Garrett Nussmeier threw six touchdown passes to help No. 18 LSU secure a 44-21 win over Nicholls on Saturday night.
After a loss to Southern California in Las Vegas the previous week, LSU (1-1) found it tough to pull away from Nicholls, an FCS team, until the early part of the third quarter.
“I’m glad we won, but there are many things we need to improve,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said. “We were tired and didn’t play our best. It was a short week for us, and it showed. We lacked the same energy and physicality we had against USC.”
With LSU ahead 23-21 early in the second half, Nussmeier led an 11-play, 72-yard drive, ending with a six-yard touchdown pass to Kyren Lacy, increasing the lead to 30-21.
On the very next play for Nicholls, LSU freshman cornerback P.J. Woodland forced and recovered a fumble from a pass by Pat McQuaide to Quincy Brown, giving LSU the ball at Nicholls’ 41-yard line.
A few plays later, Nussmeier connected with Lacy again for his third touchdown of the game, a seven-yard pass, making it 37-21.
In his first start at Tiger Stadium, Nussmeier was impressive, completing 27 of 37 passes for 302 yards. His six touchdown passes tied him with 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels for the second-most in a game in LSU history.
