ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Michael Ford ran for two touchdowns and Jarrett Lee admirably directed LSU’s offense in place of suspended quarterback Jordan Jefferson in the fourth-ranked Tigers’ season-opening 40-27 victory over No. 3 Oregon on Saturday night.
Missing cornerback-punt returner Cliff Harris was too much for Oregon to overcome in a rare season-opening matchup of top-five teams on a neutral field.
Lee’s touchdown pass came against the freshman defensive back filling in for Harris. And a fill-in punt returner had a fumble that led directly to an LSU touchdown.
LSU converted three of Oregon’s four turnovers into 20 points and won its 34th consecutive nonconference game. Oregon, which lost to Auburn in the BCS national championship game last season, has consecutive losses for the first time since they losing its last three regular-season games in 2007.