LSU Falls to Houston in Texas Bowl, Capping a Season of Missed Opportunities and Signaling a Massive Rebuild Ahead
For a few fleeting minutes in the Texas Bowl, LSU looked like a team ready to end its season on a high note. The Tigers came out swinging - and fast.
Barion Brown electrified the crowd at NRG Stadium with a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown, LSU’s first opening-kick score since Hokie Gajan pulled it off back in 1978. Just two possessions later, Harlem Berry broke free for a 36-yard run, and Trey’Dez Green polished off the drive with a 23-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
Five offensive touches, 14 points, and all the momentum.
But as quickly as the Tigers roared to life, the wheels came off just as fast.
Over the next three drives, LSU’s offense stalled out completely - managing just 54 yards, missing a field goal, and coughing up a costly fumble. Worse yet, the Tigers were flagged seven times for 70 yards during that stretch, including an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on interim head coach Frank Wilson, who was visibly frustrated after a questionable pass interference call late in the half.
Houston didn’t waste the opportunity. The Cougars rattled off 21 unanswered points, flipping the game on its head before the halftime whistle.
LSU did punch back in the second half. Quarterback Michael Van Buren led a sharp drive early in the third quarter, highlighted by a pair of strong grabs from Kyle Parker and capped by another impressive end zone snag from Green - his second touchdown of the night. That tied things up and gave the Tigers a shot at redemption.
But Houston wasn’t done. The Cougars took control for the next 12 minutes, grinding out long, clock-chewing possessions.
A field goal and a touchdown run gave them a 10-point cushion - just enough to keep LSU at arm’s length. The Tigers made one last push with a late touchdown to cut the deficit to three, but their onside kick attempt was recovered by Houston, who ran out the clock and sealed the 38-35 win just past midnight.
Van Buren ended his night with 267 passing yards and three touchdowns. Trey’Dez Green and Kyle Parker were clear standouts - Green hauled in four catches for 80 yards and two scores, while Parker added seven receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown. Those two look like foundational pieces for the future, especially with LSU’s offense facing a complete overhaul.
The run game, however, never found its rhythm after Berry’s early burst. He only touched the ball twice more after his 36-yard dash and fumbled on his final carry. LSU still managed to post more than 25 points against an FBS opponent for the first time all season - not exactly a stat to hang your hat on, but it does illustrate just how much the offense struggled throughout the year.
Defensively, it was a tough night for a unit that came in shorthanded. LSU was missing six starters, and Houston came in at full strength.
The Cougars racked up 437 total yards, converted nearly half of their third-down attempts (7-of-15), and dominated time of possession by over 17 minutes. LSU surrendered its second-highest point total of the season - a frustrating but fitting end to a year where the defense never quite found its footing.
The loss marked LSU’s fourth one-score defeat of the season. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that entered the year with top-10 expectations and a Heisman-hopeful quarterback. After starting 5-1, the Tigers dropped five of their last seven games, finishing the season with more questions than answers.
Still, credit where it’s due - the players who suited up in Houston didn’t mail it in. They played hard, competed until the final whistle, and showed pride in the program, even with the postseason stakes diminished. Interim coach Frank Wilson deserves praise for keeping the team focused and fighting through the finish line.
Now, attention turns to what comes next. And make no mistake - change is coming, fast and furious.
New head coach Lane Kiffin steps into a program that’s about to undergo one of the most dramatic offensive transformations in recent memory. Offensive lineman Tyree Adams became the 13th Tiger to enter the transfer portal before the bowl game, joining fellow linemen Carius Curne, Coen Echols, and DJ Chester. With veteran Josh Thompson out of eligibility, five of LSU’s seven most-used offensive linemen from this season won’t be back in 2026.
The turnover doesn’t stop there. LSU will also be without its top three receivers from this year and is expected to return just one scholarship quarterback and two scholarship running backs - assuming Caden Durham stays, which is far from guaranteed.
That’s a staggering amount of turnover on one side of the ball. But it also underscores how necessary a reset is.
LSU’s offense struggled all season, and Kiffin now has a blank canvas - albeit one that will likely cost north of $30 million to rebuild through the portal and NIL. It’s a new era in college football, and LSU is about to be one of the most active players in it.
Defensive changes are on the horizon, too. With a roster reshuffle looming and a fresh coaching staff coming in, expect plenty of movement on both sides of the ball in the coming weeks. The transfer portal officially opens in five days, and LSU is expected to be a major player.
Elsewhere in Baton Rouge: Women’s Hoops Keeps Rolling
While the football team hits reset, LSU women’s basketball is closing out non-conference play with dominance. The 5th-ranked Tigers are set to face Alabama State this afternoon at 3 p.m. CT, looking to finish their non-conference slate undefeated for the third time under head coach Kim Mulkey.
The numbers are staggering. LSU is 13-0 and leads the nation in seven major statistical categories - including scoring offense (107.9 points per game), scoring margin (54.4), field goal percentage (55.0), and rebound margin (24.1).
The Tigers are also getting a jaw-dropping 50.4 points per game from their bench. Alabama State comes in at 3-7 and fresh off a 92-38 loss to Mississippi State, so this should be a final tune-up before SEC play begins against Kentucky on New Year’s Day.
What’s Next
With the bowl game in the books and the offseason officially underway, all eyes are now on the transfer portal, recruiting, and the roster rebuild that lies ahead. LSU football is entering a new chapter - one that promises to be fast-paced, expensive, and absolutely fascinating to watch unfold.
Stay tuned. The next few weeks are about to get very interesting in Baton Rouge.