LSU Faces Dual-Threat Challenge in Texas Bowl Showdown with Houston
The LSU Tigers are back in the Texas Bowl with a shot at going two-for-two. A year after a high-scoring win over Baylor, they return to NRG Stadium, this time facing a Houston Cougars squad led by a quarterback who brings a very different kind of threat. It’s been a rollercoaster season in Baton Rouge, but interim head coach Frank Wilson has a chance to close it out on a high note-and maybe set the tone for what comes next.
But if LSU wants to walk away with another postseason win, they’ll need to solve a problem that’s haunted them all year: stopping mobile quarterbacks. And Houston’s Conner Weigman isn’t just mobile-he’s a full-blown dual-threat weapon who can change the game in a heartbeat.
Weigman’s Versatility Could Be a Game-Changer
After three years at Texas A&M, Weigman made the in-state jump to Houston and found a home in Willie Fritz’s offense. And it’s safe to say the move worked out.
He put together his most complete season yet, throwing for 2,475 yards and 21 touchdowns while completing 64% of his passes. He did have nine interceptions, but overall, he was efficient, poised, and productive.
What really sets Weigman apart, though, is what he can do with his legs. He ran for 644 yards on the season, averaging 4.1 yards per carry and racking up 11 rushing touchdowns. That kind of production on the ground makes him a nightmare for defensive coordinators-especially one like LSU’s Blake Baker, whose unit has struggled to contain quarterbacks with wheels.
LSU’s Kryptonite: Mobile Quarterbacks
This isn’t just a theoretical concern. LSU’s defense has had real, tangible issues with mobile QBs all season-and the numbers don’t lie.
Back in late September, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss gashed the Tigers for 71 yards on the ground, averaging over five yards per carry. That game ended in a 24-19 loss for LSU. Two weeks later, Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia went off for 86 yards and two touchdowns, again at over five yards per carry, in another LSU defeat.
But the real turning point came against Texas A&M. Marcel Reed didn’t just beat LSU-he torched them.
Reed ran for 108 yards on just 13 carries, scoring twice and averaging a whopping 8.3 yards per attempt. The Aggies cruised to a 49-25 win, and the fallout was immediate: LSU fell to 5-3, and head coach Brian Kelly was dismissed the next day.
The common thread? Mobile quarterbacks breaking contain, extending plays, and punishing LSU’s defense when it couldn’t stay disciplined. And now, they face another one in Weigman, who might be the most dangerous of the bunch.
LSU’s Depth on Defense Will Be Tested
As if containing Weigman wasn’t already a tall enough order, LSU heads into the Texas Bowl without several key defenders. Harold Perkins, Whit Weeks, Wes Weeks, Mansoor Delane, AJ Haulcy, and Jack Pyburn are all out, leaving the Tigers thin at multiple levels of the defense.
That’s a big deal. Perkins, in particular, is the kind of player who can spy a quarterback and make life miserable for dual-threat guys like Weigman. Without him-and without several other high-impact defenders-LSU’s margin for error shrinks even further.
The Path to Victory: Control the Ground Game
So what’s the formula for LSU to pull off a win and claim a second straight Texas Bowl title? It starts with discipline on defense.
LSU can’t afford to over-pursue or lose contain on the edges. They’ll need to keep Weigman in the pocket, force him to beat them with his arm, and avoid giving up back-breaking scrambles on third down.
It’s easier said than done, especially with a depleted defense. But if Baker’s group can rise to the occasion and limit Weigman’s impact on the ground, LSU has a real shot to end a turbulent season on a high note.
The stage is set. The Tigers are back in Houston, looking for another postseason win. But to get it, they’ll have to solve the same riddle that’s tripped them up all year-and this time, the stakes are just a little bit higher.