LSU and Texas are set to meet in Baton Rouge on November 14th, and the Longhorns arrive looking loaded on both sides of the ball. It’s the first time the programs will face each other since Texas joined the SEC in 2024, and the matchup brings back memories of LSU’s 45-38 win in September 2019. Before that, you have to go all the way back to 2002, when Texas took the meeting.
Texas has spent the offseason giving Arch Manning more weapons. Steve Sarkisian went hard in the transfer portal and landed former Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman, adding him to a receiver group that already includes Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosley V. That’s a dangerous trio for any defense to deal with.
The Longhorns also tried to fix their ground game after being below-average running the ball. They brought in NC State’s Hollywood Smothers and Arizona State’s Raleek Brown, two backs who each averaged around six yards per carry last season. Both players bring the kind of burst that can turn a routine snap into a big play, which is exactly the kind of challenge LSU’s defense will have to sort out.
Texas didn’t just reload on offense. Sarkisian also kept most of the defensive production intact, and that starts with defensive end Colin Simmons.
Fresh off a monster year, Simmons returns to Austin as one of the sport’s premier edge rushers. The Longhorns also added talented transfer pieces in Rasheem Biles and Ian Geffrard.
If LSU is looking for a crack in the armor, the secondary is the place to attack. Texas does bring back senior safety Jelani McDonald, who had three interceptions last season, but parts of that back end remain inexperienced. Xavier Filsaime appeared in six regular-season games a year ago, and the departure of Michael Taafe could matter.
Still, the biggest problem for LSU might be Simmons. He has piled up 21 sacks and six forced fumbles over his first two seasons, and that kind of production can wreck a game plan in a hurry. LSU has an all-pro left tackle in Jordan Seaton, but defensive coordinator Will Muschamp could line Simmons up on the other side.
If the Tigers don’t have an answer for Simmons, he has the kind of impact that can swing the game in Texas’ favor. The Longhorns have plenty of other playmakers, but in Baton Rouge, the spotlight will be squarely on Simmons.
In Other News...
LSU Just Won Another Big In-State Battle In The Secondary
LSUs push to stay ahead of the curve in the secondary picked up another important in-state win, and this one fits the long view the staff has been selling. The Tigers have been working not just on the upcoming season, but on the 2027 cycle as well, and adding a highly regarded Louisiana defensive back keeps that pipeline moving in the right direction.
The latest commitment also gives LSU a chance to think beyond the immediate depth chart. The prospect arrives with plenty of room to grow and should have time to develop before he is asked to make a real impact, and there is at least some built-in familiarity around the program with his brother already on the roster. For a team trying to stack talent in the state and keep the secondary stocked for years to come, it is the kind of move that can pay off in more ways than one. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Opener Already Has Clemson Facing Massive Pressure
Clemsons season opener against LSU is already carrying the kind of weight that usually comes later in the fall, with ESPN and ACC Network analyst EJ Manuel calling it a must-win game for the Tigers playoff hopes. With LSU on the other sideline, the matchup gives Clemson an early chance to build a rsum that could matter plenty if the ACC schedule gets messy down the line, and it also arrives with plenty of attention on how the offense will look under returning coordinator Chad Morris.
The quarterback picture is part of why the buildup feels so unsettled. Christopher Vizzina is viewed as the favorite to start, but Tait Reynolds is considered a real challenger, and Clemsons decision not to send a quarterback to ACC Kickoff only added to the sense that the competition is still open. For a team trying to make a statement right away, the opener now feels like more than just a high-profile game - it is also an early test of how quickly Clemson can settle its most important position. [Read more 🡒]
LSUs Running Back Battle Just Took A Frustrating New Turn
LSUs running back room has become one of the more interesting parts of the roster heading into the fall, and not just because of the names on it. Dilin Jones arrives from Wisconsin with a rsum that includes seven starts, 300 rushing yards and two touchdowns before a toe injury ended his season, while Caden Durham and Harlem Berry both bring their own flashes from last year. Add in the extra portal help LSU brought in, and there is no shortage of bodies for a staff that wants competition to sort out the depth chart.
Still, the frustration comes from how hard it is to know what the Tigers will actually get once the games start. Durham never topped 70 rushing yards in any of LSUs final nine games after his 95-yard outing against Florida, and Berrys best moments were often swallowed up by game flow, including the Texas A&M matchup when he was rolling before the run game faded from the plan. Lane Kiffins approach is to give everyone a fresh chance, but for LSU, the real question is whether that reset leads to clarity or just a longer wait for answers. [Read more 🡒]