Saturday’s Texas Bowl battle between LSU and Houston will be a matchup featuring a program in transition and a program on the rise. The Tigers (7-5) will be playing their final game under interim coach Frank Wilson to conclude a disappointing 2025 campaign marked by the firing of Brian Kelly and subsequent hiring of Lane Kiffin.Though Kiffin has been busy assembling his 2026 staff and laying the groundwork for his first roster, he won’t be wearing a headset as the 2025 Tigers seek a fourth straight bowl victory. LSU will have its hands full with Houston (9-3), which is seeking to cap off a breakthrough second season for coach Willie Fritz.The Cougars have already raised their win total by five from last season, and Fritz said Monday that “we’ve got everybody playing in the bowl game.” It’s a different story for LSU, which will be down a number of key veterans due to a combination of injuries and opt-outs. The Tigers are expected to be without several star defenders, including safety AJ Haulcy, cornerback Mansoor Delane, linebacker Harold Perkins Jr., defensive end Jack Pyburn and linebacker West Weeks. Fellow linebacker Whit Weeks will also be out due to injury.
Each were key cogs in a formidable defense. With Blake Baker sticking around to be the Tigers’ defensive coordinator under Kiffin, LSU will get a look at some younger defensive players who could factor into the program’s future.Where to watch LSU vs. Houston liveDate: Saturday, December 27 | Time: 9:15 p.m. ETLocation: NRG Stadium — Houston, TexasTV: ESPN | Live stream: Fubo (Try for free)Follow along for LIVE updates, highlights and analysis from a loaded Saturday bowl game slate.
LSU vs. Houston: Need to know Weigman’s familiarity: LSU is a familiar foe for Houston quarterback Conner Weigman, who went 2-0 against the Tigers while playing for Texas A&M from 2022-24. He completed 12 of 18 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-23 upset win over the No. 6 Tigers to end the 2022 season. Though the Tigers went on to play Georgia in the SEC Championship Game the following week, the dud performance against a struggling A&M team put a damper on the ending to Brian Kelly’s first season as LSU’s coach. Weigman also started at quarterback for A&M in a win over LSU last season before transferring to Houston at season’s end.Michael Van Buren’s audition: LSU quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr….
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2025-12-28 02:05:24
