The eyes of the college football world are fixed on Austin, Texas this week as #6 LSU takes on #9 Texas in an extremely important match-up. The game will be played at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 7th at 7:30 p.m. eastern time.

This game could have the answers to many big questions facing both teams. Is Texas back? Can LSU really contend for a spot in the college football playoff? This week two match-up may answer those all-important questions and more. A win for either team would be a landmark victory for the season, and will surely throw the winner into the discussion for the most elite teams in college football.

LSU has been among the top teams in the nation for the past few seasons, but they have never been able to get over the hump that is Alabama. The Tigers believe that this is their year to finally contend for an SEC championship, and by extension a playoff spot. This game against an excellent Texas team led by star quarterback Sam Ehlinger will be a very telling indication of LSU’s true potential. If they are able to win this game, they could ride that momentum to their first SEC championship since 2011.

For Texas, a win against the #6 team in the nation may answer the question, “Is Texas really back?” once and for all. The Longhorns had a very successful 2018 season, going 10-4 with a win against then #6 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Texas returns their star quarterback, along with a host of talented offensive players in 2019. They have been on the rise ever since the hiring of Tom Herman in 2016, and with a win in this game they will be on track to compete for a top four spot come December.

The stakes in this game are extremely high for both teams. Each roster seeks to prove that they should be considered among the best of the best. For Texas and Herman, its a chance to show that Texas is indeed back. For LSU, its a chance to show that they are no longer content with being the best of the rest.

LSU Tigers vs. Texas Longhorns football TV channel

The game will air on ABC at 7:30 p.m. eastern time.

LSU Tigers vs. Texas Longhorns football players to watch

Sam Ehlinger is a game changer for Texas. The junior quarterback joins a group of some of college football’s most elite players, such as Tim Tebow and Lamar Jackson, who have passed for at least 25 touchdowns and run for at least 15 touchdowns in a single season. Every quarterback who has every achieved this statistical feat has won the Heisman Trophy. A win over a fantastic LSU team would be a great way to jump-start his Heisman campaign and assert himself as one of the best Texas quarterbacks ever alongside Vince Young.

The man charged with stopping Sam Ehlinger, safety Grant Delpit is looking to emerge as college football’s premier safety and future NFL talent. The 6′ 3″ junior broke onto the scene last season as a part of an elite LSU secondary known for shutting down their opponents’ passing game. With the departures of several key figures in the secondary such as Greedy Williams, the Tigers will lean on Delpit to uphold LSU’s reputation as defensive back university. A strong performance from Delpit and company in this game would strike fear into the hearts of future opponents, who dread the intelligence and speed with which Delpit plays.

LSU boasts their own emerging quarterback as well. Joe Burrow, the second year LSU man and former Ohio State transfer, showed out week one, passing for more touchdowns than incompletions. After a fairly pedestrian year in 2018, the Tigers look to Burrow to show the improvement that they will need to get over the hump and compete for a national title. From the small sample size provided so far, Burrow looks to be greatly improved this season. If he continues to show that he has taken steps forward this week against a much tougher opponent, he could start to be considered among college football’s elite.

An under-the-radar player who could have a big impact for Texas in both this game and this season is linebacker Joseph Ossai. The sophomore only started two games in 2018, but with the departures of the majority of the Longhorns’ starting defense, Ossai will be in position to make waves in 2019. With both a forced fumble and interception already under his belt, he will be heading into week two full of confidence and ready to be a game changer for the young Longhorns defense.

LSU Tigers vs. Texas Longhorns football odds

LSU is favored by 6.5 points in this game, up from 4 earlier this week.

The over/under line is set at 57 currently, up a few points from earlier in the week.

LSU Tigers vs. Texas Longhorns predictions

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From SDS Week 2 Predictions:

Michael: LSU is heading into this matchup with extreme confidence after shellacking Georgia Southern in the opener but heading to Austin as nearly a touchdown favorite should prove to be a good rallying crew for Tom Herman’s Texas team. While the Longhorns have yet to fully take off under their third-year head coach, they have managed to play incredibly well as an underdog since Herman’s arrival. Look for that trend to continue in this matchup. Don’t be surprised if Texas jumps out to an early lead in this game and LSU has to rally back in Austin. The true test of LSU’s new-look offense will come Saturday night, and while I am predicting Joe Burrow and company will pass the test, it won’t come nearly as easy as some are projecting heading into the matchup.

LSU 28 Texas 26

Chris: This line has moved 7 points in the last 2-3 weeks. SEVEN. I believe in LSU, and I believe in this offense. But, I also believe in home underdogs especially when they’re coached by Tom Herman considering they’re 13-2 in that spot. LSU wins and avenges the blackeye the SEC suffered in NOLA last January. However, they don’t cover.

LSU 31 Texas 27

From SDS Week 2 Primer:

It would be nice, but LSU probably isn’t going to need a Heisman-worthy performance from its quarterback. A major concern for Texas this week is the running game: 5-star freshman Jordan Whittington is out of commission for at least a month, leaving Ehlinger and sophomore RB Keaontay Ingram to carry the load by themselves. (That’s not an exaggeration; the only other healthy running back on the roster is a true freshman who recently converted from QB strictly out of necessity.) The corollary concern is that, without the benefit of a viable ground attack, Ehlinger lacks the passing chops to consistently threaten LSU’s dominant secondary.

The wild card in that equation is senior WR Collin Johnson, a freakish, 6-6 jump-ball specialist with absurd body control who passed on the draft and has the potential to simply out-muscle or out-leap smaller cornerbacks on any given snap. Even for future pros Kristian Fulton and Derek Stingley, Johnson is an issue. Unless Texas can assert itself along the line of scrimmage, though, he should be a manageable one. Nothing that’s happened under these respective coaching staffs suggests that’s likely.

LSU 33, Texas 20.

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LSU Tigers vs. Texas Longhorns football history

LSU and Texas have faced off seventeen times in the past. Texas currently leads the series 9-1-7. Texas currently holds a win streak of only one after a win in 2005. In 1941, the Longhorns dismantled the Tigers 34-0, marking the largest margin of victory between the two programs.

LSU 2018 football season review

LSU went 10-3 in 2018, capping off their season with a 40-32 win in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl over then undefeated UCF. The Tigers had strong wins against 8 Miami, 7 Auburn, 2 Georgia, and 22 Mississippi State, but had their season dampened by losses to 22 Florida, 1 Alabama, and 22 Texas A&M.

Additional Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the game?

7:30 p.m. eastern time on Saturday, September 7, 2019.

What channel is the game on?

ABC.

Where is the game being played?

The game is being played at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, TX.