Texas heads to Baton Rouge on Saturday night riding real momentum, and that’s the edge this matchup keeps circling back to. The Longhorns have stacked three straight wins, and after a successful road trip to Columbia, they’re walking into one of the toughest environments in the sport with confidence that wasn’t there earlier in the year.
That confidence starts with Arch Manning, who has been playing some of his best football lately. The timing matters, because Texas is about to face an LSU team that has been relentless up front all season. The Longhorns’ offensive line still has issues, even with the improvement it showed last week against Missouri, and that pass rush in Baton Rouge is going to test every weak spot.
Still, this feels like the kind of game where Texas can survive the pressure. The expectation here is a physical, low-scoring battle with both defenses having their moments.
LSU should make Manning work, and if the Tigers can force mistakes, they’ll give themselves a real shot. But red zone stops may end up deciding it, and Texas has just enough to pull away with a narrow win.
The prediction is that the Longhorns leave Death Valley with their fourth straight victory.
Texas’ recent run has come against Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Missouri, and now the challenge gets steeper under the lights at Tiger Stadium. LSU is coming off a loss to Alabama and will be desperate to keep its playoff hopes alive, which only adds to the urgency of the night.
That’s why this one feels like Texas’ toughest remaining game. Lane Kiffin and the Tigers will be hungry, and the Longhorns will need their best complete performance of the season to get out with a win. But Steve Sarkisian tends to do his best work in November, and Texas likes where it stands with two scheduled games left.
The Longhorns and Tigers have plenty of talent on the field, and this should stay close throughout. Even so, Texas is expected to squeeze out a road win that would all but secure a spot in the College Football Playoff.
In Other News...
Texas Suddenly Faces A Travel Problem Before LSU Showdown
Texas trip to Baton Rouge hit an unexpected snag before the Longhorns ever left Austin, as the teams charter flight was grounded by a nationwide FAA ground stoppage tied to a communication issue affecting air traffic control. Players and staff deplaned and returned to their stadium, turning what should have been a routine travel day into a waiting game with LSU looming ahead.
The FAA had not yet lifted the ground stop, leaving Texas without a clear travel plan for one of the biggest games on its schedule. For a team trying to stay locked in on the field, the uncertainty off it adds another layer of inconvenience, with the Longhorns now waiting to see how and when they can get to Baton Rouge. [Read more 🡒]
Texas LSU Trip Suddenly Puts Saturday Night Plans In Doubt
A nationwide ground stop from the Federal Aviation Administration threw a wrench into Saturday travel plans for several college football teams, and Texas was among the programs caught in the mess. The Longhorns had their flight grounded, and the team was sent back to campus as the disruption rippled through the sport on a day when several teams were trying to get where they needed to go.
For Texas, the immediate question is less about the inconvenience and more about what it means for the schedule. With the Longhorns still facing uncertainty after the travel delay, it remains to be seen whether the situation will affect the planned game and how the program will adjust if the timing keeps shifting. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Brings A Rare Uniform Twist Into A Massive LSU Showdown
Texas is bringing a little history with it to Baton Rouge. When the Longhorns face LSU at Tiger Stadium, they will do so in burnt orange jerseys on the road for the first time since 1971, a rare wardrobe choice that adds another layer to an already high-profile matchup.
The setting matters almost as much as the uniforms. LSU traditionally wears white at home for SEC games, a practice that has been in place since 1958, and the Tigers home-field atmosphere will be part of the backdrop for a game with real postseason weight for Texas as it tries to strengthen its College Football Playoff position. [Read more 🡒]