Live Updates: LSU Tigers vs. South Alabama Jaguars in Week 5 Showdown

Garrett Nussmeier and the Tigers return to Death Valley for a clash against the Jaguars, eyeing fourth straight victory.

No. 14 LSU looks to keep the momentum going against Sun Belt opponent South Alabama as the Jaguars travel to face the Tigers on a Saturday Night in Death Valley.

The Tigers powered past UCLA in Week 4 behind signal-caller Garrett Nussmeier and 17 unanswered second half points, improving to 3-1 overall heading into Saturday’s Week 4 matchup with the Jaguars.

Now, the Bayou Bengals will look to carry their momentum into Week 5 against a fiery South Alabama group.

Here's what Brian Kelly said of the matchup, pregame updates and a live thread from Saturday night in Tiger Stadium:

What Brian Kelly Said:

“[South Alabama has] 28 FBS transfer portal players, 9 from SEC schools. This will be a great challenge for us. It’s a team that is coming in with nothing to lose, but also very capable in a lot of areas.”

Pregame Updates:

- LSU WR Chris Hilton is inactive for Saturday night against South Alabama. The redshirt-junior wide receiver did not dress out for warmups and was seen sidelined once again. Kyle Parker will start in his place alongside Kyren Lacy and CJ Daniels.

- LSU CB Zy Alexander is inactive for Week 5 against South Alabama. The veteran defensive back suffered a concussion in Week 4 against UCLA and will be OUT for Saturday night against South Alabama. The Tigers will give JK Johnson an expanded role alongside Ashton Stamps.

- LSU true freshman safety Dashawn Spears earns the start on Saturday night as he continues carving out a key role in the defensive backfield. Spears, Jardin Gilbert, Sage Ryan and Jordan Allen will receive significant snaps at safety in Week 5.

- LSU true freshman linebacker Xavier Atkins has been activated and will run with the second-team alongside West Weeks. Whit Weeks and Greg Penn III will start at linebacker.

- Starters on Defense: DT Paris Shand, DT Gio Paez, DE Bradyn Swinson, DE Sai'vion Jones, LB Whit Weeks, LB Greg Penn III, STAR Major Burns, CB Ashton Stamps, CB PJ Woodland, S Dashawn Spears and S Jardin Gilbert.

Live Updates:

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First Quarter

- South Alabama has won the opening coin toss and will defer. LSU starts off with the ball with the Jaguars set to get the ball first in the second half.

- LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier connects with true freshman running back Caden Durham on a screen pass and he does the rest after taking it the distance for a 71-yard touchdown. 1-play, 71-yard drive.

Score Update: LSU 7, South Alabama 0

- LSU opens the first defensive possession in a 4-2-5 defense with Whit Weeks and Greg Penn holding down the linebackers. Major Burns returns to the STAR role after taking reps at safety the previous two weeks.

- South Alabama is unable to get anything going on their first possession after going only five plays for 18 yards. Jaguars punt it away and Zavion Thomas fair catches the ball on the 13-yard line. (11:41 remaining in the first quarter).

- LSU RB Caden Durham takes it up the middle for an 86-yard gain to the one yard line on the first play of the drive. Garrett Nussmeier punches it in for the one-yard touchdown on a quarterback sneak. Incredibly fast start for the Tigers and Durham. On just two touches, the freshman running back has 71 receiving yards and 86 rushing yards with one touchdown.

Score Update: LSU 14, South Alabama 0

- LSU's defense remains shot out of a cannon to start the first quarter after forcing another three-and-out. South Alabama punts it away to Zavion Thomas. LSU ball on their own 21-yard line with 9:00 remaining in the 1st Quarter.

- Garrett Nussmeier and the LSU offense are averaging 18 yards per play in the first quarter after a methodical 11-play, 79-yard touchdown drive. Nussmeier connects with three different receivers before Caden Durham gets in the end-zone once again on an 8-yard touchdown run.

Score Update: LSU 21, South Alabama 0

End 1Q: LSU 21, South Alabama 0

Second Quarter

- After a 10-play, 45-yard drive, South Alabama drills a 49-yard field goal to get on the board early in the 2nd Quarter. South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez is 6-of-7 for 52 yards with 40 of his passing yards going to Jaguars wideout Jamaal Pritchett.

