Sam Leavitt, No. 18 LSU annihilate Auburn

Field Level Media|published: 10/24/2026, 5:31pm EDT

Oct 24, 2026; Auburn, Alabama, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-Imagn Images

Sam Leavitt threw for three touchdowns and ran for a fourth as No. 18 LSU routed host Auburn 38-17 for a Southeastern Conference victory on Saturday afternoon.

Leavitt, who threw four touchdown passes in a 31-0 victory over Mississippi State last week, completed 32 of 45 for a career-high 387 yards. Jackson Harris caught nine passes for 178 yards and two scores for LSU (6-2, 3-2 SEC), which ended an eight-game losing streak in SEC road games dating to the 2024 season.

Byrum Brown passed for 160 yards and rushed for a team-high 21 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries for Auburn (4-3, 2-3), which never led one week after upsetting top-ranked Georgia.

After LSU scored 21 points in a 9 1/2-minute stretch of the second quarter to open a 31-10 halftime lead, both teams went scoreless in the third quarter.

Dilin Jones (21 carries, 92 yards) rushed 12 yards for a touchdown on the fourth play of the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 38-10.

Tristan Ti'a replaced Brown for Auburn's final possession and recorded a 7-yard touchdown run with 24 seconds remaining.

LSU drove for Scott Starzyk's 30-yard field goal on its first possession. On the ensuing possession, Auburn's Alex McPherson kicked a 23-yard field goal to tie the score.

On the next possession, Leavitt and Harris established their connection. Leavitt went 6-for-6 for 63 yards, including four completions to Harris for 47 yards capped by a 10-yard touchdown. That gave LSU a 10-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Two possessions later, Leavitt directed a 95-yard scoring drive as he converted a fourth-and-2 from the LSU 31 as well as two third-and-8s -- the second resulting in a 15-yard touchdown pass to Trey'Dez Green for a 17-3 lead.

Brown's 34-yard rush set up his 1-yard touchdown that pulled Auburn within 17-10 with 5:42 left in the half.

Leavitt and Harris answered on the ensuing possession by teaming up for a 70-yard touchdown pass. Leavitt's 4-yard touchdown run with 17 seconds left expanded the lead to 31-10 at halftime.

--Field Level Media