AUBURN, Ala. — The snap came so fast that Sam Leavitt wasn’t ready for it.

At least that’s what it looked like, though nothing in Lane Kiffin’s offense happens by accident. LSU’s quarterback still handled the hot snap with ease and found Trey’Dez Green over the middle while Auburn’s defense was fast asleep.

Green then turned, trucked through four defenders and dove into the end zone for a 15-yard score. Before Auburn could blink, LSU led 17-3 with nearly 10 minutes left before halftime.

This is what LSU had missed for four weeks. Green, who returned this weekend after injuring his knee in Week 3, was the centerpiece of LSU’s passing attack before an Ole Miss defender collided with his knee and forced him to the sideline.

But Saturday was not just the Green show. Jackson Harris — the Hawaii transfer wide receiver who stepped up following Green’s injury — had nine catches for 178 yards and two scores as the combo of Harris and Green lifted LSU past Auburn, 38-17.

“Having Trey’Dez on the field along with Jackson is (having) two dominant one-on-one players,” Leavitt said. “How are you going to cover two dominant one-on-one players? You can’t double them both.”

On the ensuing drive, after Green’s second-quarter score, Harris found the end zone on a 70-yard catch-and-run that pushed LSU’s lead up to two scores. He had seven catches for 10-plus yards and finished the first half with 139 yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions.

The 70-yard score was LSU's longest play from scrimmage this year.

“Feel players. And when I say that it’s just the way that you feel space,” Leavitt said. “He feels it very well, and he’s very long to go catch back shoulder balls.”

Green, meanwhile, caught five passes for 50 yards and had four receptions by halftime. His addition to the lineup didn’t take anything away from Harris or LSU’s other weapons; it only enhanced what LSU already had.

“You just feel different when he’s there,” Kiffin said. “That's why I was so in the tank when Dashawn and the two sevens (Green and Whit Weeks) went down because they're impactful players. It's kind of like, I don't know, like fishing with really good bait and tackle.”

Since Green’s absence, LSU’s passing attack has improved after an up-and-down start. Leavitt’s accuracy has improved over the last four weeks, completing more than 70% of his passes. And LSU’s weapons, especially Harris, have gotten more comfortable in the offense.

Harris led LSU in receiving yards, even before Saturday’s game. Running back Dilin Jones has become a reliable check-down option for Leavitt. Troy transfer Roman Mothershed and freshman Corey Barber have earned larger roles.

LSU led the SEC in passing yards before Saturday without its most dangerous weapon for more than half of the year. Getting Green would only make LSU’s aerial attack harder to defend.

“Every time you get man (coverage),” Leavitt said, “throw the ball to seven.”

LSU’s passing game is rounding into form with Green back, and it comes at the perfect time. Alabama has a dangerous defensive line that should challenge Leavitt’s ability to get the ball out to his weapons. LSU’s next two opponents, Texas and Tennessee, have two of the best defenses in the country.

Saturday was a promising step in the right direction for Kiffin’s offense. It has to keep it up if LSU wants to get back in the thick of the College Football Playoff race.

“This is what the whole thing was supposed to look like,” Kiffin said, “when we put it together.”