Another disappointing LSU loss shows that not everything that glitters is gold
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Bias aside, there’s an undeniable expectation that when an SEC team steps onto the field, it often holds the upper hand, regardless of the opponent’s strength.
For LSU in the 2025 season, the stakes were high; the pursuit of a national title is always the goal when competing in one of college football’s most formidable conferences.
However, reality rarely aligns with expectations. The journey for the Bayou Bengals was bumpier than anticipated, marked by challenges including parting ways with head coach Brian Kelly in mid-October and finishing the regular season with a 7-5 record. Nonetheless, they did manage to secure Lane Kiffin as their new head coach.
Even so, this outcome fell short of what many anticipated for a team oozing with talent that was expected to shine in Miami for a national title come January. Interim head coach Frank Wilson took on the challenge of wrapping up the season on a positive note as they prepared for a Texas Bowl matchup against No. 21 Houston.
In the days leading up to this highly anticipated SEC vs. Big 12 showdown, LSU still appeared to be the “better team” on paper despite numerous opt-outs and uncertainties surrounding their roster. This game should have been one the Tigers controlled from start to finish; after all, it was LSU we were talking about — historically strong even at its worst — facing a Houston squad that had struggled against both top-tier and bottom-tier teams in its own conference.
However, if this college football season has taught us anything, it’s that no one should get too confident under any circumstances — even if you’re representing the SEC.
As I settled into my spot at NRG Stadium’s press box, it wasn’t clear whether or not the SEC would uphold its reputation against a motivated Houston Cougars team. From the opening moments, it seemed like everything was unfolding according to script: LSU dominated early on. Barion Brown electrified everyone with a stunning 99-yard kickoff return touchdown amid a sea of red fans in the opening moments of the game. Throughout the first quarter, he continued to challenge Houston’s coverage team with another impressive 43-yard return that forced the Cougars to kick away from him for much of the game. It didn’t take long for LSU’s fast-paced tempo to put it ahead 14-0 just over a minute into its first offensive series.
The excitement among Bayou Bengal fans grew when cameras captured new head coach Lane Kiffin and his son Knox making their way out of the tunnel. Leave it to Kiffin to even steal the show during a bowl game. But not even he would stay to watch his future team’s story unfold.
Despite personnel changes and players stepping into new roles throughout the evening, LSU’s offense remained explosive. Baton Rouge media felt confident that even without key players at full strength, LSU would easily handle these Cougars. I begged to differ in my mind as I saw the Cougars taking form into a team that was undervalued despite being the team on the field that was clearly more strategic, aware, and the one making more calculated moves as each down progressed.
Trey’Dez Green and Kyle Parker were pivotal in every significant offensive play, and Kiffin is undoubtedly eager to keep these talents on his roster. Green delivered an impressive performance with 4 catches for 80 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Parker, the sophomore from Allen, Texas, led the Tigers with 7 catches for 66 yards and a touchdown. This game marked a milestone for LSU, as it was its first time scoring more than 25 points against an FBS opponent this season. With such explosive potential, it seemed the Tigers had the victory secured. However, relying solely on reputation and a few standout offensive plays isn’t enough to overcome a program like Houston’s under Willie Fritz — a coach known for turning struggling teams into contenders.
Despite their electrifying offense, the Bayou Bengals faltered due to a lack of defensive strength and complementary football. In a conference that champions the motto “defense wins championships,” that was perhaps LSU biggest weakness, which allowed the Cougars to seize control of the game and rewrite their narrative on their home turf play by play.
LSU managed to keep in range for the most part but consistently struggled to capitalize on its strengths. The defense failed to contain former SEC quarterback Conner Weigman, who set a Houston bowl-game record with 4 touchdown passes while racking up 38 points and 437 total yards of offense. The Cougars dominated in first downs and time of possession as well. LSU’s defensive coordinator Blake Baker — who will stay on with Kiffin’s new staff — couldn’t find a way to counteract Houston’s offensive playbook orchestrated by former LSU tight ends coach Slade Nagle.
Even during tense moments when it seemed LSU couldn’t afford to lose, there were murmurs in the room suggesting that Houston’s lead was bolstered by bad calls and mistakes from LSU. It made me wonder: are we watching the same game here? Because the SEC blinders were on full display despite the reality happening in front of all our eyes. Are we still coddling a team just because they belong to the SEC? Even in spite of my long career in the SEC, I couldn’t deny after watching Houston all season long in other matchups and even in practice that the Cougars were the better team at the moment, even against a team like LSU.
Leading up to this game, Vegas had even made Houston a slight favorite. Yet many still viewed it as an underdog despite its knack for winning crucial moments — especially since the Cougars remained undefeated on the road. They recorded 4 sacks and 7 tackles for loss (TFLs), setting a commanding tone in the second half of the game. LSU struggled significantly in rushing yards, accumulating only 77 as defenders Khalil Laufau and Eddie Walls III combined for 4.5 TFLs.
LSU would never regain the lead after its fifth touchdown. Houston found the perfect strategy to wear down LSU, responding effectively to everything the Tigers threw at them. But if there’s one team that knows how to play it close, it’s LSU.
The Bayou Bengals had a final chance with the score sitting at 38-35, but the Cougars managed to drain LSU’s timeouts and control the clock. This ultimately led to Latrell McCutchins recovering an onside kick, sealing a tough end to a challenging season for the Tigers.
What was expected to be a straightforward win turned into another disappointment in a murky 2025 season for Baton Rouge. LSU finished with a record of 7-6 overall and 3-5 in the SEC, dropping 6 of its last 9 matchups this season. The Tigers also saw their 3-game bowl winning streak come to an end and even suffered their first loss by more than 14 points since 2008.
In front of their hometown crowd during one of Texas Bowl’s largest attendances of the decade, Houston not only made its first bowl appearance since 2022 but also achieved its first 10-win season since 2021. The Cougars closed out their campaign with an impressive record of 10-3 overall and 6-3 in Big 12 play with a final win of 38-35.
As for the Bayou Bengals, they will flush this loss away as they turn toward the Kiffin Era — a new chapter promising to bring them back into the high life again in 2026. LSU won’t lose any sleep over this defeat; after all, the SEC isn’t crumbling like some ancient empire just yet, but this postseason sure has shown there is real work to be done in the conference. However, it serves as a reminder that not everything that glitters is gold or a guarantee — even if you’re from the SEC.
Lee Ann joins the Saturday Down South team, bringing over fifteen years of experience covering the SEC as both a sports journalist and football scout. With her keen eye for talent, she has also flexes her skills as the Director of Recruiting for the Rebel Walk( Ole Miss) Herring, is a staff writer at USA Today Sports Wildcats Wire, where she dives into the thrilling world of Kentucky football and basketball. When fall rolls around, you can catch her on air as an analyst for the Wake up 502 College Football Show on Big X Sports Radio 96.1 FM—because who doesn't love a good game day chat? A proud Brown University alum, Lee Ann balances her time between the sidelines and press box with her passion for coaching her boys' youth lacrosse and savoring a fine glass of bourbon alongside a good cigar. So, whether she's dissecting plays or rallying the next generation of athletes, Lee Ann is your spirited insider ready to tackle all things SEC!
