# SEC Football: LSU Tigers Dominates McNeese Cowboys 63-14

**Published:** 2026-10-03 — **By:** Stacy Stanfield
**Category:** games — **Type:** game-recap
**Source:** https://secscouts.com/news/sec-football-lsu-tigers-dominates-mcneese-cowboys-63-14

**Teams:** [LSU](https://secscouts.com/lsu/)


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BATON ROUGE, La. (10/01/2026) — The LSU Tigers beat the McNeese Cowboys 63-14 on Thursday night at Tiger Stadium. LSU gained 731 total yards, split almost evenly between the run and the pass, and dominated from start to finish.

The Tigers ran 364 passing yards and 367 rushing yards, which kept McNeese from keying on either one. LSU also picked up 39 first downs and held the ball for 37:13. Its 63 points and 49-point margin made this a clear statement game in a non-conference matchup.

## How It Happened

LSU's offense moved the ball on almost every possession. The Tigers went 31-of-48 through the air and kept piling up yards on the ground, so McNeese never settled into a defensive plan.

The balance showed up all night. Only three yards separated LSU's passing total from its rushing total, and neither part of the offense had to carry the game alone. When the Tigers threw, they completed nearly 65 percent of their attempts. When they ran, they wore down the Cowboys' front for 367 yards.

Third downs kept the drives alive. LSU converted nine times on third down, which extended possessions and helped build its large edge in time of possession. McNeese had the ball for only about 22 minutes and couldn't keep its own offense on the field long enough to match LSU's pace.

LSU also took care of the football. The Tigers committed just one turnover and gave the Cowboys few short fields or extra chances.

## Turning Point

No single play decided this game. LSU's steady march down the field did. The Tigers controlled the clock for 37:13, and their nine third-down conversions kept McNeese's offense on the sideline for long stretches.

That ball control turned the game into one-way traffic. Every converted third down meant more yards, more points and more time off the clock for McNeese. With the Tigers adding to their lead possession after possession, the Cowboys never found the momentum to make it a competitive game.

LSU's defense helped too. Princewill Umanmielen recorded a sack, part of a defensive effort that held McNeese to 14 points against an offense that put up 63.

## Star of the Game

Sam Leavitt was the headliner. He accounted for three touchdowns and 176 yards, and his production at the center of LSU's offense set the tone for the night.

Leavitt's three scores were a big part of the 63-point total, and he helped drive a balanced attack that McNeese couldn't contain. With the offense humming through both the air and the ground, he kept the Tigers efficient from the opening possessions on.

Scott Starzyk added nine points to the scoring column.

On defense, Umanmielen's sack stood out as the Tigers kept the Cowboys from building anything sustained.

## What It Means

For LSU, the 731-yard night shows what the Tigers' offense can do when the run and the pass work together. The team stayed balanced, converted on third down, protected the football and won the time-of-possession battle comfortably. Those habits will matter as LSU moves deeper into the 2026 season and the SEC schedule.

The defense's performance also counts. Holding an opponent to 14 points while the offense controls the clock is the formula the Tigers want to repeat against tougher competition. Leavitt's three touchdowns and Umanmielen's sack show contributions on both sides of the ball.

For McNeese, the trip to Tiger Stadium was a tough test against an SEC opponent. The Cowboys scored 14 points but were outplayed by a deep LSU roster that controlled the game. McNeese now turns its attention back to the rest of its 2026 schedule, where it will look to build on the experience of facing an SEC opponent on the road.

LSU, meanwhile, leaves Thursday night with a lopsided win, a balanced offense and momentum heading into the next stretch of its season.

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*Original article: [SEC Football: LSU Tigers Dominates McNeese Cowboys 63-14](https://secscouts.com/news/sec-football-lsu-tigers-dominates-mcneese-cowboys-63-14) — SEC Scouts*