For much of the evening, LSU looked like the better football team. The Tigers answered Texas’ opening touchdown with an impressive 13 play, 75 yard drive that ended with Sam Leavitt finding Jackson Harris for a 10 yard score. LSU’s defense then began making life miserable for Manning, forcing interceptions and giving the offense opportunities to take control.
Ty Benefield delivered one of the best defensive performances of LSU’s season, recording eight tackles, two interceptions and a sack. His first interception set up another Leavitt touchdown pass to Harris, giving the Tigers a 14–7 lead in the second quarter. The defense continued to disrupt Texas throughout the night, limiting Manning to 174 passing yards and intercepting him three times.
The Tigers appeared ready to deliver the knockout blow when Dilin Jones broke free for a spectacular 44 yard touchdown run with 5:52 remaining in the third quarter. LSU led 21–10, the stadium was roaring, and Texas had shown little ability to consistently move the football against the Tigers’ defense.
But that was LSU’s final score of the night.
The Fourth Quarter Collapse
The most troubling statistic from Saturday’s loss was not the three interceptions or the missed field goal. It was LSU’s offensive production in the fourth quarter.
The Tigers finished the final period with minus one yard of total offense. After producing 367 yards through three quarters, LSU failed to sustain a meaningful possession when the game needed to be put away.
Texas, meanwhile, chipped away at the lead with field goals of 41 and 50 yards from Gianni Spetic. LSU still led 21–16 with less than three minutes remaining, but the Tigers’ offense had done almost nothing to give the defense a chance to breathe.
The final three LSU possessions produced just eight net yards, with the last drive losing 12 yards. Instead of controlling the clock, forcing Texas to exhaust its timeouts and protecting an 11 point advantage, the Tigers repeatedly returned the football to Manning.
It was painfully reminiscent of the previous week’s loss to Alabama. LSU produced enough offense to compete with a national championship contender but could not deliver when the outcome hung in the balance.
Three Interceptions and Another Missed Opportunity
Sam Leavitt finished 27 of 37 passing for 244 yards and two touchdowns, but his three interceptions proved costly. Texas safety Jelani McDonald intercepted all three, including two in the red zone that prevented LSU from converting promising possessions into points.
The most damaging came early in the third quarter. LSU drove from its own 25 to the Texas 16, aided by a 35 yard run from Jones. With an opportunity to extend a four point halftime lead, Leavitt threw an interception in the end zone. Instead of taking a commanding lead, the Tigers walked away with nothing.
LSU also missed a 38 yard field goal just before halftime. In a game decided by one point, that missed opportunity became especially painful. The Tigers finished just two of five in the red zone, continuing a troubling pattern of moving the football effectively without converting enough opportunities into touchdowns.
Those mistakes mattered because LSU otherwise had several offensive advantages. The Tigers averaged 5.5 yards per play compared with Texas’ 4.1 and outgained the Longhorns by 93 yards. LSU also rushed for 122 yards against a defense that entered the game among the SEC’s best.
This was not a game where Texas completely overwhelmed LSU. It was a game where the Tigers failed to capitalize on enough of their opportunities.
LSU’s Defense Deserved a Better Ending
There is plenty to criticize about Saturday’s performance, but LSU’s defense deserves credit for putting the Tigers in position to win.
Benefield’s two interceptions highlighted an aggressive defensive effort that repeatedly disrupted Manning. Princewill Umanmielen added eight tackles and helped generate pressure against a Texas offensive line that had struggled with pass protection throughout the season.
The defense held Texas to 99 rushing yards and limited the Longhorns to three points in both the second and third quarters. Even when Texas moved into scoring position, LSU frequently forced field goals rather than surrendering touchdowns.
Unfortunately, the defense could not deliver one final stop.
Texas took possession at its own 42 yard line with 2:19 remaining and needing a touchdown. Manning converted three third downs on the decisive possession, twice using his legs to extend the drive. With only seconds remaining, he found Raleek Brown for a four yard touchdown that gave Texas its first lead since the opening quarter.
The final play will be remembered as the moment LSU lost the game, but the defeat was not the responsibility of the defense alone. LSU’s offense had numerous chances to create a larger cushion or run out the clock before Texas began its final possession.
