LSU stays alive in College Football Playoff race with blowout win over No 16 Mississippi State

For one more week, LSU remains alive in the College Football Playoff hunt.

Lane Kiffin's squad bounced back in a big way after its crushing overtime loss to Kentucky last week, beating No.

16 Mississippi State 31-0 on Saturday at Tiger Stadium.

Mississippi State was without star quarterback Kamario Taylor due to a foot injury, and the Bulldogs sorely missed him.

Freshman Parker Puckett started in Taylor's stead and struggled, completing 16 of his 26 passes for 121 yards and one interception.

Compounding matters for the freshman quarterback, No.

22 LSU jumped out to an early lead, leaving Puckett playing from behind the entire game.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE Mississippi State went three-and-out on its opening possession, and LSU promptly responded with an eight-play, 60-yard touchdown drive.

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt connected with wide receiver Eugene Wilson III for a 10-yard touchdown to put LSU up 7-0.

On Mississippi State's ensuing possession, Puckett threw an interception.

LSU once again marched down the field, and Leavitt found Jackson Harris for a 27-yard touchdown to put LSU up 14-0 in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Leavitt connected with Harris again for a 17-yard touchdown to put the Tigers up 21-0.

It looked like Mississippi State was going to get on the board when its offense drove into the red zone on the following possession, but the Bulldogs went for it on fourth-and-goal from the LSU 6-yard line and failed to convert.

THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW–UNFILTERED, UNAPOLOGETIC AND UNMISSABLE.