Mike Leach’s much-awaited SEC debut could not have gone any better on Saturday as his Mississippi State Bulldogs upset No. 6 LSU, 44-34 in Baton Rouge.
Stanford graduate transfer quarterback K.J. Costello set an SEC record with 623 passing yards. The Stanford transfer completed 36-of-60 passes with five touchdowns and two interceptions.
Costello had quite the debut for the school, becoming the first SEC player to ever pass for over 600 yards in a game.
K.J. Costello: First SEC QB ever to pass for 600 yards in a game. pic.twitter.com/ifsOxsPtXX
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 26, 2020
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Mississippi State held a 10-point lead with around 12 minutes to play when LSU freshman cornerback Eli Ricks picked off Costello at the Mississippi State 45-yard line. Three plays later, LSU quarterback Myles Brennan hit Terrace Marshall for a 33-yard touchdown to trim the lead to 34-31.
LSU forced another turnover on the Bulldogs’ next possession as safety JaCoby Stevens forced and recovered a Costello fumble.
LSU would end its next offensive drive with a field goal to tie the game, with Mississippi State scoring the final 10 points to pull off the upset.
Brennan completed 27-of-44 passes for 345 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in his starting debut for the Tigers. Wide receiver Terrace Marshall caught eight passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns.
LSU (0-1) will catch a bit of a break as it travels to Nashville to face Vanderbilt next week.
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