Dilin Jones and Jackson Harris Were Bright Spots
Despite the disappointing result, LSU received impressive individual performances from several offensive players.
Dilin Jones rushed for 125 yards on 19 carries, averaging 6.6 yards per attempt. His 44 yard touchdown run was the highlight of LSU’s offensive night, and his physical running demonstrated that the Tigers could move the football against a talented Texas defensive front.
Jackson Harris continued his emergence as one of LSU’s most reliable offensive weapons, catching eight passes for 64 yards and two touchdowns. Both scores came from Leavitt in the first half, giving the Tigers an early offensive spark that helped overcome Texas’ opening touchdown.
Eugene Wilson III also had a productive night, finishing with seven receptions for 96 yards. Together, Harris and Wilson provided LSU with dependable options in the passing game, but the offense failed to maintain that production when Texas began tightening its defensive coverage.
Those performances make the loss even more frustrating. LSU had enough individual success to win, particularly against a Texas defense that had been difficult to run against all season.
Another Close Loss Raises Bigger Questions
Saturday’s result leaves LSU at 6–4 overall and 3–4 in SEC play. The Tigers have now lost consecutive games to Alabama and Texas despite outgaining both opponents. That is a difficult pattern to ignore, particularly for a program with expectations of competing for SEC championships and College Football Playoff appearances.
The loss also brings back memories of LSU’s 35–34 overtime defeat at Kentucky, another game decided by the narrowest of margins. In each instance, the Tigers had opportunities to secure a victory but could not make enough plays at the decisive moment.
Lane Kiffin acknowledged the frustration afterward, saying it was disappointing to hold a two score lead and fail to close the game. He credited Texas for its winning drive but also pointed to missed opportunities, including red zone interceptions, that prevented LSU from putting the Longhorns away.
Kiffin and his staff now face a difficult question. How does a team capable of playing well against highly ranked opponents continue to lose games it appears positioned to win?
Part of the answer lies in execution, particularly in the red zone and late in games. Another part is offensive consistency. LSU cannot expect its defense to carry the entire burden against quality SEC opponents, especially when the offense produces almost nothing in the fourth quarter.
The Tigers have demonstrated they possess the talent to compete with some of the best teams in the country. What they have not consistently demonstrated is the ability to finish.
The Bottom Line: LSU Didn’t Get Beaten as Much as It Let One Get Away
Texas deserves credit for the comeback. Manning overcame three interceptions, the Longhorns’ defense delivered when it mattered, and Steve Sarkisian’s team found a way to win inside one of college football’s most difficult environments.
But LSU will look back at this game knowing the outcome could have been very different.
The Tigers led by 11 points in the third quarter. They intercepted Manning three times. They outgained Texas by 93 yards. They produced a 125 yard rushing performance against an excellent defense. And they still lost.
That is what makes this defeat so difficult to accept.
LSU did not need a spectacular fourth quarter. A few first downs, one sustained scoring drive, or a successful field goal earlier in the game might have been enough. Instead, the Tigers gave Texas repeated opportunities to recover and ultimately watched the Longhorns celebrate on their home field.
There are positives to take from Saturday’s performance, particularly on defense and in the rushing game. But those positives cannot erase the larger problem. LSU continues to put itself in position to win important games without consistently delivering the plays necessary to finish them.
The Tigers travel to Tennessee next weekend, where another difficult SEC test awaits. The challenge will be turning competitive performances into victories rather than another collection of missed opportunities.
LSU had Texas on the ropes. LSU had the lead. LSU had the chances. But when the game needed to be finished, the Tigers let another one slip away.
Sources
- LSU Athletics: Late Touchdown Lifts No. 6 Texas Over LSU, 22–21
- Texas Athletics: Official LSU vs. Texas Box Score and Play by Play
- CBS Sports / Associated Press: Arch Manning Rallies Texas Past LSU
- Sports Illustrated: Lane Kiffin’s Postgame Comments Following Texas Loss
- LSU Athletics: Football Falls to Kentucky in Overtime, 35–34
