Sam Leavitt throws for 387 yards as No. 18 LSU beats Auburn 38-17

Sam Leavitt threw for a career-high 387 yards and accounted for four touchdowns, and No. 18 LSU beat Auburn 38-17 on Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Associated Press said the win ended LSU's eight-game road losing streak in SEC play.

Leavitt completed 32 of 45 passes with three touchdowns, ran eight times for 54 yards and a score, and did not turn the ball over for the second straight week. Jackson Harris caught nine passes for 178 yards. One of his touchdowns came from 10 yards out, and the other was a 12-yard crossing route the AP said he turned into a 70-yard sprint.

LSU scored on five of its six first-half possessions. Tight end Trey'Dez Green, back after missing four games with a sprained knee, caught a 15-yard touchdown to finish a 95-yard drive in the second quarter. After Harris' 70-yarder made it 24-10, Leavitt ran in from 4 yards with 17 seconds left in the half for a 31-10 lead. Dilin Jones added a 12-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter and finished with 92 yards on 21 carries.

Auburn came in a week removed from beating then-No. 1 Georgia on the road, and it never got its run game started. LSU blitzed and spied Byrum Brown early, according to the AP, after Brown ran for 115 yards against Georgia. On Saturday he carried 19 times for 21 yards, though he did score on a 1-yard run, and he was sacked six times. Brown completed 15 of 24 passes for 160 yards. Keshaun Singleton caught four passes for 64 yards. Tristan Ti'a scored Auburn's other touchdown on a 7-yard run with 24 seconds left.

LSU outgained Auburn 552 yards to 271, picked up 29 first downs and converted 3 of 4 fourth downs. Linebacker Davhon Keys had seven tackles and a sack, and PJ Woodland made nine tackles. The AP said it was the first time Auburn had been blown out in Alex Golesh's first season; its earlier losses to Florida and Tennessee were competitive.

LSU (6-2) is off next week and hosts No. 13 Alabama on Nov. 7. Auburn (4-3, 2-3 SEC) plays at No. 7 Ole Miss next Saturday, its fourth straight ranked opponent.