No. 2 Louisiana State 12, Auburn 10: Drew Alleman hit the go-ahead field goal in the third quarter as the visiting Tigers won a defensive struggle in their Southeastern Conference opener.

Spencer Ware rushed for a game-high 90 yards for LSU (4-0, 1-0 SEC), which overcame nine penalties and a surprising first-half deficit to send Auburn (1-3, 0-2) to its worst start since 1998.

LSU held Auburn to just 183 total yards, but struggled to find any offensive momentum after tackling Auburn’s Tre Mason in the end zone for a safety and following it up with a 1-yard score from Michael Ford on the subsequent possession.

Auburn moved to within 9-7 on the final play of the first quarter on a 4-yard run by Onterio McCalebb and took the lead late in the second on a 40-yard field goal by Cody Parkey with 1:21 left before the half.

However, LSU broke through for the only second-half score when Auburn’s Quan Bray fumbled a punt near midfield, allowing the undefeated Tigers to cap a seven-play, 35-yard drive with Alleman’s 30-yard field goal midway through the third quarter.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The home team had won 11 of the previous 12 games in this series. … In addition to extending its regular-season winning streak, LSU has won 25 consecutive games in the month of September and hasn’t lost in the month since a 2006 setback at Jordan-Hare Stadium. … Auburn held LSU 121 yards and 36 points below its season averages . … Auburn has lost three games before October for the first time in school history.