ESPN’s FPI is leaning toward LSU in one of Week 11’s biggest college football matchups, giving the Tigers the edge over Texas when the Longhorns visit Baton Rouge on Saturday night.
That call comes with plenty on the line. Texas comes in after a hard-fought road win at Missouri in Week 10, while LSU is trying to shake off a rough home loss to Alabama. In a week without many SEC games carrying this much weight, this one stands out.
The College Football Playoff picture is part of what makes the game so important. Because it’s being played in Baton Rouge, the FPI doesn’t expect LSU to drop a second straight home game and gives the Tigers a slight advantage.
Texas showed some fight against Missouri. Arch Manning and the Longhorns trailed 20-13 in the third quarter before ripping off three straight touchdowns to pull out the win. At two losses, Texas would still have a possible path to the CFP even with a setback, but Steve Sarkisian and his team would rather not leave that to chance.
LSU’s situation feels even more urgent. A loss would end its hopes. Still, the Tigers have a chance to respond after last week’s collapse, when they led Alabama by three late in the third quarter before getting outscored 21-0 the rest of the way.
Lane Kiffin wanted a night game at Death Valley, and that’s exactly what he got. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, and ABC will carry the game.
In Other News...
Texas Hits Unexpected Travel Snag Right Before LSU Showdown
Texas ran into an unexpected headache on the way to Baton Rouge, with the Longhorns among several college football teams caught up in a nationwide ground stop ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration on Nov. 13. The issue stemmed from air traffic control communications problems at facilities across the country, creating travel delays at the worst possible time for a team headed into a high-profile matchup with LSU.
For LSU fans, the immediate question is whether the disruption will linger long enough to affect the rhythm of the weekend. It is still unclear how long the delays will last or whether they will ripple into the scheduled games, but any travel snag this close to kickoff adds another layer of uncertainty to a meeting that already had plenty of attention on it. [Read more 🡒]
Ed Orgeron Shares Frightening Health Update Before LSUs Huge Night
Ed Orgerons latest health scare is a sobering reminder of how quickly things can turn, even for a coach who has spent years around the grind of college football. The former LSU head coach revealed that a leg infection escalated into life-threatening sepsis and sent him to intensive care for seven days, a frightening stretch that put his recovery far ahead of any football conversation.
For LSU fans, the timing lands in the middle of a big week, with the Tigers preparing for a marquee matchup against Texas and plenty of attention on the little things that can swing a game. Special teams and intangibles are part of the discussion, along with the usual round of weekly predictions, but Orgerons update adds a more personal, human note to the buildup around a program that still feels his imprint. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Pass Rusher Is Now At Center Of A Messy Ole Miss Fight
Princewill Umanmielens move to LSU has now spilled into a legal fight that reaches well beyond the transfer portal. The pass rusher is contesting a revenue-sharing contract he signed with Ole Miss for the 2026 season, saying he was under undue pressure from Rebels coaches before he left for Baton Rouge. Ole Miss, meanwhile, is pursuing him for $550,000 plus legal fees tied to the buyout, turning what looked like a straightforward transfer into a messy dispute over how binding these new-era agreements really are.
Umanmielens attorney is arguing the damages sought are unreasonable and that he may not have had the legal capacity to enter the contract in the first place. Ole Miss has also filed a similar suit against former Rebel Devin Harper, while LSU has taken the position that it is not on the hook for either buyout because it was not a party to the contracts. For LSU, the issue is less about the roster fit than the backdrop around one of its newest pass rushers, and it is still unclear how far this fight will go before it is sorted out. [Read more 🡒]