The 2016 edition of the LSU-Mississippi State rivalry saw the Tigers pull out a close win in Starkville.
The win helped the Tigers earn one of their wins for their final 8-5 record in 2016. A 23-20 victory over the Bulldogs marked the Tigers’ second straight win after a season-opening loss to the Wisconsin Badgers.
Tigers quarterback Danny Etling finished the game 19-of-30 passing for 215 yards and a touchdown. Running back Leonard Fournette ran the ball 28 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns.
LSU jumped out to a commanding 14-0 lead after the first quarter, but Mississippi State got a field goal in the second quarter and trailed 23-3 at the half.
[lawrence-related id=10785]
Bulldogs quarterback Nick Fitzgerald was 12-of-24 passing for 120 yards and an average of five yards per completion. LSU’s defense held the Bulldogs to just 56 total rushing yards on 32 carries and an average of 1.8 yards per rush.
The Tigers would not score again after their nine points in the second quarter. State added a field goal in the third quarter and then 14 points in the final quarter of play to cut the deficit to just 23-20.
But by then, the Tigers already had the win sealed. Unknown by LSU fans at the time, but this would be the second to last game coached by Les Miles at LSU. He was let go the week after this game as the Tigers would travel to Auburn and lose 18-13.
The SEC win for the Tigers would help cement their 8-5 record at season’s end. As Ed Orgeron became the interim coach, the Tigers finished the season with a 6-2 record to close out the 2016 season.
[vertical-gallery id=10753]