3 takeaways: Has Sam Leavitt finally arrived for LSU? QB shines as Tigers throttle Auburn

LSU football dominated Auburn38-17 on Saturday, Oct. 24, avoiding an upset similar to the fate Georgia suffered vs. the Tigers in Week 7.

Quarterback Sam Leavitt had perhaps his best game since transferring to LSU from Arizona State, scoring four total touchdowns. Despite dealing with a hamstring injury, he also rushed for 53 yards in the win.

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Auburn was unable to find any success on the ground, with quarterback Byrum Brown being held in check despite rushing for over 100 yards in Auburn’s last two games against Tennessee and Georgia.

LSU has two losses on the season, but it has bounced back strongly from its upset loss to Kentucky by throttling Mississippi State and Auburn in huge offensive performances.

Here are three takeaways from the Tigers’ win:

Jackson Harris emerging as top-tier SEC receiver

Hawai’i transfer Jackson Harris has emerged as LSU’s top target in the Tigers’ last few games, including a nine-catch, 178-yard, two-touchdown performance against Auburn.

Harris caught a deep slant and returned it for a 70-yard touchdown in the second quarter, after catching a 10-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

Harris started the season with five total catches against Clemson, Louisiana Tech and Ole Miss. Since? Thirty-one receptions for 517 yards with seven touchdowns in LSU’s last five games.

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Sam Leavitt has best game at LSU, attempts season-high 45 passes

Leavitt was outstanding against Auburn, completing 32 of 45 passes for 387 yards with four total touchdowns in the win. He also rushed eight times for 54 yards, with he and Dilon Jones the only ball carriers for LSU until garbage time in the fourth quarter.

Leavitt was asked to do a lot against Auburn, too. He attempted a season-high 45 passes, one shy of his career-high of 46 passes in Arizona State’s College Football Playoff loss to Texas in 2024. He ultimately ran or threw 53 times against Auburn.

Leavitt threw an interception that was called back due to a penalty, but it marks his second consecutive game without a turnover for LSU after having at least one in each of the Tigers’ first six games.

Auburn rushing attack flounders

Auburn rushed for 192 yards and a touchdown on 46 carries in its 27-24 upset win over then-No. 1 Georgia in Week 7. Brown rushed for over 100 yards for the second consecutive game in that win, rushing for 115 yards against the Bulldogs after rushing for 107 yards in a loss to Tennessee in Week 5.

Brown’s rushing ability was clearly a point of emphasis for LSU’s defense, which ranks No. 3 in total defense nationally. Brown rushed 19 times for 21 yards and a touchdown against the Tigers, averaging a poor 1.1 yards per carry.

Auburn ultimately totaled 35 carries for 67 yards as a team, although some of that came with backup quarterback Tristan Ti'a late in the fourth quarter. Its offense will have some trouble going forward if its rushing attack can’t get going.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 3 takeaways: Has Sam Leavitt finally arrived for LSU? QB shines as Tigers throttle Auburn