Nabers helps No. 17 LSU rout Purdue in Citrus Bowl

ORLANDO, Fla. — – LSU has a lot of talent coming through the receivers room in the new year: Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. For most of this season Kayshon Boutte.

Malik Nabers made a bid to match that name on Saturday, when he threw for a touchdown, caught one and gained 163 yards in the No. 16 Tigers’ 63-7 victory over Purdue in the Orange Bowl.

“That’s the mantle of LSU’s wide receivers,” Tigers coach Brian Kelly said of Nabers, who was the game’s MVP. “This is the opportunity now, and you can see that he wants to make a statement today.”

LSU never trailed, recording 594 yards of offense and concluding the scoring with Quad Wilson’s interception return 99 yards for a touchdown.

The Tigers (10-4) finished with at least 10 wins for the first time since the 2019 season, when Joe Burrow, Chase and Jefferson led undefeated LSU to the national title.

The Boilermakers (8-6) are led by interim coach Brian Brohm after his brother, Jeff, left at the end of the regular season to take the Louisville head coaching job. Ryan Walters, formerly the defensive coordinator at Illinois, will now coach Purdue.

Purdue had an up-and-down year, starting 1-2 before rallying to win the Big Ten West and reaching the conference title game, where it lost 43-22 to Michigan. The Boilermakers played in their first Citrus Bowl.

“I think the program is in a good place,” Brian Brohm said. “Coach Walters will inherit a program of people who are tough, want to play hard and want to win. I hope that he can continue and take it to the next level.”

LSU, after the year that beat Alabama and reached the Southeastern Conference title game, controlled the game from the start. And there was no change when starting quarterback Jayden Daniels was relieved by backup Garrett Nussmeier. After punting on the first drive, the Tigers scored touchdowns on seven of their next eight possessions to take a 49-0 lead.

Daniels led four scoring drives, going 12 of 17 for 139 yards and a touchdown. He also had 67 yards rushing and caught a TD pass from Nabers.

Nussmeier finished 11 of 15 for 173 yards and two TDs. He threw a second-half interception, but LSU had a 42-0 lead at the time and the Tigers defense forced a three-and-out.

Nabers, LSU’s leading receiver this season, had a season high in yards and catches (nine), and the TD pass was not even the most impressive pass of the day. After getting wide open on the jet sweep, he threw an on-target deep ball to Kyren Lacy for a 45-yard completion that set up a touchdown in the first half.

After the game, he first lamented the three passes he felt he should have caught. However, he has high hopes for next season.

“This performance shows that I can come out here and perform at a high level with anybody,” Nabers said.

John Emery Jr. had a 1-yard TD rush, Derrick Davis Jr. had a 12-yard rushing score and Noah Cain had two rushing TDs, giving the Tigers a school record 39 rushing TDs for the year.

Austin Burton made his third career start at quarterback for the Boilermakers in place of Aidan O’Connell, who opted out to prepare for the NFL draft. Burton completed 12 of 24 passes for 74 yards with an interception.

Michael Alaimo broke Burton loose in the second half and threw a 16-yard TD to TJ Sheffield. Alaimo finished 4 of 11 for 31 yards with an interception.

Purdue crossed midfield four times. The first was on a drive set up by a fake punt, but ended when Burton threw a pick. The other three ended in a touchdown, an interception and a turnover on downs. Purdue’s first nine possessions resulted in six punts and three turnovers.

scary injuries

Purdue receiver Deion Burks took a scary hit and his head was stable as he was loaded onto a stretcher, carried off the field and taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center. Burks gave a thumbs up as he left the field, and Purdue officials told ABC reporters he had movement in his extremities.

THE TAKEAWAY

LSU: The Tigers were without several players, including Boutte, who recently declared for the NFL draft, but succeeded in showing the depth of the program. LSU had 27 first downs and was 6 of 7 in the red zone.

Purdue: The Boilermakers were outmatched with a roster lacking by opt-outs. Purdue only had 17 first downs.

UP NEXT

LSU: Plays Florida State in Orlando on Sept. 3 to start the 2023 season.

Purdue: hosts Fresno State on Sept. 2.