FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — With LSU leading by one score in the third quarter, Whit Weeks blitzed untouched off the edge. He batted a pass into the air, and at first, Weeks didn’t see the ball. He searched as the deflection bounced off Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green’s hand and nearly fell past defensive back Major Burns.
Before it landed, Weeks snatched the first interception of his career. He tumbled toward the goal line, setting up No. 8 LSU for an easy touchdown that helped put away the Razorbacks. LSU coach Brian Kelly called the sophomore linebacker’s pick “the backbreaker” in a 34-10 win Saturday night.
“I saw Major fumbling around with it, so I just grabbed it,” Weeks said. “I was trying to get in the end zone, but I got tripped up.”
Led by a defense that forced three turnovers and controlled the line of scrimmage, LSU (6-1, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) notched a decisive win inside Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Kelly thought his team played “four quarters of LSU football for the first time” this season going into a pivotal game at Texas A&M.
“Certainly a lot of things are coming together for our football team,” Kelly said.
This had the makings of a potential trap game for LSU after an emotional win over Ole Miss last week. Arkansas (4-3, 2-2) had two weeks to prepare for the Tigers after upsetting Tennessee. The last four games between these teams had all been decided by three points.
LSU allowed its fewest points in a conference game since a 13-10 win over Arkansas two years ago. The Razorbacks gained 277 total yards, including just 38 on the ground. Although Green evaded pressure for a while, LSU had three sacks in the second half.
“They're beginning to execute at a much higher level consistently, and it starts with controlling the line of scrimmage,” Kelly said. “(Arkansas) could not run the ball. They became one-dimensional, and when that happens, we can get after the quarterback. We made life difficult for him.”
Green, whose status was uncertain earlier in the week after going down against Tennessee, escaped pressure and found open receivers at times in the first half, but LSU limited what he could do. Green finished 19-of-28 passing for 215 yards. He rushed only three times for 14 yards when adjusted for sacks.
Offensively, LSU did not play its best game. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier went 22-of-33 passing for a season-low 224 yards. He didn't throw a touchdown for the first time as a starter. But he made timely throws on third down to extend drives, and the Tigers finally ran the ball well. Freshman running back Caden Durham had 101 yards and three touchdowns.
“We made it essential that we run the ball,” Durham said. “In practice we run the ball a lot, and in the game we run the ball a lot, so it’s going to happen. Something gotta pop.”
LSU led 16-7 at halftime, its first halftime lead this season against a major conference team. The Tigers scored on their opening drive on a 22-yard touchdown by Durham, then settled for field goals on their next three possessions. Damian Ramos made all of them and kicked another in the second half. Kelly gave him the game ball.
Penalties disrupted LSU’s rhythm, preventing the Tigers from stretching their lead until the second half. The LSU offense committed 11 penalties for 80 yards, including eight for 50 yards in the first half. Seven were false starts. Redshirt freshman center DJ Chester was responsible for two false starts and an illegal snap.
One of those penalties came after safety Jardin Gilbert and linebacker Greg Penn forced a fumble on Arkansas’ second possession. With a chance to take a three-score lead, Chester committed a false start on first down at Arkansas’ 28-yard line. Three plays later, LSU settled for a field goal.
Arkansas cut into the lead on its ensuing drive as Green went 5 for 5 with a 25-yard touchdown to a wide-open Andrew Armstrong down the left sideline. Armstrong had six catches for 90 yards and a touchdown in the first half.
But he had only two receptions for 4 yards in the second half, emblematic of the way the LSU pass defense tightened after halftime.
Although Arkansas kicked a field goal to open the third quarter, the Razorbacks never sniffed the end zone again. Their last five drives ended in an interception, two punts, a fumble and the end of the game. Arkansas had 59 yards on 15 plays over its final five possessions.
LSU now heads to Texas A&M tied with the Aggies atop the SEC standings. Both teams lost their season openers, but they have gone undefeated since then. With a win there, LSU can get another step closer toward reaching the College Football Playoff.
“Nothing seems to phase this group, whether they're down 17-0 on the road or struggling to put together a great drive,” Kelly said. “They just keep playing. It's to their credit. Now they're playing cleaner, and I think that's a sign of a team that's really coming together.”
