The final injury report for Saturday night’s LSU-Texas matchup brought encouraging news on both sidelines, with several key names trending toward availability as the Tigers and Longhorns get ready to kick off in Tiger Stadium.
LSU’s biggest storyline is Whit Weeks, who moved from doubtful all week to questionable after missing the Alabama game. Blake Baker’s defense could use him badly, and the plan is for Weeks to dress and test his leg during pregame warmups.
Since it’s also Senior Day, he’ll likely remain in uniform for the ceremony no matter what. Once the game starts, though, the focus will be on #7 when LSU’s defense takes the field for the first time.
The Tigers also got good news on the offensive line. Starting right tackle Weston Davis is listed as probable after leaving the stadium on crutches and in a boot last Saturday.
Another major development for LSU is the possible return of Gabe Reliford. The defensive lineman tore his ACL during spring practice, but he has pushed hard to get back before the end of the season.
He was listed as probable on the initial report yesterday, and now he has been removed entirely, which points to him being ready to go. That would give LSU a welcome boost in the defensive line rotation this late in the year.
Texas had a significant update of its own: star edge Colin Simmons is not on the report at all. Simmons suffered a high ankle sprain against Florida in mid-October and has missed the Longhorns’ last two games. With his name absent from Wednesday’s report, it appears the SEC’s leading sacker is on track to return.
Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian’s teams are set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. central on Saturday night.
In Other News...
Texas Hits Unexpected Travel Snag Right Before LSU Showdown
Texas ran into an unexpected hurdle on the way to Baton Rouge this week, with the Longhorns caught in a nationwide ground stop ordered by the FAA on Nov. 13. The disruption stemmed from air traffic control communications problems affecting facilities across the country, and it put a wrinkle into a normal game-week routine for a team preparing to face LSU.
For the Tigers, it is another reminder that a marquee matchup can be shaped by more than what happens between the lines. Several college football teams were affected by the same travel issue heading into weekend games, and it remains unclear how long the delays will last or whether they will have any impact on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Kelly Could Be Headed For Another Power 4 Chance
Brian Kelly is back in the coaching conversation after interviewing for Marylands head coaching job, a reminder that his name still carries weight in Power 4 circles even after his LSU run ended. Since leaving Baton Rouge, Kelly has shifted into an on-air role with CBS Sports, but his rsum and experience keep him in the mix whenever a major program opens up.
At LSU, Kelly never quite delivered the championship push the school expected when it hired him, and he has acknowledged as much in recent comments. He went 34-14 with the Tigers, a solid mark by most standards, but one that fell short of the national-title benchmark LSU had in mind, leaving his next move a notable storyline for a fan base that watched the fit unravel before the results ever matched the ambition. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Just Lost An Early Recruiting Fight That Should Sting Fans
LSU has already taken an early hit on the recruiting trail in the 2028 cycle, and it came from a player close enough to the border to matter. Tanner Seaton, a top interior offensive lineman from Madison, Mississippi, has pledged to Ole Miss after weighing offers from several SEC programs, including LSU, Tennessee and Mississippi State.
For Tigers fans, the sting is less about one commitment than what it says about the battle ahead in a region where recruiting wars are rarely quiet. Ole Miss is off to a fast start with five 2028 pledges and a class that 247Sports Composite has ranked sixth nationally, so LSU will have to answer quickly if it wants to keep from letting an in-state rival build momentum this early. [Read more 🡒]