Leavitt throws for 4 TDs as No. 22 LSU routs No. 16 Mississippi State 31-0

Sam Leavitt delivered an outstanding performance for No. 22 LSU, completing 31 of 38 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions in a commanding 31-0 victory over Mississippi State. Quarterback Kamario Taylor and top running back Fluff Bothwell were sidelined, and the Bulldogs (4-2, 2-2 SEC) suffered their second straight crushing loss by over 30 points.

The Mississippi State defense struggled, failing to score and only managing a 121-yard passing game led by Parker Puckett, who was intercepted once and sacked three times. The Tigers (4-2, 2-2 SEC) saw their offense fail to capitalize on five drives reaching the LSU 40-yard line, all of which ended with failed fourth downs, including a critical missed opportunity from the Tigers' 6-yard line.

This victory was a significant rebound for LSU following a 35-34 overtime loss to Kentucky that dropped the Tigers 12 spots in the AP Top 25 rankings. It also marked LSU's first shutout of an SEC opponent since their 45-0 win at Mississippi State in 2007, leading them towards a national championship. Sam Leavitt played his cleanest game of the season, with 9 different receivers targeted.

LSU outgained Mississippi State 379 yards to 291, converting eight of 13 third downs and only committing one fourth down, which they successfully executed in a first-half touchdown drive. Kolin Wilson rushed for 75 yards for Mississippi State, who outgained LSU on the ground 170 yards to 90. Mississippi State's absence of key players significantly hampered their offensive efforts, which went 7 of 15 on third downs and managed to reach the LSU 20-yard line only once.