There was a time when LSU’s 2024 Texas Bowl win appeared to have signaled a step in the right direction for the program. One year and a coaching change later, LSU finds itself in the same bowl with a different coaching staff. LSU is set to face Houston in the 2025 Kinder’s Texas Bowl.
The return trip down I-10 to Houston, Texas, is not what LSU expected at the beginning of the season. Motivation could be a factor in a game in which LSU will be missing over 15 players due to injuries or good, old-fashioned opt-outs. Houston, however, will likely play an inspired game in head coach Willie Fritz’s second year on the job. Fritz has taken Houston from 4-8 in 2024 to 9-3. The Cougars see the Texas Bowl as an opportunity to make a statement against an SEC team. But will they?
Texas Bowl: LSU vs. Houston
Thanks for the Invitation, but Who’s Going to be There?
LSU will play without its former starting quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier, as well as its former third-string quarterback, Colin Hurley. Two running backs have announced intentions to enter the transfer portal, and two contributing freshmen offensive linemen are opting out and entering the portal. The LSU roster will be decimated by opt-outs and injured players. But here’s the thing – Houston doesn’t care.
Saturday’s game is going to be about the players who suit up, and it will provide a golden opportunity for younger or unproven players to shine under the lights. Aaron Anderson and Nic Anderson are out at wide receiver. That only means we could see more Kyle Parker and Destyn Hill. This group of receivers will lose the bulk of its production in the offseason. It’s important for young players like Taron Francis to prove their worth to the new staff moving forward.
Defensively, the front four will likely rotate heavily to offer some looks to young, promising tackles like Walter Mathis. We understand that there isn’t another Harold Perkins on the roster, but former track star Charles Ross also got reps at the star position in fall camp. He could set himself up to be a force in Blake Baker’s defense in 2026. Although LSU’s main priority is to win, this game is more important for the new staff from a scouting standpoint.
Can the Tiger Offense Change Its Stripes?
The LSU offense has been simply hard to watch in 2025. We’ve seen two different starting quarterbacks, multiple offensive line combinations, and two different play-callers. Every combination of these contributors has resulted in an ugly, disjointed, hopeless offense.
Houston won’t help LSU’s offensive cause. Carlos Allen is a force on the inside of the Cougar defensive line and will be quite the challenge for a bad LSU rushing offense. If the LSU defense pushes the ball downfield, it might want to avoid Safety Will James. He’s a leader on an opportunistic Houston defense that has 12 interceptions on the year.
LSU’s success will hinge on creativity and chunk plays. The Tigers don’t have the ability to systematically drive the length of the field and score. Houston is 19th in the nation in red zone defense, so LSU needs to score from outside of the red zone. There’s no better time for taking chances than bowl games, so it only makes sense for the Tigers to let it all hang loose. We saw a glimpse of that approach when LSU played Arkansas. Trick plays, gadgets, and unpredictability were on full display. Frank Wilson’s Tigers need more of that on Saturday.
Here’s What to Expect
The LSU defense matches up great with Houston. Baker’s unit is built to stop a power running game that sets up the play-action pass. But the LSU defense can only make so many stops if it doesn’t get help from the offense. Either way, this promises to be a low-scoring contest.
Houston not only has more of its roster intact, but it has more to play for. The Cougars have a chance to win 10 games for the tenth time in the history of the program. The Big 12 takes pride in bowl games, especially against name-brand opponents. In similar circumstances, Kansas State celebrated with the intensity of a national champion after defeating an interim coach-led LSU team with fewer than 40 scholarship players in the 2022 Texas Bowl.
Even after the opt-outs, LSU has the better athletes. But Houston has the better offense and continuity on the coaching staff. We agree with the oddsmakers that Houston holds a slight edge over LSU in the Texas Bowl. However, most LSU fans won’t lose sleep over a loss in this one. The bigger issue would be if the Tigers are in yet another Texas Bowl in 2026.
How To Watch:
Date and Time: Saturday, December 27th | 8:15 PM EST
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
Television: ESPN
Main Photo: Photo courtesy: The Texas Bowl
