LSU shows massive growth in win over Ole Miss

LSU’s first venture against an unbeaten, top-ranked team, at Tiger Stadium did not go well.

The Tigers second venture against an unbeaten, top-ranked team, at Tiger Stadium went decidedly well.

In the process, the latter performance showed just how much the Tigers have progressed in a short time, in two short weeks.

LSU showed poise, character and toughness Saturday, pulling away for a 45-20 win over No. 7 Ole Miss.

The Tigers fell behind 17-3 early.

LSU looked defenseless.

Then, the LSU offense came alive and rallied to tie the game 17-17 on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels to Jaray Jenkins before Daniels ran three yards for a score.

The Rebels then took a 20-17 halftime lead.

The difference in the first half was a made field goal by Ole Miss and a missed field goal by LSU.

Then came the second half. It was a totally different game for an LSU team that continues to play its best football after haltime.

Daniels surpassed Jordan Jefferson for the record of the most yards rushing by a quarterback in a single season.

LSU took its first lead with 8:25 to play in the third quarter when Daniels hit Mason Taylor on a 1-yard touchdown pass to make it 24-20. It was Taylor’s first of what should be many touchdowns as a Tiger. Josh Williams rushed six times for 32 yards on the drive.

Ole Miss drove to the LSU 8-yard line but Joe Foucha paid his first big dividend as an experienced transfer with a huge interception in the end zone. Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart was hit by a blitzing Micah Baskerville, forcing a poor throw to the inside.

Daniels capped the ensuing 80-yard drive that spanned nine plays with a 10-yard touchdown run to make it 31-20 LSU with 14:18 to play in the game. It was the eighth rushing touchdown of the season by Daniels, a school record for an LSU quarterback, but he was not finished.

LSU and Daniels continued to pile it on, capping another 80-yard drive in seven plays with a 17-yard touchdown run to make it 38-20.

Williams capped a fine afternoon with a 1-yard run to complete the scoring.

LSU has now won seven straight over Ole Miss in Baton Rouge.

The growth of Daniels is amazing.

He went from being a shaky decision-maker and often an inaccurate passer to being an elite player in the last two games.

The defense of Matt House was tremendous in the second half.

The offense of Mike Denbrock was tremendous in the second half.

The leadership of Brian Kelly is unquestionably superb.

Daniels has been tremendous for two consecutive games now.

He finished 21-of-28 for 247 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 23 times for 121 yards and three touchdowns, leading the LSU offense to 500 total yards.

After a week off, the Tigers host nemesis Alabama.

What looked to be a game that would be out of play just a few weeks ago may be interesting now, thanks to the job Brian Kelly and his staff have done of done with building this team over a period of weeks.

With the win, LSU moved into first place in the SEC West at 4-1.

Many wondered how LSU was favored over an unbeaten, highly ranked team.

Does anyone want to criticize the hire of Kelly now?