It wasn’t all that long ago that Texas Tech rolled into Houston and handed the Cougars a tough 35-11 loss. That early October matchup felt like a clear sign of where both programs were headed.
But fast forward to late December, and it’s Houston-not Texas Tech-playing in the Texas Bowl with a shot at a 10-win season. That’s a testament to what Willie Fritz has started to build in the Bayou City.
Houston’s late-season surge has been one of the quieter success stories in college football. After that lopsided loss to the Red Raiders, the Cougars regrouped, recalibrated, and rattled off enough wins to land themselves in a bowl game against an SEC opponent.
That opponent? The LSU Tigers, a team that’s been through more than a few headlines of its own this season.
LSU enters the Texas Bowl with a 7-5 record and a brand new face of the program-Lane Kiffin. After guiding Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff, Kiffin made the stunning jump to Baton Rouge, replacing Brian Kelly, whose tenure at LSU came to an end after a season that fell far short of expectations.
But don’t expect to see Kiffin on the sideline just yet. Interim head coach Frank Wilson will lead the Tigers in this one as the program transitions into a new era.
This game, then, is about more than just a bowl win. For LSU, it’s a final chapter in a season that never quite clicked.
The Tigers came into 2025 with high hopes, but inconsistency and unmet expectations led to a 7-5 finish and a coaching change that signals a major reset. The Texas Bowl gives LSU one last opportunity to salvage something from a frustrating year-and maybe give fans a glimpse of what’s to come under Kiffin, even if he won’t be calling plays just yet.
For Houston, the stakes are different-but just as meaningful. A 10-win season in Willie Fritz’s first year would be a clear signal that the Cougars are trending in the right direction.
They weren’t supposed to be here. After joining the Big 12 and navigating the growing pains that come with it, Houston has managed to punch above its weight.
That kind of overachievement doesn’t just build confidence-it builds momentum.
The 2025 Texas Bowl offers an intriguing contrast: a Houston team that’s on the rise, looking to cap a breakout season, and an LSU team in transition, trying to close the book on a disappointing year before turning the page to the Lane Kiffin era.
No matter the outcome, we’re likely looking at two programs on the verge of transformation. For LSU, it’s about reclaiming national relevance. For Houston, it’s about proving they belong on this stage-and that this season wasn’t a fluke, but a foundation.