LSU was on its way to a second dismal performance, turning the ball over four times in the first quarter alone. Still, they held a 14-0 lead after 15 minutes despite that. Things changed once freshman quarterback Brandon Harris came into the game, relieving the struggling Anthony Jennings. The Tigers exploded from there, with Harris leading seven straight touchdown drives as LSU marched to a blowout win, 63-7, over New Mexico State.

A couple of quick thoughts on the game:

What it means: The Tigers have their answer at quarterback. Brandon Harris finally got his chance with the game still in undecided, and he emphatically stated his case to be the quarterback the rest of the way for the Tigers. He seemed to unlock a new gear that LSU’s offense didn’t have with Anthony Jennings. Instead of plodding and methodical, the Tigers looked athletic and explosive as they shredded New Mexico State.

What I liked: The defense locking in. There’s much to be said about the way the offense performed under Harris, but the defensive side of the ball shouldn’t be overlooked. The secondary was phenomenal in shutting down New Mexico State’s passing game, while Kendell Beckwith led a nice effort by the linebackers.

Who’s the man: Harris and Leonard Fournette. This honor obviously belongs to Harris, with his 5 total TDs, but Fournette looked like a man among boys galloping through the Aggies defense. The freshman running back had his first career 100-yard game, finishing with 122 yards and 2 TDs while dragging defenders up and down the field.

Key play: With 9:28 remaining in the second quarter, Jennings hit the bench and Harris took over at quarterback. LSU never looked back from there, scoring on every drive that Harris piloted.

What’s next: LSU travels to Auburn to take on the SEC West’s other Tigers. Auburn pulled away from Louisiana Tech late to score a blowout win, and will likely remain a top-5 team when LSU arrives in town.