LSU Drops Texas Bowl Heartbreaker to Houston, Closes Book on 2025 Season
The 2025 LSU Tigers wrapped up their season in Houston with a 38-35 loss to No. 21 Houston in the Texas Bowl-a game that started with fireworks but ended in frustration. While the scoreboard shows a narrow margin, the result felt like a microcosm of the Tigers’ season: explosive potential, but not enough consistency to finish the job.
This was the final game under interim head coach Frank Wilson, who filled in for the bowl game before reportedly heading to Ole Miss to join Pete Golding’s defensive staff. Meanwhile, new head coach Lane Kiffin was in the building, watching from the sidelines as his future team took the field without him for the last time in 2025. The Kiffin era is officially on deck.
But first, the finale.
A Lightning Start That Fizzled
LSU couldn’t have scripted a better opening. Barion Brown ignited the game with a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown, giving the Tigers an immediate jolt and a 7-0 lead before most fans had settled into their seats. Just minutes later, true freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. connected with Trey’Dez Green for another score, and suddenly it was 14-0 Tigers.
At that point, it looked like LSU might run away with it.
But Houston didn’t blink.
The Cougars responded with 21 unanswered points, flipping the game’s momentum and taking a 21-14 lead into halftime. From that point forward, Houston’s offense found its rhythm-and LSU’s defense simply couldn’t keep up.
Van Buren Shows Promise, But LSU Defense Wears Down
Despite the loss, Van Buren gave Tiger fans a glimpse of the future. The young quarterback completed 16 of 26 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns.
He looked poised, particularly in the fourth quarter, when LSU needed a spark. But he was also asked to do a lot-perhaps too much-given how one-dimensional the Tigers became offensively.
The run game, a sore spot all season, struggled again. LSU finished with just 77 rushing yards on 24 carries, while Houston pounded out 201 yards on the ground. That disparity in the trenches proved costly, especially late in the game when clock control became critical.
Conner Weigman, the former Texas A&M quarterback now leading Houston, was sharp and efficient. He set a Cougars bowl record with four passing touchdowns, completing 27 of 36 passes for 236 yards. He didn’t overwhelm LSU with big plays, but he was surgical in the short and intermediate game, keeping the chains moving and the Tigers’ defense on the field.
Fourth Quarter Breakdown
LSU tied the game at 28-28 early in the fourth quarter, but Houston responded with a masterclass in clock management. The Cougars put together a 13-play, 72-yard drive that chewed up nearly six minutes and ended with a go-ahead field goal.
After a quick LSU three-and-out that burned just 52 seconds, Houston delivered the dagger: an 8-play, 81-yard touchdown drive that left only 2:23 on the clock and stretched the lead to 38-28.
To their credit, the Tigers didn’t fold. Van Buren orchestrated a quick 8-play, 63-yard touchdown drive that pulled LSU within three points with 1:15 remaining.
The onside kick? Nearly perfect.
LSU had a real shot at recovering it, but the bounce didn’t go their way.
A Frustrating Finish to a Transitional Year
The loss drops LSU to a disappointing end in what was already a transitional season. From the coaching change to inconsistent play on both sides of the ball, the Tigers never fully found their footing. The defense gave up too many big moments, and the ground game never established itself as a reliable option.
Still, there are reasons for optimism. Van Buren showed flashes of being a long-term answer at quarterback.
Barion Brown continues to be a difference-maker in the return game. And now, with Lane Kiffin set to take the reins, a new chapter begins in Baton Rouge.
The 2025 season ends with a 38-35 bowl loss, but the focus now shifts to what’s next. And with Kiffin’s offensive pedigree and a talented young core, there’s plenty to build on heading into 2026.