BATON ROUGE (AP) — It didn’t matter who was launching long passes to Rueben Randle and it certainly didn’t matter that LSU was missing three key players.

Randle caught scoring passes of 42 yards from Jordan Jefferson and 46 yards from Jarrett Lee, and No. 1 LSU once again overcame off-the-field distractions in style with a 45-10 victory over 19th-ranked Auburn on Saturday.

“It just seems like no matter who goes down or who’s out, we have guys who are ready to step in … and not just to fill a spot but to go in and dominate,” said LSU center T-Bob Hebert.

LSU was without star cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, leading rusher Spencer Ware and defensive back Tharold Simon — all suspended one game for violating the team’s drug policy. They watched the game on TV, teammates said, after being told to stay away from Tiger Stadium.

Yet LSU continued to make team history with its eighth double-digit win in as many games this season, a streak that started with a season-opening triumph over Oregon without then-suspended Jefferson and receiver Russell Shepard.

“I almost feel like everybody else makes a bigger deal about it than we do,” Hebert said of the periodic lineup upheaval, and the public scrutiny of the misbehavior that has caused it.

“It’s not distracting to us. This team is so good about staying focused, one-track mind, not letting anything on the outside get to them because we don’t want to have any regrets.”

Off next week, LSU (8-0, 5-0 SEC) will be unbeaten entering what is bound to be a highly hyped showdown at No. 2 Alabama on Nov. 5. The Crimson Tide were playing at home Saturday night against struggling Tennessee.

The beneficiary of Ware’s absence was freshman Kenny Hilliard, who scored the first two touchdowns of his career while rushing for 65 yards on only 10 carries.

Randle finished with five receptions for 106 yards.

“We all know our roles on this team and we know if we come out and do our jobs that we are going to be tough to beat,” Randle said. “Kenny came in and really stepped up when we needed him.”