Texas walks into Baton Rouge with the spotlight squarely on its shoulders.
When the Longhorns visit Tiger Stadium this week, it will be their first trip to Baton Rouge since 1953, and the stakes are bigger than a standard November SEC game. LSU is trying to make a late push in the playoff race, but the pressure in this matchup lands on Texas, which is trying to protect its No. 6 spot in the latest College Football Playoff rankings.
LSU is closing out its regular season at home on Saturday, but the Tigers still have two SEC games left after that, with trips to Tennessee and Arkansas still ahead. Sitting at three losses and ranked No. 21, LSU is not only trying to work its way into the playoff picture - it is also trying to knock out teams that are still alive for postseason spots.
Texas, meanwhile, is in a much more comfortable place. The Longhorns are inside the top 12 and positioned to play into December, but this trip could still reshape Steve Sarkisian’s third playoff appearance in Austin. Texas missed the 2025 playoffs after finishing the regular season 9-3.
That’s what makes this one feel different. The committee does not just look at losses and rankings when sorting out the bracket.
Strength of schedule and results against common opponents matter too, and Texas has already built a strong case with wins over Ohio State and Ole Miss. Even after falling short in the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma, the Longhorns arrive in Baton Rouge riding three straight wins.
LSU is the final regular-season hurdle on Texas’ schedule before matchups with unranked Arkansas and Texas A&M. For the Longhorns, this is the one that can still change everything.
It also sets up a first meeting on opposite sidelines between Sarkisian and Lane Kiffin, with Kiffin getting the chance to send a major contender out of the postseason picture while LSU keeps pushing to stay alive.
In Other News...
LSU Just Got A Texas Week Injury Twist Fans Needed
LSUs second injury report for the Texas game brought a little more clarity on a few key names, and for a matchup this big, every update matters. Whit Weeks is listed as questionable, while starting right tackle Weston Davis is probable, giving the Tigers at least some encouraging news as they keep sorting through the final details before kickoff.
Gabe Reliford being removed from the report is another notable development, since it points to a possible return after his ACL tear and adds another layer to LSUs defensive depth. On the other side, Texas may be getting a boost of its own, with star edge rusher Colin Simmons no longer appearing on the report after a high ankle sprain, leaving both teams with a little more intrigue as the game gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Ed Orgeron Shares Frightening Health Update Before LSUs Huge Night
Ed Orgerons latest health scare is a sobering reminder of how quickly a routine issue can turn serious. The former LSU coach revealed that a leg infection escalated into life-threatening sepsis, sending him to intensive care for seven days, a frightening stretch for a figure still closely tied to the program and its fan base.
As LSU prepares for a huge night against Texas, the news adds an unexpected layer of perspective around a program already under the microscope for what it can do in the margins. Special teams and intangibles are part of the conversation heading into the game, and around Baton Rouge, Orgerons recovery will be followed just as closely as the predictions and the matchup itself. [Read more 🡒]
Kewan Lacys Next Move Could Matter More To LSU Than Expected
Ole Miss will be without Kewan Lacy for the rest of the 2026 season after a shoulder injury shut him down, a development that lands with more ripple effects than it might seem at first glance. Lacy had already missed recent games and spent much of the year dealing with injuries, so his season has been defined as much by availability as production, even as his name has still carried weight around the SEC.
For LSU, the broader interest is less about what happened this fall than what comes next for a player whose path is suddenly uncertain. Lacy could eventually be looking at the transfer portal or the 2027 NFL Draft, but for now the main question is how this latest setback shapes his timeline and whether it changes the market around him once the offseason begins. [Read more 🡒]