LSU vs. Auburn: Sam Leavitt accounts for four TDs as LSU rolls 38-17, and what Lane Kiffin said after

One week after Auburn knocked off then-No. 1 Georgia, No. 18 LSU went to Jordan-Hare Stadium and left little doubt. Quarterback Sam Leavitt accounted for four touchdowns, receiver Jackson Harris piled up 178 yards and the LSU defense recorded seven sacks in a 38-17 win on Saturday, Oct. 24.

The victory moves LSU to 6-2 heading into an open date, with Alabama, Texas and Tennessee waiting in November.

Auburn vs. LSU score and key stats

• Sam Leavitt: 32 of 45 passing for 387 yards, plus eight carries for 54 yards and four total touchdowns, according to USA Today. He attempted a season-high 45 passes.
• Jackson Harris: nine catches, 178 yards and two touchdowns, including a 70-yard catch-and-run that The Advocate reported was LSU’s longest play from scrimmage this season.
• Trey’Dez Green: five catches for 50 yards and a 15-yard touchdown in his return from a knee injury suffered in Week 3.
• Byrum Brown: the Auburn quarterback was held to 21 rushing yards on 19 carries, with one rushing touchdown.

How LSU took control

LSU’s offense moved quickly in the first half. Harris caught a 10-yard touchdown in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Leavitt handled a quick snap and found Green over the middle, and the tight end powered through several defenders for a 15-yard score that made it 17-3 with nearly 10 minutes left before halftime.

On LSU’s next drive, Harris broke loose on the 70-yard score that pushed the lead to 24-10. He had 139 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches by halftime.

Leavitt did have one scare. He threw an interception that was wiped out by a penalty, and USA Today noted it was his second straight game without a turnover after he had at least one in each of LSU’s first six games.

Byrum Brown and the Auburn run game

Stopping Brown was clearly the priority for LSU. He had rushed for more than 100 yards in each of Auburn’s previous two games, including 115 against Georgia. On Saturday he averaged about 1.1 yards per carry. As a team, Auburn ran 35 times for 67 yards, some of that coming late in the fourth quarter with backup quarterback Tristan Ti’a in the game.

Lane Kiffin postgame: what he said

Kiffin opened his press conference simply: “Good team win today. Proud of our team and coaches,” according to a transcript published by 247Sports. He pointed to the line of scrimmage, noting “seven sacks on defense.”

On Leavitt’s wiped-out interception, Kiffin didn’t sugarcoat it: “It was obviously a really poor decision on the one that he got lucky to get back.” He added that Leavitt “really played really well outside of that play.”

Kiffin also explained a more aggressive approach on fourth down, saying one early conversion “was actually against the book.” He said he felt good about LSU’s matchups after watching film during the week.

On the return of Green, Kiffin told reporters, “You just feel different when he’s there,” The Advocate reported, comparing it to going fishing with good bait and tackle.

Asked about the offense’s growth since September, he said, “This is where we planned on being.” Later, discussing the defense and the pieces of the roster coming together, he added, “This is what the whole thing was supposed to look like.”

As for the open date before the November stretch, Kiffin called the rest “really important,” noting that some banged-up players went back into the game because they wanted to.

Jackson Harris’ rise at LSU

The Hawaii transfer had just five catches across LSU’s first three games. In the five games since, he has 31 receptions for 517 yards and seven touchdowns, according to USA Today. Kiffin credited his work ethic and receivers coach George McDonald, and said the long touchdown is “the moment where now the confidence really turns on.”

Leavitt highlighted the problem Harris and Green create together. “How are you going to cover two dominant one-on-one players? You can’t double them both,” he said, per The Advocate.

What’s next for LSU and Auburn football

LSU is off next week and returns Nov. 7 against Alabama, followed by Texas and Tennessee. Auburn, coming off its upset of Georgia, will look to get its ground game back on track after its least productive rushing day in weeks.

Quick FAQ

What was the Auburn vs. LSU score? LSU won 38-17 on Oct. 24, 2026, at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

How did Sam Leavitt play? He threw for 387 yards, ran for 54 and accounted for four touchdowns.

Who is Jackson Harris? A Hawaii transfer receiver who had nine catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns against Auburn.

Earlier coverage: No. 18 LSU rolls past Auburn 38-17 as Sam Leavitt throws for 387 yards and Jackson Harris scores twice (Oct 24)