The final score might deceive you with LSU football’s win over Nicholls State, which was the Tigers’ first of the season.

Minutes into the second half, it was anybody’s game. The Tigers were well within range of losing to an FCS team, as Nicholls trailed by just two – 23-21.

However, LSU scored three touchdowns in the third quarter and went into cruise control in the final frame to seal up a win in the home opener.

Despite that, the result was disappointing; LSU hasn’t given people much reason to believe that it’s a playoff-caliber team, or one capable of challenging for an SEC title.

Here are three takeaways from the win.

It’s time to sound the alarm on LSU’s running game

LSU struggled to run the ball against USC in Week 1. Besides a spurt of strong John Emery Jr. runs in the third quarter, the Tigers didn’t get much push up front.

But being challenged in the trenches against a Big 10 team is one thing, and being challenged by an FCS team is another.

LSU came up with only 64 rushing yards for an average of 3 yards a carry against Nicholls – down to 51 yards for an average of 2.7 if you take out quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’s scrambles.

Failing to generate a push against a defensive front that you have a clear athletic advantage over, especially when you’re supposed to have one of the best offensive lines in the nation, is concerning.

“We want a running game that balances our offense,” head coach Brian Kelly said.

It’s unclear what the quick fix is for LSU, but it’s possible that the loss of running back Logan Diggs to the transfer portal might’ve been more impactful than the Tigers might’ve thought.

However, LSU is still more than capable of turning it around. The offensive line just needs to rediscover its run-blocking mastery, and soon – next week’s opponent, South Carolina, has held opponents to just 3.1 yards per carry so far this season.

Garrett Nussmeier has been a steady presence

Though there was generally confidence in what Nussmeier would bring to the team as the new starting quarterback, it was also natural to be unsure until the product finally hit the field.

Through two games, it’s safe to say Nussmeier can dependably command an offense.

In Saturday’s game, Nussmeier joined elite company with six touchdown passes in a game, something only two LSU quarterbacks have done: Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels.

His total stats through two games are 610 passing yards and eight touchdowns on a 75% completion percentage.

He’s been mistake-free, only throwing one interception on what was basically a hail mary situation where tight end Mason Taylor wasn’t looking for the ball.

However, as reliable as Nussmeier has been, he hasn’t quite been electric. He’s been elite at making the simple plays.

I wrote in January after Nussmeier’s ReliaQuest Bowl debut that the key to him being the next star quarterback at LSU would be reining in his gunslinger tendencies while also allowing him to be aggressive.

Through two games, Nussmeier hasn’t made many throws deep down the field. On Saturday against Nicholls, the deep shots he did take were off target.

That isn’t to suggest that Nussmeier has in any way held back LSU’s offense or been anything other than very good. He’s made almost every play you’d expect him to make.

However, to reach the expectations that some had for him – to compete for the Heisman and rival Daniels or Burrow – Nussmeier needs to be more aggressive and make more big plays. That would take the LSU offense to another level.

For now, when LSU sees a tough defense that’s less willing to give up the short stuff, Nussmeier may struggle to push the ball downfield.

LSU is committed to giving depth pieces opportunities

LSU said all throughout fall camp that, on both sides of the ball, it was going to run a rotation and use its depth to its advantage.

It wasn’t just lip service. LSU has utilized plenty of options at defensive tackle, running back, tight end and in the secondary.

At defensive tackle, LSU has utilized freshman Ahmad Breaux and transfer Jay’Viar Suggs. At tight end, freshman Trey’Dez Green has immediately found himself in the game plan and scored his first career touchdown on Saturday.

Freshman running back Ju’Juan Johnson – who was a quarterback in high school, opened fall camp as a safety and has now switched over with LSU lacking bodies in the backfield – also had his number called, with three catches for 16 yards and a receiving touchdown.

“He’s just wide-eyed, has a great sense for the game,” Kelly said of Johnson. “He’ll learn quickly.”

Even on the offensive line, with senior guard Garrett Dellinger out on Saturday, LSU gave two players shots at filling the void: redshirt freshman Paul Mubenga and freshman Tyree Adams.

At the secondary is where it’s most noticeable, though.

With Jardin Gilbert out for the first half for targeting, LSU moved Sage Ryan to safety and gave freshman PJ Woodland his first career start. It won’t be his last of the season, as the Tigers are confident in his abilities.

Zy Alexander drew praise from Kelly for his performance at cornerback. Last season, he was the team’s top option at the position before suffering a season-ending injury and has been slowly working his way back.

“I just had to trust the process,” Alexander said. “I just waited patiently and just waited for my name to be called.”

LSU also gave sophomore Javien Toviano some first-team snaps at the star position instead of Major Burns, signaling that the team is willing to experiment, even when it comes to Burns, a redshirt senior who many were disappointed with in the first game.

The Tigers are certainly attempting to toe the line between being a contender and developing young talent.