The curtain has officially closed on the 2025 LSU football season, and what a wild, high-scoring ride it was in the Kinder's Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium in Houston. The Tigers, led for one last time by interim head coach Frank Wilson, squared off against a surging Houston Cougars squad hungry for a statement win. With the final whistle, Houston emerged victorious in a 38-35 thriller, leaving LSU fans with plenty to ponder as the Lane Kiffin era officially begins.
LSU entered the contest with a 7-5 record, their season marked by turbulence, coaching changes, and a rough 1-4 record away from Tiger Stadium. It was their second consecutive trip to the Texas Bowl—last year, they celebrated a win over Baylor. This time, however, the stakes felt different. The Tigers were in transition, with Brian Kelly’s chapter closed and Lane Kiffin waiting in the wings, watching from the stands and even offering some media coverage, as confirmed by LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry.
Across the field, Houston came in at 9-3, riding high under second-year head coach Willie Fritz. The Cougars had already boosted their win total by five from the previous year, and Fritz made it clear before the game: "We've got everybody playing in the bowl game." That sense of unity and momentum was palpable as the Cougars eyed their tenth win of the season—a milestone that would further cement Fritz’s rapid transformation of the program.
Kickoff arrived at 8:15 p.m. Central Time, broadcast nationally on ESPN with streaming available through Fubo and ESPN Unlimited. The action started with a bang. Just over two minutes into the game, LSU’s Barion Brown electrified the crowd by returning the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown—what a way to set the tone! Before Houston fans could catch their breath, Michael Van Buren, LSU’s sophomore quarterback, connected on a 23-yard touchdown pass to Trey'Dez Green, pushing the Tigers to a 14-0 lead with less than five minutes gone.
But Houston refused to wilt. Amare Thomas capped a Cougars drive with a 12-yard touchdown reception, and soon after, quarterback Conner Weigman—no stranger to LSU after his days at Texas A&M—tossed a 4-yard touchdown to tie things up. A fumble recovery by Houston’s defense, scooping up a loose ball from Harlem Berry, swung momentum further in the Cougars’ favor. By halftime, Houston had seized the lead, 21-14, thanks to a clutch 7-yard touchdown catch by Tanner Koziol with just four seconds left in the half.
The second half was a rollercoaster. LSU answered back, with Trey'Dez Green muscling through for a 4-yard touchdown grab, tying the game at 21. The teams traded blows—Weigman found Traville Frederick Jr. for his fourth touchdown pass of the night, and Van Buren kept LSU in it with a dart to Kyle Parker early in the fourth quarter, knotting the score at 28 apiece.
Houston’s offense, however, found another gear when it mattered most. Ethan Sanchez drilled a 25-yard field goal to nudge the Cougars ahead, and with just over two minutes left, running back Dean Connors burst through the line for a 20-yard touchdown, giving Houston a two-score cushion at 38-28. LSU answered quickly—Zavion Thomas broke free for a 3-yard touchdown run, pulling the Tigers within three with 1:15 left. But the clock proved the enemy, and Houston’s defense held firm.
When the dust settled, Houston claimed a 38-35 victory, notching their tenth win and sending their fans into a frenzy. For LSU, the defeat capped a season of highs and lows, with the promise of a new era under Lane Kiffin looming large. Kiffin, who posted a photo of himself en route to Houston and was spotted in the stands, made his presence known but respected the tradition of letting the outgoing staff finish the campaign. He said during his introductory news conference, “This place is different. Having watched this place for a long time and from the other sideline. This place is different, and that’s why we’re here.”
Interim coach Frank Wilson, who led LSU to a 2-2 mark after stepping in, coached his final game for the Tigers before heading to Ole Miss to join Pete Golding’s new staff. Wilson reflected on his brief tenure, noting that he and Kiffin “couldn’t come to a resolution” to keep him in Baton Rouge, even though Kiffin “wanted to find a way to work it out.” Wilson’s departure marks another shift in the Tigers’ leadership, but his steady hand during the transition was evident, especially as LSU battled through a depleted roster.
Indeed, the Tigers were missing several key defensive starters due to injuries and opt-outs, including safety AJ Haulcy, cornerback Mansoor Delane, linebacker Harold Perkins Jr., defensive end Jack Pyburn, and linebackers West Weeks and Whit Weeks. With defensive coordinator Blake Baker set to remain under Kiffin, the Texas Bowl became a showcase for younger players—an audition for the future as much as a fight for the present.
On the Houston side, quarterback Conner Weigman’s familiarity with LSU paid dividends. Having gone 2-0 against the Tigers while at Texas A&M, Weigman’s poise and precision under pressure were on full display as he distributed four touchdown passes and managed the game with veteran savvy. His connection with receivers like Amare Thomas and Traville Frederick Jr. kept the Cougars’ offense humming, while the defense came up with timely stops and a pivotal fumble recovery.
The matchup was a rare one—just the fourth meeting between the programs in 25 years, with LSU holding a narrow 2-1 edge before this clash. Houston’s only previous win came in 1999, but this time, the Cougars wrote a new chapter in the rivalry, delighting their home fans and capping a breakthrough campaign for Coach Fritz.
For LSU, the focus now turns to the future. Michael Van Buren Jr. showed flashes of potential in his audition as the Tigers’ starting quarterback, finishing the season with a 2-1 record in his final three starts. Whether he’ll be the man to lead Kiffin’s offense in 2026 remains an open question, but his mobility and resilience offered hope for what’s to come.
As the Lane Train officially pulls into Baton Rouge, anticipation is sky-high. Kiffin’s track record at Ole Miss—a 55-19 record over six seasons—has LSU faithful dreaming big. The Tigers haven’t reached the College Football Playoff since their national championship in 2020, but with Kiffin at the helm, the program’s sights are firmly set on returning to college football’s elite.
For now, though, Houston basks in the glow of a 38-35 bowl triumph, while LSU regroups and looks ahead to a new era. The Texas Bowl delivered fireworks, drama, and a glimpse of what both programs hope is a bright road ahead.