Score Update: LSU 21, South Alabama 3

- LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier connects with receiver Kyren Lacy for his first reception of the game after a 25-yard gain followed by a reverse to Zavion Thomas for a 26-yard gain. Tigers inside the five-yard line with 12:47 remaining in the first half.

- LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier gets in the end-zone with a five-yard touchdown run. 5-play, 60-yard scoring drive for the Bayou Bengals.

Score Update: LSU 28, South Alabama 3

- A few numbers to know: Garrett Nussmeier is 6-of-9 for 151 passing yards and three total touchdowns. True freshman running back Caden Durham is up to 200 total yards with a pair of touchdowns.

- The LSU defense forces another South Alabama punt following a quick 5-play, 6 yard drive on their second possession of the second quarter. The Tigers are receiving significant production from the linebacker duo of Greg Penn and Whit Weeks. Penn is up to seven total tackles with Whit totaling four of his own. LSU ball with 9:16 remaining in the half.

- South Alabama forces an LSU punt following a 3-and-out from the Tigers. The Bayou Bengals unable to get production following a five-yard run by Caden Durham. Peyton Todd punts it away to the Jaguars with 6:30 remaining in the half.

- LSU defensive tackles Gio Paez and Paris Shand get in the backfield on 3rd-and-3 to force a South Alabama punt after sacking Gio Lopez. Tigers take over on their own 31-yard line.

- LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier with back-to-back "NFL throws" to get the Tigers back in the end-zone. He threads the needle to tight end Mason Taylor for a 30-yard gain and follows it with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Anderson. A pair of tight window throws for Nussmeier as he adds to his impressive night.

Score Update: LSU 35, South Alabama 3

- LSU forces South Alabama to punt for the fifth time this evening after Sai'vion Jones forces Jaguars signal-caller Gio Lopez into an off-platform throw that's ruled incomplete. Zavion Thomas is back to return the punt for the Tigers with 1:55 remaining in the half.

- LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier's pass attempt is intercepted by South Alabama on a throw to Aaron Anderson to close out the first half. LSU's offense pieces together 429 total yards with 15 first downs while averaging 13 yards per play in the first half.

Halftime: LSU 35, South Alabama 3

Third Quarter

- South Alabama will receive the ball first to begin the second half with LSU placekicker Aeron Burrell booting it away to the Jaguars.

- Junior running back Kentrel Bullock marches South Alabama down the field on the first possession of the second half after getting the Jaguars inside the 30-yard line on the ground. Quarterback Gio Lopez connects with Anthony Eager for a 27-yard touchdown pass to cap off the drive. 9-play, 75-yard scoring drive.

Score Update: LSU 35, South Alabama 10

- LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier drives the Tigers down the field to the South Alabama 24-yard line after going 4-for-6 on his passing attempts. On the seventh pass, he throws into double coverage for his second interception of the night. Jaguars take over on their own 32-yard line with 8:05 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

- South Alabama QB Gio Lopez continues a strong start to the second half after connecting with Anthony Eager once again for a gain of 38 yards to the LSU 9-yard line. LSU stuffs the Jaguars inside the five-yard line after a vicious hit by Major Burns on Lopez to stop him short of the end-zone. (4:47 remaining in the 3rd quarter).

- LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier 22-of-34 for 359 yards and four total touchdowns on the night with wideout Aaron Anderson emerging as his top target. Anderson is up to six receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown against the Jaguars.

End of 3Q: LSU 35, South Alabama 10

Fourth Quarter

- LSU RB Josh Williams caps off a 12-play, 99-yard drive with a rushing touchdown to put the Tigers up 42-10 early in the 4th quarter. LSU diversified the playbook with a number of rushing options and trickery to Zavion Thomas to get 99 yards down the field in 5:39.

Score Update: LSU 42, South Alabama 10

- LSU keeps signal-caller Garrett Nussmeier in following a South Alabama punt, but the Bayou Bengals' offense gets off of the field quickly with with Blake Ochsendorf punting it away and pinning the Jaguars inside their own five-yard line.

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