BATON ROUGE, La. — On a night when the offense sputtered and the scoreboard never quite reflected LSU’s top-five ranking, it was the Tigers’ defense that carried the load. Garrett Nussmeier passed for 237 yards and a touchdown, and No. 3 LSU did just enough to hold off in-state foe Louisiana Tech in a 23–7 win at Tiger Stadium on Saturday.
LSU improved to 2–0, but left plenty to fix ahead of next weekend’s SEC opener against Florida.
“We’re not happy with the production across the board,” head coach Brian Kelly admitted postgame. “I’m not happy with the performance — but it’s a win.”
A Win, But Far From Convincing
Favored by more than 30 points, LSU didn’t lead by double digits until late in the third quarter, when Caden Durham punched in a 3-yard touchdown to make it 17–0. The Tigers’ inability to separate on the scoreboard echoed a sluggish start offensively, marked by miscues and missed opportunities.
The tone was set early. LSU’s opening drive ended with Nussmeier’s first interception of the season, a tipped deep ball that landed in the hands of Louisiana Tech safety Michael Richard. The following drive stalled with a missed 51-yard field goal by Damian Ramos, and the Tigers didn’t get on the board until a short TD pass to Nic Anderson in the final minute of the first quarter.
LSU finished the game with 365 total yards, including 128 rushing, but struggled to convert drives into touchdowns. Ramos kicked three field goals, missing one, and LSU punted three times. Four drives stalled deep in Tech territory.
“It was a lack of execution — by coaches and players alike,” Kelly said. “Everybody collectively did not live up to the standard we’ve set here.”
Defense Holds the Line
LSU’s defense was dominant for most of the night, holding Louisiana Tech (1–1) to just 154 total yards and shutting them out for nearly 56 minutes. The Bulldogs didn’t score until backup QB Blake Baker connected with Devin Gandy on a 33-yard touchdown pass with 4:02 remaining.
It was the only blemish on an otherwise suffocating performance. The Tigers controlled the clock (36:52 to 23:08), bottled up the run, and kept the Bulldogs off balance for most of the game. The lone touchdown allowed ended a nearly six-quarter shutout streak that stretched back to last week’s second-half shutout of Clemson.
Bright Spots in a Quiet Offense
Despite the subdued final score, LSU did see strong performances from its receiving corps. Barion Brown, a transfer from Kentucky, caught eight passes for 94 yards, while Aaron Anderson also hauled in eight receptions for 73 yards.
“I was just out there having fun, letting the game come to me,” Brown said.
“He balled out,” Kelly added. “That’s what we expected from him.”
Durham added 47 yards on the ground to go with his late touchdown.
Still, Kelly kept many starters — including Nussmeier — in the game until the final minutes, an indication of his dissatisfaction with the offensive rhythm.
“He knows he’s got to play better,” Kelly said of his quarterback. “And I’ve got to coach better.”
Injury Concerns Mount for Tigers
LSU’s depth may take a hit following a string of injuries. Starting center Braelin Moore left the game on the first offensive snap with an ankle issue, while tight end Trey’Dez Green exited early in the fourth quarter with a knee injury. Green had a touchdown in Week 1. Edge rusher Jimari Butler also left the game late, needing help to get off the field. All three will undergo imaging on Sunday.
Tech Keeps It Close, But Offense Falls Flat
Louisiana Tech opened the season with a shutout win over Southeastern Louisiana, and for much of Saturday night, its defense showed it could hang with elite talent. The Bulldogs’ punt unit pinned LSU inside its own 10-yard line four times, and the defense forced four field goal attempts — one of which was missed.
“Our execution offensively was not where it needs to be for us to win a conference championship,” said head coach Sonny Cumbie. “I know we’ll get that fixed.”
Tech finished with 209 passing yards and just 117 on the ground, with the lone touchdown coming in garbage time.
Looking Ahead:
LSU (2–0) returns home next Saturday for a pivotal SEC opener against Florida, looking for a more complete performance on both sides of the ball.
Louisiana Tech (1–1) opens Conference USA play with its home opener vs. New Mexico State on Saturday, Sept. 13.
