Texas heads into another road test this week, and the assignment is a tricky one: LSU.
The Longhorns just came off a huge win at Missouri in Week 10, but there’s no easing into the next stretch. They stay on the road and now face a Tigers team that has been sliding lately, including a third loss of the season to Alabama under head coach Lane Kiffin.
For Texas, the challenge starts with LSU’s offense, which can pile up production in a hurry and also beat itself. The Tigers sit No. 22 nationally in points per game at 33.9, No. 6 in yards per game at 475.8, No. 33 in yards per play at 6.0, and No. 10 in third-down conversion percentage at 49.57.
But that efficiency hasn’t carried over near the goal line. LSU ranks No. 76 in red zone scoring, turning trips into points just 83.33 percent of the time, and that issue showed up again in the loss to Alabama.
A lot of what LSU does well comes through the air. Sam Leavitt is willing to push the ball downfield, but that aggressiveness comes with risk. He has thrown nine interceptions this season and has had only two games without a pick, which gives Texas a clear opening if the Longhorns can force him into obvious passing situations.
The ground game is where LSU has been less convincing. The Tigers are averaging just 3.9 yards per rush, which ranks No. 82 in the country. If they can’t get more going on the ground, they may be forced to lean even harder on Leavitt and that’s where the mistakes can start to show up.
Texas will also have to deal with a defense that gives up yards in one way but not always in another. LSU is fourth in the SEC in passing yards allowed per game at 207.67 in conference play, but the Tigers still allow explosive plays at a rate of 10.5 percent, a mark that sits in the middle of the SEC.
The biggest strength on that side of the ball is the front. LSU is sacking opposing quarterbacks on 12.2 percent of dropbacks, which ranks No. 1 in the country, and the Tigers have 36 sacks on the season. If Texas can hold up against that pressure, both in the run game and in pass protection, there should be chances to hit big plays and move the ball downfield.
In Other News...
LSU Defense Is Starting To Look Like A Real Problem For Opponents
LSUs latest rout at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center was the kind of night that keeps building a defensive identity. The Tigers rolled past Louisiana Tech 90-50, extending a remarkable stretch that saw them win three straight by 40 points or more for the first time in program history. The pressure showed up everywhere, with LSU forcing 23 turnovers and turning those mistakes into 38 points while getting disruptive nights from Skyy Clark and Donovan Dent, who each finished with five steals.
Michael Ruzic led the way offensively with 17 points, and Mo Dioubate added 15 before fouling out, but the bigger takeaway for LSU is how quickly the defense is becoming the tone-setter. Opponents are having a hard time getting clean looks, and even when the Tigers are not at their sharpest on the offensive end, the pace and activity on defense are giving them room to control games in a way that feels increasingly sustainable. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Lands In The Middle Of A Weekend Fans Can't Ignore
Week 11 has a way of reshaping the conversation in college football, and LSU is right in the middle of it with Texas coming to Baton Rouge. The weekend slate is loaded around the Tigers, too, with Georgia heading to Missouri, Utah traveling to Arizona, Indiana hosting USC and Alabama playing in Nashville, giving fans plenty of reasons to keep one eye on the scoreboard beyond Death Valley.
For LSU, though, the focus is squarely on the matchup at home and the broader stage it sits on. The full schedule is spread across multiple networks and streaming platforms, so this is one of those Saturdays when timing matters as much as the games themselves. By the time the night settles in, the Tigers could find themselves part of the weekends biggest talking point. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Faces A Dangerous Texas Mindset In Tiger Stadium
Steve Sarkisian has spent enough time building Texas into a road-tested team to know that a trip to Baton Rouge is supposed to feel different. Since taking over in 2022, he has watched the Longhorns win away from home at a strong clip, and he pointed to that experience as Texas prepares to face No. 24 LSU in Tiger Stadium, where the atmosphere, the visiting locker room and even the limits of what a roster can bring on the road all become part of the challenge.
For LSU, the matchup carries its own pressure after a recent home loss left Lane Kiffin looking for a sharper response from his team. The Tigers know what kind of stage this is, and they know Texas is arriving with confidence built on surviving tough environments before. What makes this one especially intriguing is whether LSU can turn Tiger Stadium back into an edge or whether the Longhorns road mindset travels with them again. [Read more 🡒]