LSU Defeats Auburn 38-17 Behind Sam Leavitt

There’s no silver lining, no anything. That was bad in every imaginable way, Auburn Head Coach Alex Golesh said after LSU defeated Auburn 38-17 at Jordan-Hare Stadium on October 24, 2026, ending an eight-game SEC road losing streak behind Sam Leavitt’s 387 passing yards and four total touchdowns.

Sports investments do not always guarantee immediate returns. But on a Saturday afternoon in Auburn, Alabama, the financial backing behind LSU football yielded a definitive statement backed by million-dollar donors and oil-type conglomerate collectives. Head coach Lane Kiffin’s squad ended an eight-game conference road losing streak with a convincing 38-17 victory over Auburn at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

The 38-17 win at Auburn moved LSU to 5-3 overall and established control on the road.

Sam Leavitt and Jackson Harris Dismantle Auburn Secondary

Quarterback Sam Leavitt delivered his most complete performance in an LSU uniform, carving up the Auburn defense for a career-high 387 yards and three touchdowns on 32-of-45 passing. He also added 54 yards on eight carries, including a 4-yard rushing touchdown right before halftime.

His favorite target throughout the afternoon was transfer receiver Jackson Harris. The Hawaii product hauled in nine catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns.

When Auburn trimmed the lead to 17-10 in the second quarter following a touchdown run by Byrum Brown, Leavitt answered immediately. Facing third-and-5 from the LSU 30-yard line, Leavitt connected with Harris over the middle for a 70-yard touchdown strike that pushed the advantage back to two scores.

There’s no silver lining, no anything. That was bad in every imaginable way.

Alex Golesh, Auburn Head Coach.

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Lane Kiffin Points to Roster Matching and Explosive Edge Rushers

The victory was built as much on defense as it was through the air. Edge rusher Jordan Ross, a transfer addition from Tennessee, notched two of LSU’s seven sacks and tallied four tackles, anchoring a pass rush that continually hurried Brown.

Kiffin addressed the physical disparity after the final whistle, pointing directly to roster construction and superior matchups on the outside.

This was what the whole thing was supposed to look like when it (the roster) was put together, Kiffin said. And the pieces coming together and being explosive on offense, where you can get ahead and pay really good rushers at the edge. And they showed up today.

Lane Kiffin, LSU Head Coach.

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LSU also welcomed back tight end Trey’Dez Green after a four-game absence due to a knee injury. Green caught five passes for 50 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown in the second quarter that expanded the lead to 17-3.

Alex Golesh and Auburn Left Searching for Answers After Home Blowout

For Auburn, the defeat served as a jarring reversal just one week after the team upset No. 1 Georgia on the road. Head coach Alex Golesh made no excuses for his squad’s inability to match LSU’s execution.

Auburn managed just 67 rushing yards on 35 carries against the visiting front seven. Quarterback Byrum Brown finished 15-of-23 for 160 yards through the air while absorbing heavy pressure.

When you're playing an offensive-minded coach like Lane Kiffin, you've got to execute, safety, Champ Anthony said. Because, of course, he's coming out there, and he's planning to put points up.

Champ Anthony, Auburn Safety.

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LSU Enters Bye Week With SEC and College Football Playoff Hopes Alive

With the win secured, LSU enters a timely bye week before confronting a brutal three-game closing stretch that will dictate its postseason fate. The team’s November schedule features home matchups against Alabama on November 7 and Texas on November 14, followed by a road test at Tennessee on November 21 and a regular-season finale at Arkansas on November 28.

Kiffin noted that the program hopes to get injured linebacker Whit Weeks back from a broken leg sustained against Texas A&M in September to return to full strength for the stretch run.

Hopefully we get Whit back so we can be the team that we put together for the most part, Kiffin said. I think when we have our players, and we don’t screw games up, we’re really hard to beat and we play really good.

Lane Kiffin, LSU Head Coach.

–/wp:quote Hopefully we get Whit back so we can be the team that we put together for the most part, Kiffin said.

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