ESPN’s “College GameDay” couldn’t separate LSU and Texas on Saturday, and that feels about right for a matchup with this much baggage and this much on the line.
The crew split 2-2 on the SEC showdown in Tiger Stadium, where No. 21 LSU (6-3, 3-3 SEC) and No.
6 Texas (7-2, 4-2 SEC) meet Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. on ABC in what could function as a playoff elimination game. LSU comes in as a 4.5-point favorite, though that number has not exactly been a comfort blanket this season.
The Tigers were favored in losses to Ole Miss, Kentucky and Alabama.
Former Michigan wide receiver and 1991 Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard opened the LSU side of the board, though he did it for a special reason. A young Boise State fan joined the show as part of a Make-A-Wish dream, and Howard made his pick in his honor.
“My buddy Luca’s favorite team is LSU, so go “Bayou Bengals” for Luca,” Howard said.
Nick Saban then found himself in a familiar spot, weighing two former assistants. Both Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian spent three seasons on Saban’s Alabama staff, and the seven-time national champion admitted the choice came with a little personal conflict.
“I don’t like to pick against former assistants who did a great job for me,” he said. “And I think they both want me to pick the other team.”
“What are you gonna do?” Former Ohio State quarterback and longtime ESPN broadcaster Kirk Herbstreit asked.
“Take LSU,” Saban replied.
That left Pat McAfee to swing the vote Texas’ way. The former NFL All-Pro and West Virginia All-American punter and kicker backed Arch Manning after the quarterback’s rough stretch earlier this season.
“I will take Texas then for you, just because I believe in what Arch (Manning) has done since the threat of potentially not playing anymore,” McAfee said. “Give me Texas to get a big-time win.”
Manning’s season has had a sharp turn. After back-to-back losses to Oklahoma and Florida, when he committed costly fourth-quarter turnovers, Sarkisian gave extra practice reps to backup quarterback KJ Lacey Jr. Manning was never benched, but since then he has gone 3-0 and thrown for more than 200 yards in every game, including ranked wins over Ole Miss and Missouri.
Celebrity guest picker Ian Johnson, a 2006 first team All-American at Boise State, then tied the count at two apiece by siding with Texas.
“Texas knows how to win big games,” Johnson said. “I’m not sure Lane Kiffin does. I’m taking Texas.”
The numbers behind the pick also tell the story of why Texas keeps drawing confidence. Kiffin is 15-27 against ranked teams in his career and 6-18 against top 10 teams.
Sarkisian’s Longhorns, meanwhile, have won 17 games over ranked opponents since 2023, the most in college football. Texas has also won its last six top 25 matchups, the longest active streak in the FBS.
Herbstreit did not make a prediction, since he will be on the ABC broadcast for the game.
In Other News...
Texas Hits Unexpected Travel Snag Right Before LSU Showdown
Texas ran into an unexpected hurdle on the way to Baton Rouge this week, with the Longhorns caught in a nationwide ground stop ordered by the FAA on Nov. 13. The disruption stemmed from air traffic control communications problems affecting facilities across the country, and it put a wrinkle into a normal game-week routine for a team preparing to face LSU.
For the Tigers, it is another reminder that a marquee matchup can be shaped by more than what happens between the lines. Several college football teams were affected by the same travel issue heading into weekend games, and it remains unclear how long the delays will last or whether they will have any impact on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Kelly Could Be Headed For Another Power 4 Chance
Brian Kelly is back in the coaching conversation after interviewing for Marylands head coaching job, a reminder that his name still carries weight in Power 4 circles even after his LSU run ended. Since leaving Baton Rouge, Kelly has shifted into an on-air role with CBS Sports, but his rsum and experience keep him in the mix whenever a major program opens up.
At LSU, Kelly never quite delivered the championship push the school expected when it hired him, and he has acknowledged as much in recent comments. He went 34-14 with the Tigers, a solid mark by most standards, but one that fell short of the national-title benchmark LSU had in mind, leaving his next move a notable storyline for a fan base that watched the fit unravel before the results ever matched the ambition. [Read more 🡒]
LSUs Biggest Texas Question Still Comes Down To Whit Weeks
Whit Weeks remains the name LSU fans will watch closest as the Tigers get ready for Texas, with the final injury report listing the linebacker as questionable but expected to dress and test his leg during warmups. That keeps the focus on one of LSUs most important defensive pieces heading into a matchup that already carries plenty of weight, while starting right tackle Weston Davis is probable and defensive lineman Gabe Reliford is off the report entirely, a sign he could be back in the mix as well.
The other side of the equation may be just as important, since Texas star edge Colin Simmons is not on the injury report after missing time with a high ankle sprain. For LSU, the question is less about the headline names on paper and more about how much Weeks can actually give them once warmups start, because his availability could shape how the Tigers handle a Longhorns front that appears to be getting healthier at the right time. [Read more 🡒]