LSU wins their home opener against Nicholls. Next week it’s on to Columbia to take on the Gamecocks Saturday at 12 noon ET.
Here are the postgame notes from LSU’s sports information department.
LSU played Nicholls for the first time in program history Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. It was the 19th time the Tigers played a member of the Southland Conference. With the victory, LSU is now 19-0 vs. the Southland.
The Nicholls game started a year-long celebration of 100 Years in Tiger Stadium. It first opened its gates on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1924.
Following the win against the Colonels, LSU’s record in Tiger Stadium moved to 452-156-18 (.736). The Tigers are 142-25-8 all-time against teams from Louisiana after the 44-21 victory against Nicholls in the home opener.
LSU has won 37 straight games against in-state opponents.
Overall, LSU is 104-22-4 in home openers, which includes a 76-20-4 mark in Tiger Stadium. LSU has won 27 of its last 29 home openers.
LSU has won 16 straight and 65 of its last 66 games against non-conference opponents in Tiger Stadium.
Dating back to the 2001 season when LSU captured its first outright SEC title since 1986, the Tigers have gone 93-14 against non-SEC foes during that span.
LSU has won 13 straight night games in Death Valley. LSU is 108-15 in night games at Tiger Stadium since 2000.
LSU is 8-1 under head coach Brian Kelly in games following a loss. LSU is 9-3 against non-conference opponents under third-year head coach Brian Kelly.
Three Tigers started for the first time in an LSU uniform, including LG Tyree Adams, WR Shelton Sampson Jr., and CB PJ Woodland.
Six true freshmen saw action for the first time against Nicholls in the home opener.
The list includes RB Caden Durham, WR Jelani Watkins, LB Xavier Atkins, LB Davhon Keys, OL Weston Davis, and OL Coen Echols.
One transfer saw action for the first time in an LSU uniform against Nicholls: S SkipVelotta.
OL Paul Mubenga, a redshirt freshman in the LSU program, earned playing time for the first time in his collegiate career.
JUCO transfer Shone Washington also saw his first action as a Tiger in the 2Q.
LSU S Jardin Gilbert was ineligible to play in the first half of the Nicholls game after being charged with targeting in the season opener vs. USC
Offense Notes
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier’s 6 TDs vs. Nicholls is a single-game high for the junior. He finished with 302 yards, 6 TDs, and no INTs. Nussmeier became the third LSU QB to throw six touchdowns in one game joining Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels.
For his third-straight start, Nussmeier surpassed 300 passing yards. He threw for a 1-yard TD reception to TE Trey’Dez Green to increase the Tigers’ 2-0 lead to 9-0. Green caught his first TD pass as a Tiger with the score.
Nussmeier found WR Kyren Lacy for 32 yards in his second TD pass of the night with 12:17 remaining in the first half. Lacy's TD reception was his second of the season and ninth of his LSU career.
Ju'Juan Johnson, who saw action Saturday night as a running back, caught his first TD at LSU with 1:53 left in the first half.
Nussmeier connected with Lacy for his fourth passing TD of the night on a 6-yard toss to give LSU the 30-21 lead. On the following drive, Nussmeier threw his fifth TD and third to Lacy with a 7-yard pitch and catch to give the Tigers a 37-21 lead with 6:43 remaining in the 3Q.
Nussmeier led LSU to its third-straight scoring drive that culminated in a 4-yard TD pass with 1:09 remaining in the third quarter to give LSU a 44-21 edge. His TD total increased to six against Nicholls and 19 in his career.
Defense Notes
LSU freshman CB PJ Woodland forced a fumble during the Colonels's second drive of the second half and recovered it to give the Tigers prime field position. Woodland also recorded one tackle for loss during his first start.
LSU LB Greg Penn Ill led the Tigers with nine tackles, four of them solo.
Safety Major Burns and freshman DL Gabriel Reliford recorded six tackles each, tied for second-best on the night.
Special Teams Notes
LSU opened the scoring on special teams after Nicholls' punter mishandled a snap that sailed through the back of the endzone.
LSU took the 2-0 lead on the safety with 11:15 left in the 1Q.
RS Zavion Thomas returned a punt for 58 yards to start the Tigers' second possession, putting LSU inside the Nicholls 30-yard line.
Peyton Todd launched a career-long punt for 48 yards. Todd had three punts for 130 yards, averaging 43.3 yards per punt with one kick inside the 20-yard line.
PK Damian Ramos went perfect on PATs (6-for-6). Ramos went O-for-1 in FG attempts. It was his first miss since the 2023 Alabama game.
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