It wasn’t all that pretty. Again.

When LSU would execute, UCLA always had an answer, until it didn’t. But whenever LSU let up early on, the Bruins would take advantage.

What seemed to initially be growing pains is slowly becoming a common theme.

Still, with a few big plays and some key factors, LSU came away with a 34-17 win over UCLA. 

Those big plays came from where it has all season for LSU: its pass game.

Regardless, LSU has yet to put together a complete game this season.

LSU’s pass game continues to be its strength

Garrett Nussmeier finished the game with 32 completions on 44 attempts for 352 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. 

Mason Taylor led the team with eight receptions for 77 yards, and Aaron Anderson finished with six receptions for 75 yards.

“The quarterback is the straw that stirs every drink in college football,” Kelly said. “Garrett Nussmeier is that guy for us, but he has a supporting cast.”

Even after LSU’s convincing scores through the air, UCLA always had a response.

Nussmeier found Zavion Thomas for a five-yard touchdown to start the game, but Ethan Garbers clapped back with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Jack Pedersen.

LSU thought it gained control when Nussmeier threw a 45-yard pass to Kyle Parker, allowing him to make an over-the-shoulder catch for a touchdown and a 14-10 lead.

But UCLA eventually responded with an 11-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 17 going into halftime.

However, when Josh Williams ran in for a two-yard touchdown in the third quarter, giving LSU a 24-17 lead, UCLA was silent.

“We just got to come out there and take every play one-by-one,” Taylor said. “We were emphasizing doing your job. And do your job on one play, one play at a time, and we will move the ball down the field.”

Run game continues to struggle

Against South Carolina, true freshman, Caden Durham, was LSU’s answer on the ground. 

On Saturday, Durham did not have nearly the carries he did a week prior, as he finished with just six carries for 14 yards. 

However, Durham scored in the fourth quarter. Nussmeier found the freshman for a 35-yard catch-and-run, which gave LSU its largest lead of the game in 31-17. 

Josh Williams was the go-to guy on the ground, finishing with a team-high 13 carries for 62 yards. 

LSU finished the game with just 3.6 yards per carry. 

Defensive line applied pressure

LSU’s defensive line did its job and applied pressure on Garbers, so much so that Garbers had -51 yards on the ground. He led the team in rushing yards going into Saturday’s matchup.

“LSU rushed the passer well all game, and coverage-wise, they played more zone,” Garbers said. “They are a great team, and I know they will go a long way this season, so hats off to them.”

That was thanks to Bradyn Swinson and Sai’vion Jones, who consistently blitzed into the pocket and forced Garbers to scramble.

Swinson has now had back-to-back multi-sack games with two sacks against UCLA along with five tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble. 

Jones was right behind with four tackles, a half sack and a half tackle for loss.

LSU’s run defense as a whole remained strong, limiting UCLA to 14 net yards on the ground. 

Greg Penn III and Whit Weeks led the defense each with seven total tackles.

“We were in the spot to make a play, we just didn’t make them in the first half,” Weeks said. “We started making them in the second half.”

LSU’s secondary allowed UCLA to stick around at times

UCLA’s answers were responses to LSU’s cracks in the defense. As it has been several times this season, the cracks were found in the secondary.

With the Tigers’ defensive line cracking down on UCLA’s run game, more pressure was put on the secondary to limit UCLA’s offense through the air. The Bruins, however, had 281 yards in the air, allowing them to stay in the game.

UCLA finished the game with 12 passing first downs along with 12.8 yards per reception on the game. 

LSU’s secondary made adjustments in the second half, holding Garbers to 76 yards in the air for the second half.

“We need to do our job, and they did it in the second half,” Kelly said. “Doing our job on defense was the biggest difference between the first half and the second half.”

Ashton Stamps led the secondary with five total tackles, as he continues to be one of LSU’s most consistent and promising players in the secondary.

Jardin Gilbert came up with an interception with nine and a half minutes left in the fourth quarter. 

What’s next?

LSU will stay at home against South Alabama, as it will take on the Jaguars on Saturday, Sept. 28. The game will kick off at 6:45 p.m. CT, and will be televised on the SEC Network.

UCLA (1-2) will be back at home against Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 28. The time and broadcast of that matchup is to be determined.