ARLINGTON, Texas — It was a true Les Miles special.
Despite suspensions, arrests, potential violations and offensive coaching changes swirling around the LSU football program in the weeks leading up to the Tigers’ showdown Saturday night against Oregon at Cowboys Stadium, the 40-27 victory was business as usual in many ways for the LSU coach.
The win ran his non-conference record to 29-1, and he is now 16-3 when he has multiple weeks to prepare for a game in his seven seasons at the helm in Baton Rouge.
But the way LSU dispatched the Ducks on Saturday night was hardly the norm, even for a group used to its coach’s zany and thrilling style. Miles misspelled the Cajun “geaux” when he spoke to media after the game, initially jogged toward the wrong sideline while leading his team onto the field before kickoff and cracked jokes to officials during the contest.
LSU sophomore defensive end Sam Montgomery said the team wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Les Miles eats grass, I like Sonic, Tyrann [Mathieu] has his little [blonde] hair thing,” Montgomery said following the game. “I think we’re all a little lanes.”
LSU only had 273 yards of total offense but found a way to hang 40 points. The passing game, an issue in 2010, was held to 98 yards while the Tigers’ running backs wore down a weary Oregon defensive line en route to a 175-yard performance.
Embattled senior backup quarterback Jarrett Lee was thrust into the starting role for the first time since 2009 after the whirlwind arrest and suspension of two-year starter Jordan Jefferson. Lee’s pick-six past suggested that it would be LSU who might be prone to game-changing errors.
But with both sides missing key starters, it was the mistake-ridden Oregon — playing without All-American cornerback and returner Cliff Harris — that couldn’t get out of its own way under the lavish spotlight of Cowboys Stadium.
Three Ducks fumbles led to 20 LSU points, including two by true freshman De’Anthony Thomas on consecutive touches during a two-minute span of the third quarter that effectively turned a tense 16-13 LSU advantage into a Tiger rout.
In addition to being a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist at corner, Harris was one of the nation’s most dangerous punt returners last season with four punt returns for touchdowns and an 18.8 yard average on returns, second-best in the country.
His replacement at punt returner, Kenjon Barner, committed the Ducks’ first crucial gaffe on a return in the second quarter. Barner retreated from the LSU gunners after receiving the punt near his own 10 and Tiger sophomore cornerback Tyrann Mathieu knocked the ball loose before returning it three yards for a touchdown to give LSU a 9-6 edge.
Near the eight-minute mark of the third quarter, Montgomery punched the ball out of Thomas’ hands on a third-down run up the middle. The football careened right into Reid’s clutches. and LSU was in business at the Ducks 21.
Five Tiger rushes later, sophomore tailback Michael Ford scored the first of his two touchdowns from five yards out. He finished the game with 14 carries for 96 yards.
On the ensuing kickoff return, Thomas again put the ball on the ground, and LSU defensive back Ron Brooks recovered at the Oregon 41.
“That stretch really affected the momentum,” said sophomore safety Eric Reid. “We were able to create a lot of points quickly and turn the game to our