How It Happened: LSU Football Escapes Western Kentucky in 13-10 Week 13 Victory

BATON ROUGE – DJ Pickett and the LSU defense forced turnovers and made key stops all night to give the Tigers a win over Western Kentucky, 13-10, on Saturday night in the final home game of the 2025 season.

With the win, LSU improves to 7-4 overall. The Tigers return to action next Saturday in the regular season finale at Oklahoma for an 2:30 p.m. CT kick on ABC.

Game Recap

LSU won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half.

Western Kentucky quarterback Rodney Tisdale was able to move the ball quickly down the field on the opening possession, completing passes of 18 and 16 yards to move the ball into field goal range. John Cannon converted on a 36-yard attempt to give the Hilltoppers an early 3-0 lead with 11:43 to play in the first quarter, capping a drive the went 57 yards on nine plays.

With the Tigers driving to open the second quarter, Van Buren’s pass, intended for Zavion Thomas, was intercepted by WKU corner Harper Holloman at midfield. The Hilltoppers took over at the LSU 50 as the Tigers remained scoreless 14:47 into the second quarter.

LSU Tigers Football. — Runningback Harlem Berry 22, LSU Tigers take on the Arkansas Razorbacks. November 15, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; at Tiger Stadium. | SCOTT CLAUSE / USATODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Tisdale and WKU would yet again find success on offense and move the ball swiftly down the field. However, inside LSU territory, the Hilltoppers were stopped, but still elected to go for it.

On 4th-and-4 from the 4, Tisdale’s pass was incomplete in the back of the end zone to force a turnover on downs. LSU took over at the 4.

The Tiger defense was able to halt another WKU drive with 3:09 to play in the first half as Tisdale’s pass to Marvis Parrish was caught and brought behind the line to gain for a turnover on downs at the LSU 38. Ja’Keem Jackson made the stop.

Van Buren and the LSU offense were finally able to get into the end zone after an eight play drive spanning 62 plays culminated in a 11-yard touchdown pass from MVB to Trey’Dez Green to give the Tigers a 7-6 lead with 1:32 to play in the half. Four passes were thrown to Green on the drive.

Freshman corner DJ Pickett started the second half fast. On 2nd-and-10 from the WKU 11, Tisdale’s pass was picked off by Pickett and returned three yards to the 22. Pickett sacked Tisdale from the blindside on the previous possession.

The Tigers extended their lead to 10-3 after Damian Ramos kicked a 18-yard attempt after LSU was unable to punch the ball into the end zone from the 1.

The secondary continued to make plays as corner sophomore PJ Woodland intercepted Tisdale on 1st-and-10 from the LSU 47 with 4:43 to play in the third quarter.

Another 29-yard field goal from Ramos extended the Tigers’ lead to 13-3 with 11:15 to play in the contest, capping off a 10-play drive that went for 40 yards and took just under five minutes off the clock.

With 1:05 to play in the game, freshman running back Harlem Berry fumbled, which was recovered by WKU’s Jordan Donald and returned for a 71-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 13-10. The game would end with LSU victorious, 13-10.

(Via LSU Tigers Football Release.)

More LSU News:

Elite LSU Football Commit Reaffirms Pledge Despite Ohio State, Ole Miss Pushing

Five Players LSU Football Must Keep After Brian Kelly's Firing, Including DJ Pickett

ESPN Insider Labels Lane Kiffin 'Top Target' for LSU Football, Florida Gators

Join the Community:

Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Tigers On SI: @LSUTigersSI for all coverage surrounding the LSU Tigers.