AUBURN, Ala. — For the first time in two years and five days, LSU notched a Southeastern Conference victory away from Tiger Stadium.

No doubt was left behind.

No. 18 LSU (6-2, 3-2 SEC) smashed Auburn 38-17 on Saturday thanks to an offense that continues to build momentum heading into the stretch run of the season.

Sam Leavitt completed 32 of 45 passes for 387 yards and three touchdowns. Leavitt found both his emergent No. 1 receiver, Jackson Harris, nine times for 178 yards and two touchdowns, while also dishing to newly healthy tight end, Trey’Dez Green, for five receptions for 50 yards and a score in his return.

Leavitt also rushed for 54 yards and a touchdown.

LSU finished with 552 yards to Auburn’s 271, along with a 29-16 advantage in first downs. Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown was held to 21 rushing yards on 19 carries after logging consecutive 100-yard outings, including 115 in last week’s win over then-No. 1 Georgia.

Lane Kiffin, always seeking every advantage, said he was rooting for unranked Auburn’s upset because “relief syndrome,” a letdown after a big win, is a real challenge. Whatever the reason, LSU had the upper hand in a traditionally unpredictable Jordan-Hare Stadium, and it sets up Kiffin and Co. well for what comes next.

LSU heads into its bye week with Green, one of its No. 7s, already back. Alabama and Texas await, with LSU’s other No. 7, linebacker Whit Weeks, hoping to return at some point after the open date. A pair of home wins could substantially improve LSU’s College Football Playoff odds.

Everything is progressing as LSU would have hoped, and one trend — losing on the road to SEC foes — was emphatically squashed. Saturday’s win snapped an eight-game losing streak in conference games not played in Baton Rouge. It was LSU’s first such victory since an Oct. 19, 2024, win at Arkansas.

LSU’s offense moved the ball all day, even if its first drive, which started near midfield, stalled for a 30-yard field goal. The very next possession, with the game tied 3-3, moved 65 yards on 6-of-6 passing from Leavitt, including four completions to Harris.

Leavitt, under pressure and falling backwards as he threw it, found Harris streaking across the middle for a 10-yard touchdown to pull ahead 10-3.

LSU was three-and-out on its next possession, but that was only a momentary delay. The visitors’ next series went 95 yards on 14 plays, including a fourth-and-2 on the LSU 32 converted on a direct snap to running back Dilin Jones, who handed off to Leavitt, who then hit Green for 11 yards.

The drive ended with Leavitt finding Green over the middle for a 15-yard catch and rumble across the goal line to make it 17-3.

Auburn (4-3, 2-3) answered with its only touchdown drive of the day, but LSU would have two more before the half ended. One lasted just three plays, thanks to a 70-yard catch and run for Harris on a pass threaded over the middle by Leavitt on third-and-5.

The next drive, 74 yards on 10 plays, was more methodical, draining most of what was left of the first-half clock. The possession was powered by rushes of 9, 16, 10 and 12 yards by Jones, who finished the day with 92 yards on 21 carries.

Leavitt finished the first half with an exclamation point, diving across the line on a 4-yard touchdown run that gave LSU a 31-10 lead going into the locker room.

The LSU defense kept Brown bottled up, notching 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Auburn’s first three possessions of the second half traveled just 29 yards on 15 plays.

Auburn notched just two TFLs and did not have a sack when Leavitt was in the game.

Jones helped put the game away, spinning out of a tackle on his way to a 12-yard touchdown run, which made it 38-10, LSU, just over a minute into the fourth quarter. Auburn scored a garbage-time touchdown with 24 seconds left to cut the deficit back to 21 points.