Texas and LSU are walking into Week 11 with the kind of matchup that tends to expose the one thing each side would rather keep hidden.
On one sideline, Texas arrives with a strong playoff case and a 4-0 mark against ranked teams. On the other, LSU is trying to climb back into the picture and is in danger of slipping under .500 in SEC play. With both teams sharing the same field in Death Valley, the game carries real weight for the national title conversation.
The clearest path for LSU is to make Arch Manning uncomfortable. That task starts with a front that has been relentless all season.
LSU leads the country with 36 sacks, and Texas has already allowed 27 sacks, the eighth-most in FBS. That’s a dangerous mix for the Longhorns, especially if LSU can generate heat without needing to blitz.
If that happens, Manning may spend more time escaping trouble than attacking downfield. Texas’ ground game hasn’t offered much help either, ranking 108th nationally at 128 yards per game. That puts even more pressure on the Longhorns to find answers in pass protection and get more out of their backs so Manning isn’t constantly staring at obvious passing downs.
Texas has a similar issue on the other side, and it centers on LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt. His nine interceptions are a warning sign before he faces a Texas defense built to create disruption and force rushed throws. The Longhorns will try to collapse the pocket, throw off his timing and make his reads harder from the start.
For LSU, the danger comes if Leavitt starts forcing throws once the pocket breaks down. Texas will be looking to speed him up and turn drives into mistakes, and turnovers could quickly tilt the game in the Longhorns’ direction.
Both teams have a weakness the other can attack. LSU needs pressure on Manning.
Texas needs Leavitt to feel the heat. In the end, the side that handles quarterback pressure better and protects the football may be the one that comes away with the edge.
In Other News...
Texas Suddenly Faces A Travel Problem Before LSU Showdown
Texas trip to Baton Rouge hit an unexpected snag before the Longhorns even 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 headed back to their stadium, leaving a routine travel day suddenly turned into a waiting game.
With the FAA still not lifting the ground stop, there has been no announcement on how the Longhorns will get to LSU for the upcoming showdown. For a team trying to keep its focus on the field, the logistics are now part of the story, and the next move remains unclear. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Gets An Early Read On Two Key LSU Week Concerns
Texas got a little clarity on its injury picture ahead of LSU, with defensive lineman Hero Kanu moving up to probable on the SEC availability report. On the other side of the ball, offensive lineman Cole Hutson remains questionable, leaving one of the more important pregame concerns still unresolved as the Longhorns continue to sort through a banged-up roster.
Texas is already working around several longer-term absences, with Trevor Goosby, Hollywood Smothers, Nick Townsend, and Richard Wesley all out for the season or for multiple games. LSU has its own mix of out, questionable and probable designations, so both teams will be watching the final availability updates closely before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Faces A Brutal Baton Rouge Test Under The Lights
Texas is heading into one of the sports most unforgiving road environments, with a trip to Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge for the first time since 1953. The setting alone makes this a measuring-stick game, and the matchup only sharpens the edge: LSU has been especially tough in Saturday night home games, while Steve Sarkisian and his players have been candid about the challenge waiting for them.
The Tigers bring a loaded profile on both sides of the ball, with quarterback Sam Leavitt and running back Dilin Jones driving a high-powered offense and a highly ranked defense backing it up. For Texas, the assignment is as much about handling the atmosphere as it is matching talent, and that combination is what makes this one of the more daunting tests on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]