BEFORE THE ROAR: LSU returns home to welcome Mississippi State

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Game Notes:

Time and Date: Saturday, October 17 at 11:00 a.m. CT
Network: ESPN (Roy Philpott, Brock Osweiler and Stormy Buonantony)
Radio: LSU Sports Radio Network (Chris Blair, Jacob Hester, Gordy Rush)
Location: Tiger Stadium
Spread: LSU -17.5 O/U 56.5
ESPN FPI: LSU 77% chance of winning
All-Time: LSU leads 75-36-3

No Kamario Taylor?

LSU was set for a great quarterback matchup as Kamario Taylor was coming to Death Valley to battle Sam Leavitt. However, due to a nagging injury, it doesn’t appear that the Bulldogs will have their star signal caller. It also appears that their running back, Fluff Bothwell, will miss the contest as well with an injury.

Start Fast

LSU has only scored on one of their six opening drives to start the 2026 season (field goal on Saturday against Kentucky). Lane Kiffin’s offense will definitely need to find scoring early on to keep the Tiger Stadium crowd in the game and also to get some confidence going as they head back on the road next week.

Early Kick? No Problem.

Normally, an early kick in mid-October would be devastating. Not the case this weekend as Mother Nature has gifted Louisiana with its first cool front of the year. Temperatures will be in the upper 60s and low 70s, making for a phenomenal football game.

TEAM STATS:

LSU

Sam Leavitt: 117-173, 1,496 yds, 10 TD, 8 INT
Dilin Jones: 110 carries, 482 yds, 5 TDs
Winston Watkins Jr: 29 Rec, 416 yds, 2 TD
Princewill Umanmielen: 8 Sacks
TJ Dottery: 40 tackles
Scott Starcyzk: 7-of-9 FG, Long of 49, 31-31 XP

Mississippi State

Kamario Taylor: 102-154, 1,148 yds, 17 TDs, 4 INT
Fluff Bothwell: 74 carries, 403 yds, 3 TD
Anthony Evans III: 40 Rec, 574 yds, 5 TDs
Will Whitson: 2 Sacks
Tyler Lockhart: 31 Tackles
Kyle Ferrie: 7-of-8 FG, Long of 52, 24-24 XP

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