Highlight: No. 14 LSU puts up monster numbers in win over South Alabama (4 TDs by Nussmeier)
Here’s an expanded deep dive—just over 500 words—on how Garrett Nussmeier and LSU dismantled South Alabama 42–10 on September 28, 2024:
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⚡1. Lights‑Out Offensive Performance
Freshman Caden Durham set a scorching tone right from the whistle. On LSU’s first play, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier hit him on a swing pass that covered 71 yards for a touchdown. On the very next offensive series, Durham racked up an 86-yard run to the 1‑yard line, and on the next snap, Nussmeier punched it in himself—capping off a jaw‑dropping opening quarter that saw LSU jump to a 21‑0 lead .
Durham finished with 217 all‑purpose yards and two touchdowns—128 on the ground and 89 through the air, on just 10 touches. His first‑quarter dominance was a major spark that LSU’s offense rode for much of the night .
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2. Nussmeier’s Career Night
Junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was nothing short of spectacular. He completed 26 of 39 passes for a career-high 409 yards, adding two passing and two rushing touchdowns, finishing with four total TDs .
Rushing scores: 1‑yard sneak early in the 1st quarter and a 5‑yard scramble in the 2nd.
Passing TD: a 23‑yard strike to Aaron Anderson that made it 35–3 before halftime.
Those contributions extended LSU’s lead to an insurmountable 35–3 by the half .
The Tigers piled up a whopping 667 total yards of offense—the most by LSU in a game since their 2019 playoff win over Oklahoma (497 in a half alone) .
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3. Red Zone & Third‑Down Efficiency
Offensive coordinator Joe Sloan emphasized red‑zone precision—and LSU obliged, going 4-for-5 inside the 20-yard line. On third downs, the Tigers performed efficiently to continually extend drives and sap South Alabama’s defense .
Their first two scoring drives combined took just 68 seconds, showcasing both explosiveness and surgical efficiency .
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4. Defensive Highlights
South Alabama managed only one drive of note in the first half—a 49‑yard field goal early in the 2nd quarter to trail 21–3 . Their lone touchdown came in the 3rd quarter, a 27-yard pass from Gio Lopez to Anthony Eager, making it briefly 35–10 .
A key defensive stand: LSU stopped South Alabama on 4th-and-goal from the 4 in the 3rd quarter. Whit Weeks and Major Burns stuffed the rush to thwart the Jaguars and swing momentum back to LSU .
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5. Historic & Impactful Drives
Two LSU drives were particularly notable:
a) The opening barrage—21 quick points in the first quarter.
b) A mammoth 99-yard, 12-play drive in the 4th quarter that ended with Josh Williams scoring from 4 yards out. This effort was LSU’s longest scoring drive since their CFP semifinal in 2019 .
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6. Context & Implications
With this win, LSU improved to 4–1, 3–0 in SEC play, while South Alabama dropped to 2–3 .
LSU’s half‑time output (429 yards) was their most dominant half since 2019 .
Because both No. 2 Georgia and No. 6 Ole Miss lost that Saturday, LSU was poised to climb slightly in subsequent AP Rankings .
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7. What’s Next?
LSU heads into a well-timed bye week before hosting Ole Miss on October 12, in a game expected to kick off between 5–7 p.m. CT . South Alabama will look to regroup against Arkansas State next.
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🔍 Summary
Offense: 667 total yards, led by Nussmeier’s 409 passing and Durham’s explosive freshman debut.
Quarterback performance: four total TDs, over 400 yards—Nussmeier’s best night yet.
Defensive fortitude: consistent stops, including a critical goal-line stand.
Momentum: A statement win for LSU heading into a bye week and showdown with Ole Miss.
That dominant, all‑around effort reflects LSU’s ability to execute at an elite level on both sides of the ball—a real statement in Tiger Stadium.
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