LSU vs. Auburn: Last-second field goal gives LSU crucial road win

Dan Bernstein

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LSU vs. Auburn: Last-second field goal gives LSU crucial road win image

In its toughest test of the season, No. 12 LSU leaned on inexperienced transfer quarterback Joe Burrow to earn a 22-21 win at No. 7 Auburn on Saturday.

With five minutes remaining, LSU took possession trailing by two points. Burrow converted on third-and-7 and fourth-and-7 to set up a game-winning 42-yard field goal by kicker Cole Tracy.

Burrow was 15 of 34 passing for 249 yards, including a 71-yard strike earlier in the fourth quarter that brought LSU within two points of Auburn. It was his first true SEC road game.

MORE: College football scores, highlights from Week 3 games

Auburn signal-caller Jarrett Stidham — who also struggled against LSU last year — threw two interceptions, and Auburn was held scoreless for the the final ten minutes.

After LSU demolished then-No. 8 Miami in Week 1 at a neutral site, the come-from-behind road victory over Auburn puts it in position to contend for the College Football Playoff.

Here's how LSU did it (all times EST):

Fourth quarter: LSU 22, Auburn 21

7:11 p.m.: IT'S GOOD! IT'S GOOD! LSU WINS! Players rush the field as Jordan-Hare falls silent following the go-ahead field goal as time expired. A big-time win for LSU that could propel it into the top-10. Tough one for Auburn after coming back from an early gut-punch.

7:10 p.m.: Here. We. Go. Two seconds left. The distance? 42 yards.

7:08 p.m.: LSU, now in field goal range, is running down the clock to set up a last-second field goal attempt. Can Ed Orgeron's group steal one at Auburn?

7:07 p.m.: ANOTHER pass interference against Auburn. The fans at Jordan-Hare aren't happy, but that looked like the correct call.

7:05 p.m.: Burrow was rocked behind the line on third down. On fourth down, Burrow completes a pass over the middle that's good for a first down. LSU is near field goal range.

7:04 p.m.: Another third down. Four yards to go to move the chains.

7:03 p.m.: On third-and-7 from near midfield, Burrow somehow loops a pass over a defender to the sideline for a clutch first down.

7:02 p.m.: It looked like Auburn had made a stop, but there's another pass interference call to continue the LSU drive.

7 p.m.: LSU has the football down by two points with about five minutes to go. Get the popcorn ready.

6:57 p.m.: That wasn't ideal for Auburn. Stidham is taken down behind the line on third down. Auburn will punt.

6:55 p.m.: Auburn needs a good drive here because Burrow seems to have found his rhythm again. Burrow is 13 of 28 passing for 232 yards.

6:48 p.m.: Whoa! Burrow to Derrick Dillon for 71 yards and a touchdown! There's the breakthrough. The two-point conversion is no good, but LSU cuts it to 21-19.

6:39 p.m.: This game is becoming quite the grind with neither team able to break through.

6:32 p.m.: Auburn misses on a 52-yard field goal attempt. LSU did a good job defensively there to bend but not break.

6:27 p.m.: Auburn is into LSU territory after getting the ball back via punt. Stidham is almost to 200 yards passing.

Third quarter: Auburn 21, LSU 13

6:18 p.m.: LSU forces a turnover! There was some miscommunication between Stidham and his receiver, and Greedy Williams takes advantage with an interception. Big-time swing there.

6:10 p.m.: Back to a one-score game. LSU settles for a field goal. Auburn leads 21-13.

6:08 p.m.: On third-and-5 from the red zone, Auburn is flagged for defensive pass interference. First down for LSU.

6:04 p.m.: Finally LSU gets a big chunk. After Auburn punted it back, Burrow completes to Dee Anderson for 20 yards and there's a face mask call tacked on to the end of it.

6 p.m.: Burrow started so well for LSU, but he's 5 of his last 15 passing. With little experience in this kind of rivalry game, it'll be interesting to watch how he handles the mounting deficit.

5:59 p.m.: LSU to punt. Again. This one is starting to get away.

5:54 p.m.: There it is. Stidham throws for a touchdown on third-down, finding Darius Slayton in the end zone. Stidham has already surpassed his completion tally from his previous game against LSU. Auburn up 21-10.

