BATON ROUGE, La. — Turns out, the Texas Longhorns had one last drive left in them, on a night when nothing was going Arch Manning’s way.
What we witnessed on Saturday night inside Tiger Stadium will be remembered for quite some time, by both Texas and LSU fans.
What started as a party for the Tiger faithful turned into a funeral for the LSU 2026 season that will leave folks in Louisiana wondering how they could give this one away to the Longhorns.
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The pressure entering this one was heavy on both sides. Texas could not afford another loss and feel totally safe in making the postseason, while a fourth loss for LSU would put an end to their CFP hopes, even if they were already hanging by a thread.
Was there some hesitation among LSU fans to get overly excited about this one? If you were wondering why, the final drive of this game all but proved their point that Lane Kiffin is the same guy who could not win the big game at Ole Miss, and now as head coach of the Tigers.
Maybe that’s because Sam Leavitt had three interceptions through three quarters tonight, and it’s hard to trust this LSU offense at times. It wasn’t if the other side was any better though, with Arch Manning throwing three of his own.
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It had to end this way for the Tigers, at the hands of Louisiana native
Why not? This is LSU football we’re talking about here, with a head coach that has spent over $40 million on its roster this season. You bet that Kiffin and his staff felt the pressure in the week leading up to this one, and rightfully so.
This was a game in which both teams could not afford to lose, even though that swayed more in the direction of LSU given their three losses.
As day turned into night, the craziness began for both teams. Multiple interceptions, special teams blunders and some interesting play calling on each side of the field.
But, it was Arch Manning that had the ball with just over two minutes remaining in a game that set offenses back years up until the final drive of the game. If there’s one thing we’ve learned about the Texas Longhorns this season, it’s that we can’t put anything past them.
A 12-play, 58-yard drive would seal the deal for a Texas team that had one last chance to pull off a miracle in Baton Rouge.
Were you expecting anything different?
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Arch Manning hit Raleek Brown on a swing pass that caught the LSU defense off guard, and Brown fought his way into the end zone to secure Texas’ 22-21 win, drawing a roar from a Texas crowd that had essentially taken over the southern end of Tiger Stadium.
Just when you thought the Longhorns were done, the defense gave this team one last chance to pull off what many will remember as one of the best moments of Arch Manning’s college career. Let me be clear that this Texas offense looked putrid at times, getting torched along the line of scrimmage, while Manning would end the game with three interceptions.
But, all it took was one legendary drive for a quarterback that will be remembered for a number of inconsistencies in college.
Arch Manning delivers at the most important time, ends the Tigers
On Saturday night, none of that mattered when Manning grabbed Steve Sarkisian during the post-game interview with ESPN. His interceptions will be remembered by those who cover him on a daily basis, but the touchdown pass will live on forever in Texas lore.
As Sarkisian and Manning headed towards the Texas end zone to greet the fans who made the chaotic trip to Baton Rouge, you could once again see what once again looked like disbelief come across the face of the starting quarterback.
Not that Arch thought he couldn’t do it. But more so, the fact that so many things were not going his way leading up to that final drive.
“Holy sh-t,” Manning proclaimed as he bent over in the end zone during the postgame celebration.
“That was incredible.”
On the other hand, LSU finds itself done with any talk of playing in the college football playoff. A roster worth over $40 million will now be sitting at home while others fight for a national championship, to the dismay of Tiger fans that bought into the words of their head coach.
Fool you once, shame on you. Fool you four times, you’re just out of luck.
Arch Manning delivered a dagger to his home state on Saturday night, just when those around the college football community thought the Longhorns were done in Baton Rouge.
We got the ending we deserved after sitting through that offensive disaster for nearly an entire game.
For the Texas Longhorns, the season continues and a run towards the college football playoff might have started weeks ago.
But tonight inside Tiger Stadium, Arch Manning and Steve Sarkisian dialed up a drive that will be remembered forever in Austin.
And, it was the Tigers that brought out another side of a Manning that we have not seen before.
Texas’ season will more than likely continue into late December.
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Lane Kiffin is going to have a hard time answering this one at the local quarterback club once this season finally ends.
