Mississippi State QB K.J. Costello looked like Joe Burrow in upset win vs. LSU

K.J. Costello channeled Joe Burrow as he blasted LSU in his SEC debut.

Welcome to the SEC, K.J. Costello. Here have some records.

The Mississippi State quarterback produced a stunning debut on Friday, breaking the SEC record for passing yards while handing LSU its first loss since 2018.

Basically, the Tigers got a taste of what it was like for everyone else playing Joe Burrow last year.

K.J. Costello and Mike Leach’s Air Raid brought LSU back down to earth.

Costello accounted for 623 yards and five touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ 44-34 upset of No. 6 LSU. He attempted 60 passes to get there, giving the national champs a taste of some Air Raid medicine.

To put that in context, no Mississippi quarterback had put up more than 300 passing yards on LSU’s defense since Dak Prescott.

LSU’s offense was slow to get going and it cost them. They let Mississippi State hang around early before trading scores for much of the second half. Every time the Tigers seemed to get their feet, Costello and company had an answer.

Bo Pelini’s defense never figured out how to slow down the Pac-12 passing attack, which clicked at a scary-high level.

It was a rude awakening for LSU, who clearly missed defensive back Derek Stingley Jr. and the offensive duo of Joe Burrow and Joe Brady, not to mention All-American receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

Ed Orgeron’s chance to prove he could withstand all the departures was instead Mike Leach’s welcome party to the SEC.

Since no one expected Mississippi State to take so well to Leach’s offense, or for Costello to be the second-coming of Burrow, the SEC landscape looks quite a bit different now than it did on Saturday morning. Are the Bulldogs a legitimate threat. They’ll take on Arkansas next in a bid to prove this wasn’t a fluke.

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