5:48 p.m.: Auburn is taking over. Stidham fools LSU with a read-option and runs it to the 1-yard line. They reviewed whether he reached the end zone but ruled he just missed a touchdown.

5:41 p.m.: It's a fake! LSU tries a jump-pass from a fake punt, but the ball falls incomplete. Wow.

5:37 p.m.: LSU gets the ball to start the second half.

Halftime:

5:20 p.m.: Here are some halftime stats:

Total yards: LSU 191; Auburn 179.

Joe Burrow: 7 of 16 passing, 111 yards
Jarrett Stidham: 8 of 15 passing, 113 yards, one interception

Rushing: LSU 23 rushes for 80 yards; Auburn 22 rushes for 66 yards
Turnovers: LSU 0; Auburn 1
Third downs: LSU 5 of 10; Auburn 3 of 6

Second quarter: Auburn 14, LSU 10

5:16 p.m.: Halftime. Auburn kneels to run the time out. Auburn leads 14-10.

5:14 p.m.: LSU goes three-and-out. That offense hasn't looked right over the past couple of possessions. Forty seconds left in the half.

5:11 p.m.: Auburn takes the lead! Shaun Shivers rushes it in. He had 20 yards on that drive. Auburn is ahead 14-10.

5:10 p.m.: Stidham completes a short third-and-1 pass to set up first-and-goal.

5:01 p.m.: After an LSU punt, Auburn moves the ball near midfield again. A nine-yard completion from Stidham to the sideline is overturned by replay review, but a face mask penalty on LSU continues the drive.

4:54 p.m.: Whitlow and LSU running back Nick Brossette have had similar production so far. Whitlow is at 11 carries for 45 yards, while Brossette is at 10 carries for 46 yards.

4:52 p.m.: Auburn is on the board! JaTarvious Whitlow caps a long drive with a seven-yard run to cut LSU's advantage to 10-7.

4:49 p.m.: Auburn is into the red zone and picking up the pace. Lots of no-huddle action with quick play-calling.

4:42 p.m.: LSU lined up for a fourth-and-1, then committed a false start. So, the field goal unit comes out and Tracy connects on a chip shot. LSU leads 10-0.

4:36 p.m.: A defensive pass interference against Auburn advances LSU to the 18. Just before that, Burrow completed a 33-yard pass to Jefferson.

First quarter: LSU 7, Auburn 0

4:25 p.m.: That's all for the first quarter. LSU could probably be up by more given its strong defensive play and ability to move the ball, but it'll probably be all right with this lead at Jordan-Hare. LSU outgained Auburn 123-71. Burrow didn't appear fazed by the atmosphere.

4:22 p.m.: LSU kicker Cole Tracy misses a 53-yard field goal. 

4:11 p.m.: Stuffed! Auburn goes for it on fourth-and-1 but doesn't get it. Devin White had the stop. LSU takes over inside its own 20.

4:09 p.m.: After LSU's drive petered out, Auburn is moving the ball. Stidham has made two throws of at least 20 yards on this possession.

3:59 p.m.: A huge throw on first down by Burrow — good for 31 yards — is upheld through a replay review. Amazing that receiver Justin Jefferson kept a foot inbounds there.

3:58 p.m.: LSU gets the ball back via a punt.

3:52 p.m.: Remember that Auburn took a 20-0 lead in this matchup last year before losing. Anything can happen in these clashes, but it's certainly been a promising start for LSU. Think former LSU running back Derrius Guice is pumped?

3:50 p.m.: LSU takes advantage of Auburn's turnover with a wildcat touchdown run. Clyde Edwards-Helaire carried it into the end zone. Burrow set that up with a very impressive first drive, completing 3 of 4 passes for 27 yards. LSU is up 7-0.

3:42 p.m.: LSU interception! Not a great start for Stidham, who struggled in this matchup last year. LSU safety Grant Delpit jumped a route to pick off Stidham's first throw of the afternoon.

3:40 p.m.: Auburn receives the opening kickoff.

3:27 p.m.: Here comes LSU.

3:19 p.m.: We're about 15 minutes away from kickoff!

2:40 p.m.: Auburn players are arriving.

12:42 p.m.: Former LSU baseball player Alex Bregman, now playing for the Houston Astros, is pumped up for this one.

Dan Bernstein