For the second year in a row, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs went into Tiger Stadium and made LSU earn the victory.
After leading just 10-7 at the half, the Tigers pulled away in the second half for a 45-14 win.
LSU, ranked No. 8 in the AP and coaches polls, improved to 2-0. Louisiana Tech dropped to 1-1.
With the SEC opener looming at his former team Ole Miss Saturday, Kiffin said the Tigers probably needed a game that was tight at least for a half.
“Maybe it was perfect for us,” he said in his postgame press conference. “Maybe we needed something like that because if we play good on offense and the game is 70-7 or something then we don’t have their attention.
“We’re in a good place. We’re winning by 31 points and we’re upset. We’ve got a good standard going.”
The Tigers dominated the game statistically. Louisiana Tech had just two first downs through three quarters and both came on penalties.
LSU rolled up 278 yards of offense in the first half with 234 of that coming through the air. But the Bulldogs picked off three Sam Leavitt passes and recovered a fumble. Jordan McRae returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.
“I think defensively we just had a tremendous performance,” Louisiana Tech Head Coach Sonny Cumbie said. “I think we got tired late.
“We did a great job of keeping their quarterback on his heels in terms of throwing a football. We knew he was going to make plays with his feet. He’s very dynamic and a really great runner. He hurt us a couple of times there.”
Louisiana Tech had 0 total yards and no first downs in the first half, including a negative 20 yards rushing.
“We just didn’t play enough offense,” Cumbie said. “I also think that the team we are going against is probably one of the best defenses that I’ve ever seen.”
LSU finished with 528 total yards to 140 for Tech, including a 67-yard touchdown pass from Blake Baker to Jalen Mickens against the LSU backups in the fourth quarter with the Tigers up 38-14.
“I thought our defense was lights out again,” Kiffin said. “I can’t imagine what the stats are but when the first-team defense was out there in the first two games, amazing job.
“Offensively, obviously the turnovers in the red zone … really disappointing there. Credit to LA Tech. Those guys did a really good job defensively of playing really hard.”
The Bulldogs held the Tigers to field goals after LSU had first-and-goal at the 2 and a first down at the 11 after an interception in the third quarter.
But LSU eventually got some big pass plays and wore down the Tech defense. The Tigers led 24-7 after three quarters and scored three TDs in the fourth.
Leavitt completed 25-of-38 passes for 344 yards and one touchdown with the three interceptions. He also scored three rushing touchdowns.
Trey’Dez Green had six catches for 104 yards and a touchdown. Eugene Wilson III had six for 93. Jackson Harris had three for 80.
For much of the game, the Tech defense did a good job against the Tigers running game. Dilin Jones led the Tigers with 66 yards on 20 carries.
Baker completed 11-of-21 passes for 128 yards with one interception. He rarely had time to throw and was six times for a negative 26 yards.
Mickens caught six passes for 101 yards.
Louisiana Tech had minus-3 yards rushing. Andrew Burnette had 16 yards on six carries.
Former Haynesville star Alonzo Jackson Jr. led the defense with 12 total tackles, including three sacks. McRae had 11 total tackles. Ty Jones had nine.
Sam Fongang and Lane Condry had two tackles for loss each. Kam Franklin and Zheric Hill had the other two interceptions on LSU’s final two possessions of the first half.
Janard Lockhardt recovered a fumble forced by McRae.
TJ Dottery led LSU with nine total tackles. Whit Weeks had seven. Princewill Ummanmielen had three sacks.
Note: Louisiana Tech Assistant Director of Strategic Communications Drew Parsley contributed to this report.