After much controversy over the “DBU” claim, the LSU Tigers put the Texas Longhorns away as they recorded a 45-38 win in Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.
Quarterback Joe Burrow had career night, passing for 471 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. Texas signal-caller Sam Ehlinger also had a solid night passing, with 401 yards and four touchdowns.
The LSU defense was stiff as Texas had a go on offense first.
The Longhorns just broke into Tigers territory before safety Grant Delpit put a stop to a screen pass from quarterback Sam Ehlinger, forcing a punt before Texas was able to really get clicking.
Burrow and the offense had an easier time moving the chains on a first possession that ended with a 36-yard field goal by Cade York with 8:04 remaining in the first quarter. Highlights of the drive was a 30-yard pass from quarterback Joe Burrow to wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr.
Texas victimized freshman cornerback Cordale Flott on the next drive, opening up the passing game. The Longhorns made it inside the red zone, but a drop by a wide-open Keaontay Ingram on fourth down resulted in a turnover on downs.
Burrow was intercepted by Joseph Ossai when the Tigers took over, though, giving Texas momentum once more and placing them within short distance of the goal. Texas was almost able to get to end zone this time, with an Ehlinger keeper taking Texas within half a yard of the end zone.
Texas made another decision to press their luck near the goalline, and were stopped again on fourth down. LSU took the ball at their own 5 and Todd Orlando’s defense brought the blitz he’s so well-known for.
The last play by LSU before the end of the quarter was a 16-yard rush by Burrow, who found open lane on third down. Per usual, he didn’t slide.
LSU led Texas, 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The Longhorns put points on the board for the first time of the evening with a 55-yard reception by receiver Brennan Eagles - the longest the offense has seen in several years.
Texas took a 7-3 lead with 10:29 remaining in the half.
It didn’t take long at all for LSU’s up-tempo offense to answer right back as receiver Justin Jefferson’s chemistry just got better. The drive ended in a six-yard touchdown reception by Jefferson to allow LSU to retake the lead, 10-7, 7:30 on the clock.
Both defenses held until York sent another field goal through the uprights to give LSU a 13-7 lead with under two minutes remaining in the first half.
Texas couldn’t get it done on its next possession, which ended with K’Lavon Chaisson recording his fourth sack of the season on Ehlinger. LSU’s offense went hard and fast in the final minutes of the half, with Burrow sending another touchdown pass to Jefferson.
LSU held a solid lead of 20-7 by halftime.
Texas struck first in the second half, picking apart the defense on a drive of eight plays and 96 yards. Ehlinger lowered his shoulder on a rush, and got into the end zone with just under seven minutes left play in the third quarter.
It became a one-score game, with LSU leading 20-14. LSU answered with a 40-yard field goal to make it 23-14.
Ehlinger took advantage of a tired LSU defense, marching down the field and capping off the possession with Jake Smith 20-yard touchdown reception. The Longhorns drew dangerously close, 23-21 with a little over two and half minutes in the third quarter.
LSU was just as aggressive when Burrow got back on the field, sending a deep pass to Marshall in a mismatch to make it 30-21.
Going for it on fourth down didn’t work out for Texas most of the night, but it paid dividends in the fourth quarter as Devin Duvernay picked up a 43-yard touchdown reception. The Longhorns threatened the Tigers’ lead again, trailing only 30-28 with roughly 12 minutes to play.
On a mix on rushing and passing plays, the LSU offense found no issue working through the Longhorns defense as running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire stepped into the endzone for a touchdown for the first time of the contest.
The Tigers’ lead held strong, 37-28 with 9:58 on the clock.
Texas drove down the field again on a drive that ended in a Cameron Dicker 47-yard field goal with under four minutes to go to make it 37-31.
Burrow and the offense put the game on ice with a 61-yard touchdown pass to Jefferson, followed by a two-point conversion to give LSU a 45-31 lead they would hold strong to until Duvernay put up his second touchdown of the night, making it 45-38.
LSU returns home to take on Northwestern State at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.