ATLANTA — Matt Flynn did so well in his first start, the Peach Bowl turned into 60 minutes of fun for No. 10 LSU.
What happened after the game wasn't nearly so nice.
Flynn threw two touchdown passes, Joseph Addai rushed for 130 yards and the Tigers humbled No. 9 Miami, even running a couple of fake kicks in a 40-3 rout Friday that marked the Hurricanes' most-lopsided bowl loss ever.
There were shoves and punches thrown between players immediately after the game as both teams left the field into the same tunnel. Georgia State Patrol officers intervened, and minutes later Miami's Andrew Bain, apparently dazed, was escorted by officers back out of the tunnel.
Flynn, a sophomore filling in for injured starter JaMarcus Russell, completed 13 of 22 passes for 196 yards with no interceptions. He also rushed for 39 yards and was named the offensive MVP.
Led by Flynn, LSU (11-2) rebounded from its worst game of the year, a 34-14 loss to Georgia in the Dec. 3 Southeastern Conference championship game, returning to the Georgia Dome and delivering one of its strongest performance of the season.
LSU scored on eight straight possession in a streak that started with a field goal late in the first quarter, included two third-quarter scoring drives, and lasted into the final quarter.
Even with a lopsided lead, LSU attempted to add to the rout, successfully faking a field goal while leading 34-3 late in the third quarter and then failing on a fake punt with a 40-3 lead late in the game.
LSU piled up 471 yards, the most allowed by Miami this season. The Hurricanes (9-3) entered leading the nation in pass defense and ranked third in total defense.
The Tigers were just as impressive on defense, holding Miami to 153 yards and six first downs — none in the second half. Kyle Wright completed only 10 of 21 passes for 100 yards.
LSU's dominant performance negated Miami's plan to utilize cornerback Devin Hester as a multiple threat on offense.
On Miami's first possession, Hester lined up at tailback and receiver and also took a direct snap at quarterback. Hester had two catches for 40 yards and six carries for 24 yards.
Hester had a 24-yard run on the possession to set up a field goal. But overall, the junior and the Hurricanes were contained.
LSU had its largest margin of victory in a bowl game, easily surpassing its 45-26 win over Michigan in the 1995 Independence Bowl. Miami's previous most lopsided loss in a bowl game was a 29-0 loss to Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 1994.
Addai, slowed by an ankle injury the final month of the season, hadn't had 15 carries or rushed for 100 yards since gaining 105 in LSU's 20-17 overtime win over Auburn on Oct. 22.
Addai scored on a 4-yard pass from Flynn in the second quarter and a 6-yard run in the third.
In building a 20-3 halftime lead, LSU had 301 total yards — almost 50 more yards than the average total of 252 allowed by Miami in a game.
The teams traded field goals in the first quarter — first a 21-yarder by Miami's Jon Peattie and then a 37-yarder by LSU's Chris Jackson.
A key fourth-down stop by LSU's defense early in the second quarter gave the Tigers momentum.
Hester was stopped a yard shy of the first down on a third-and-5 run, setting up a fourth-and-1 from the LSU 35. Wright faked a pitch to his left and then ran right, where he was hit by LSU's Melvin Oliver short of the first down. Wright failed to pass to tight end Greg Olsen, who was open about 10 yards downfield.
The Tigers seized the opportunity. Flynn ran for 15 yards, passed to Craig Davis for 11 yards. On third and 12, Flynn connected with Davis for a 49-yard touchdown pass over Miami cornerback Randy Phillips.
After Jackson's 47-yard field goal pushed LSU's lead to 13-3, the Tigers added another touchdown late in the half.
A 32-yard pass from Flynn to Dwayne Bowe moved the Tigers to Miami's 36. On third down from the 4, Flynn faked a handoff to Skyler Green and then flipped a short pass over Miami's blitzing defensive end Bryan Pata. Addai had to reach low to catch the pass before scoring for a 20-3 halftime lead.
Addai went over 100 yards rushing on his second carry of the second half as the Tigers stretched the lead. Addai rambled 25 yards to the 6, setting up his scoring run on a pitch to the left one play later.
Addai was taken to the locker room, suffering from cramps, in the middle of the third quarter.
Sophomore fullback Jacob Hester filled in on the Tigers' second touchdown drive of the quarter. Hester's dive over the top from the 1 with 5:27 left in the period pushed the lead to 34-3.
The Tigers faked a 46-yard field goal late in the quarter, with Jackson running 12 yards to the Miami 17. Colt David's 35-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter pushed the lead to 37-3. Jackson added a 50-yard field goal with 8:20 left to play.
The Peach Bowl is sponsored by Chick-fil-A.