for 365 yards and six touchdowns on 53 carries (6.9 yards per carry).
Harlem Berry recorded his first 100-yard rushing game, leading LSU with 125 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries (8.3 yards per attempt). His 46-yard run set up an 11-yard touchdown in the third quarter to extend the lead to 49-0.
Stacy Gage followed with more than 100 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns (46 and 39 yards) on six carries.
In limited reps because of LSU’s blowout win and to make sure the Tigers avoid another significant injury, Dilin Jones ran the ball 16 times for 79 yards and a 1-yard touchdown. He was impressive the entire night as his shiftiness caused all kinds of problems for McNeese.
Backup quarterback Landen Clark (3-yard run) and freshman defensive tackle Deuce Geralds (1-yard run) also scored rushing touchdowns, giving LSU six rushing scores across five players.
Corey Barber Jr. Makes His Case for a Larger Role
Freshman wide receiver Corey Barber Jr. capitalized on his opportunity during LSU's blowout win over McNeese. Entering the game with only one catch for 15 yards on the season, Barber led the Tigers with seven receptions for 83 yards and two touchdowns.
Both scores came late in the second quarter on passes from starting quarterback Leavitt—a 6-yard touchdown with 4:01 remaining and a 12-yard touchdown with just over a minute left before halftime. Operating within LSU's primary offense before starters were pulled, Barber provided a standout performance that could earn him an expanded role moving forward.
LSU Gets Sam Leavitt In and Out — and Valuable Work for Its Backup QBs
Facing an overmatched FCS opponent, LSU efficiently built a 35-0 halftime lead, allowing Sam Leavitt to rest early.
Leavitt went 18-for-23 for 176 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception near McNeese's goal line.
Coming off a hamstring issue, Leavitt effectively managed the game from the pocket without taking unnecessary hits before handing off to his backups.
The blowout provided valuable game action for reserves Landen Clark (7-of-16, 126 yards, 3-yard rushing TD) and Husan Longstreet (6-of-9, 62 yards).
These reps offer crucial experience that practice cannot replicate once SEC play resumes.
Ultimately, LSU accomplished its primary objective: securing a dominant win while keeping its starting quarterback healthy.
That was the ideal scenario for Saturday night.
