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How it Happened: No. 3 LSU rolls Southeastern in Week 4

On3 imageby: Shea Dixon09/21/25sheadixon
LSU looked sharp on offense and defense in a blowout win over Southeastern (Photo: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images)
LSU looked sharp on offense and defense in a blowout win over Southeastern (Photo: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images)

No. 3 LSU’s win over an FCS foe might not draw national attention, but it was a statement night for LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and the offense.

After battling a torso injury in fall camp and into the season, Nussmeier looked as sharp as he has all season.

Nussmeier, who exited the game with the first-team offense after the first drive of the second half, finished 25-for-31 passing for 273 yards and three touchdowns. He also logged his longest run of his career on a 26-yard rush for a first down.

Former Southeatern quarterback turned Oklahoma tight end and, now, LSU tight end Bauer Sharp led the team in receiving with five catches for 73 yards and one touchdown, while Ju’Juan Johnson took the most notable reps at running back and finished the game with 43 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries.

On the other side of the ball, 23 different LSU players found their way onto the stat sheet, and 42 total players saw at least one snap on defense, there was plenty of opportunity to go around. And, as has been the case each week, the first-team defense shined bright for the Tigers.

Here’s how LSU secured the 56-10 win over Southeastern in Death Valley on Saturday night.

By:Shea Dixon

LSU goes up 7-0 … but not right away

09/20/2025 07:55:27 PM

After a 3-and-out that saw LSU’s offense go backwards on the first play of the game, the Tigers capitalized with a stop on defense, a bad punt from Southeastern, and a 13-play scoring drive that resulted in a quarterback sneak by Garrett Nussmeier for the 7-0 lead. Nussmeier started the game’s first two drives by hitting on 6-of-8 pass attempts to go with eight run plays. That downside to the first two drives: LSU punted before needing 13 plays and a four third down conversions to go 45 yards for the score.

By:Shea Dixon

Tigers get another red-zone TD to start 2nd Quarter

09/20/2025 07:35:48 PM

The LSU offense needed a conversion on 4th-and-11 to keep the third drive of the game going, but the Tigers capitalized after Garrett Nussmeier found Zavion Thomas to move the chains. The next two plays: a 16-yard run by Ju’Juan Johnson to set up a 2-yard score – the first of the year for Johnson. With 13 minutes until halftime, LSU took a 14-0 lead.

By:Shea Dixon

LSU goes up 21-0 with another rushing TD

09/20/2025 07:51:24 PM

LSU took a 21-0 lead midway through the second quarter on a third rushing touchdown in the first half, and the second for Ju’Juan Johnson. The former LSU defensive back turned running back scored on a 10-yard run that came after Nussmeier scrambled for 26 yards and a first down. For the third time in a trio of drives, the Tigers got into the red zone and converted with a touchdown.

By:Shea Dixon

LSU, Southeastern both get a TD in the 3rd Quarter

09/20/2025 09:53:19 PM

Former Southeastern quarterback turned Oklahoma transfer tight end Bauer Sharp got on the board against his former team with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Garrett Nussmeier in the third quarter – which in turn ended the night for Nussmeier. Nussmeier finished with his best outing of the year, hitting on 25-of-his 31 passes – which included multiple drops by the LSU wide receivers – for 273 yards and three touchdowns. With LSU ahead 42-0, defensive coordinator Blake Baker sent out second-team and third-team players the rest of the way, and the Lions capitalized with a touchdown on an 8-play, 75-yard drive that closed out the scoring in the 15 minutes after halftime.

By:Shea Dixon

LSU backup QB Michael Van Buren shines in second half

09/20/2025 09:57:23 PM

Former Mississippi State starting quarterback Michael Van Buren entered the game for Nussmeier in the third quarter, and he made quick work of his first snaps in purple-and-gold with a scoring drive that went 81 yards in 16 plays and resulted in the transfer scoring from a yard out. Van Buren put together another scoring drive in the fourth quarter that ended with a 27-yard passing touchdown to wide receiver Kyle Parker. Van Buren was 10-for-12 passing for 122 yards, four carries for 16 yards, and touchdowns with both his legs and arm.

By:Shea Dixon

LSU scores a TD on five straight drives before halftime

09/20/2025 08:36:31 PM

The Tigers might have punted after a three-and-out to start the game, and then needed double-digit plays to get on the board on the second drive, but the offense proved to be clicking from there. On the first half’s remaining five drives, LSU scored a touchdown each time. The Tigers went up 28-0 on a touchdown pass from Garrett Nussmeier to Barion Brown, then extended the lead to 35-0 just before halftime on a touchdown pass from Nussmeier to Zavion Thomas.

By:Shea Dixon

LSU closes out Week 4 with 56-10 win over Southeastern

09/20/2025 10:04:25 PM

With backups in for most of the third quarter and the entire four quarter, the Lions got on the board with a field goal to end the 60 minutes in Baton Rouge. LSU’s first-team defense looked the part in holding Southeastern to no points, while starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier looked healthy and was sharp before handing the ball over to backup Michael Van Buren, who kept the offense clicking with his dual-threat abilities. LSU, now 4-0 on the year, can turn the focus to the first SEC road game of the year with next weekend’s trip to Oxford and a matchup with undefeated Ole Miss.