5 takeaways from LSU’s Week 4 win over UCLA

Here are five takeaways from LSU’s win over UCLA.

LSU’s Week 4 script wasn’t much different than the one we’ve seen so far this season. LSU didn’t play its best football in the first half before coming up with clutch plays to put it away in the second and get the win with UCLA in town.

The Tigers and Bruins went to the half tied at 17, but that would be all the points UCLA scored all day after the LSU defense pitched a shutout in the second half.

In what’s becoming a trend, LSU allowed too many explosive plays but made enough havoc plays to mitigate the damage.

On the offensive side of the ball, QB [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] surpassed the 300-yard mark and [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] led the way with eight catches for 77 yards.

LSU will be back at home next week, preparing to take on a surging South Alabama offense.

Here are five takeaways from LSU’s 34-17 win over UCLA.

Bradyn Swinson is one of the SEC’s top pass rushers

Swinson is emerging as one of the most effective defenders in the SEC. Swinson entered the game fifth in the conference in pressures with 11 and put together another big day on Saturday.

Swinson notched two more sacks and forced another fumble. The pressure proved to be big on a day LSU’s defense struggled in other areas.

LSU’s defense isn’t perfect — that much is clear. To make up for that, LSU will need Swinson to continue creating havoc plays on a consistent basis.

LSU’s havoc rate was 14% on Saturday. If LSU keeps that up, the defense will be fine.

Another prolific day for Garrett Nussmeier

Nussmeier delivered for LSU again on Saturday. He completed 32 of 44 passes for 352 yards and three scores. He got back to playing clean football after turning it over last week.

Nussmeier continued to get the ball out and work every part of the field. He dropped some dimes, including a 45-yard rope down the sideline to Kyle Parker that couldn’t have been placed better.

The ball was spread around with nine different Tigers recording a pass.

The best part of Nussmeier’s day was the clutch throws he made in the second half when LSU needed scoring drives to put the game away. We knew it already, but LSU has a good one at QB.

LSU was above average on the ground

LSU has struggled to run the ball at times in 2024, but the Tigers managed to find some success against UCLA.

It wasn’t perfect, but LSU’s EPA/rush was in the 55th percentile. That’s still below where LSU expected to be after its run game last year, but it was good enough to get this offense where it needed to go.

According to GameOnPaper.com, 46% of LSU’s runs went for four yards or more but the Tigers failed to generate an explosive play on the ground.

LSU will take the efficiency for now.

Run defense buckled down

South Carolina ran all over LSU last week, but LSU bounced back on Saturday.

LSU held UCLA to -0.23 EPA/run and just 36% of the Bruins runs went for four yards or more. The run defense helped hold UCLA to 4.83 yards per play on the day.

LSU gave up some explosive plays in the first half, but the defense got better today.

Offense comes up clutch on third down

LSU faced 15 third downs in this game — typically not a recipe for success on offense. But it didn’t matter. LSU was 10/15 on third down, coming up clutch when it mattered most.

The unit is full of veterans. Nussmeier is a fourth-year player at QB, the offensive line is among the most experienced in the SEC, and the receivers have been around for some time too.

That experience showed on third down today.

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