No. 6 Texas beats LSU 22-21 in one of the wildest finishes of the college football season, as Arch Manning threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Raleek Brown with just three seconds left on Saturday night at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. The Longhorns trailed for most of the second half and scored no points in the fourth quarter until the final drive, yet left Death Valley with a win that all but locks up their place in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

It was a finish that will be replayed for years in Austin and lamented for just as long in Baton Rouge. LSU led 21-13 after three quarters and 21-16 late, and its defence had held Texas scoreless in the fourth quarter until the final minutes. Then Manning engineered a drive that turned a season-defining loss into a season-defining win.

Key Points

• Arch Manning threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Raleek Brown with three seconds left to give No. 6 Texas a 22-21 win over No. 21 LSU on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Tiger Stadium.
• Texas trailed 21-16 late before Gianni Spetic's 50-yard field goal cut the gap to 21-19 with 11:37 left in the fourth quarter.
• LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns to Jackson Harris, but was intercepted three times, all by Texas safety Jelani McDonald.
• LSU running back Dilin Jones rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown, but the Tigers scored no points in the fourth quarter.
• Texas improves to 8-2 (5-2 SEC) and is almost assuredly in the 12-team College Football Playoff field, while LSU falls to four losses and its playoff hopes are effectively over.

What Happened

LSU looked in control for most of the night. Leavitt found Jackson Harris for a 10-yard touchdown in the first quarter and again for a 9-yard score in the second, and Dilin Jones added a rushing touchdown as the Tigers built a 21-13 lead after three quarters. The home crowd at Tiger Stadium, one of the loudest venues in the sport, sensed a statement win over a top-six opponent.

But the Tigers could not finish. Leavitt, who threw for 244 yards, was intercepted three times, all by Texas safety Jelani McDonald, including one in the end zone in the third quarter that kept the Longhorns within reach. Texas closed the gap when Spetic drilled a 50-yard field goal with 11:37 left, making it 21-19, and the Longhorns' defence then held to give Manning one last chance. He drove Texas to the LSU 4, ran for a first down inside the LSU 5 with nine seconds left, and found Brown for the winner.

Background: A Season on the Line for Both Teams

The stakes could hardly have been higher. Texas entered ranked No. 6 in the College Football Playoff Top 25, and a loss in Baton Rouge would have thrown its playoff hopes into serious doubt. LSU, ranked No. 21, was fighting to keep its own slim hopes alive and to prove it could beat one of the SEC's elite teams at home.

Texas arrived in strong form, having rallied past No. 18 Missouri 34-20 the previous week, a game in which Manning threw three touchdown passes. In a 12-team playoff era, a November loss to a ranked SEC opponent can end a season; a November road win over one can define it.

Texas Beats LSU 22-21: How the Final Drive Unfolded

The winning drive began with Texas trailing 21-19 and time running out. Manning moved the Longhorns down the field and, with nine seconds left, ran for a first down inside the LSU 5. Texas had one timeout left. Rather than spike the ball and save it for a possible run near the goal line, the Longhorns used that final timeout after Manning's run.

After an incomplete pass on first down, Texas motioned Brown out into the flat to get him into space. Manning hit him on a swing pass, and Brown crossed the goal line for the 4-yard touchdown with three seconds left. The Texas sideline erupted; the Tiger Stadium crowd fell silent. It was the kind of drive quarterbacks are remembered for: steady for much of the night, Manning made the two biggest plays of his young career on back-to-back snaps.

Reactions: "A Lot of Guts by Arch for Sure"

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian praised his quarterback's composure after the game. "I thought our guys had great poise and composure in that final drive to execute, showed a lot of guts by Arch for sure," Sarkisian told ESPN after the win.

For LSU, the mood was very different. The Tigers had the game in their hands, led for most of the second half, and still lost. A fourth loss effectively ends their playoff hopes, and the three interceptions — including one in the end zone — will be the plays the Tigers replay all week.

Why It Matters

The result reshapes the College Football Playoff picture. Texas, now 8-2 overall and 5-2 in the SEC, is almost assuredly in the 12-team field, and the win gives the Longhorns a road victory over a ranked opponent to strengthen their case with the selection committee.

For LSU, the loss is devastating. Four losses mean the Tigers' playoff hopes are effectively over, and a season that began with such promise will now be judged on how the team responds in its final games. The game also underlined how thin the margins are in the SEC: LSU outplayed Texas for long stretches, led after three quarters, and still lost by a point on the final play.

What Happens Next

Texas will look to build on the win and secure its playoff seeding in the final weeks of the regular season. The Longhorns' next games will be about staying healthy, avoiding a slip-up, and making sure a season that now has a signature road win does not lose its momentum.

LSU, meanwhile, must regroup quickly. The Tigers travel to Neyland Stadium in Knoxville to face Tennessee on Saturday, November 21, a difficult road test against a team that beat Texas A&M 22-7 on Saturday. The College Football Playoff rankings will be updated on Tuesday, November 17, when Texas can expect to hold or improve its No. 6 position.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of Texas vs LSU?
No. 6 Texas beat No. 21 LSU 22-21 on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Who threw the game-winning touchdown for Texas?
Quarterback Arch Manning threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to running back Raleek Brown with three seconds left in the game.

How many interceptions did LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt throw?
Leavitt was intercepted three times, all by Texas safety Jelani McDonald, including one in the end zone in the third quarter.

Is Texas now in the College Football Playoff?
Texas is now almost assuredly in the 12-team College Football Playoff field at 8-2 (5-2 SEC), though the official field awaits the final rankings.

What is next for LSU after the loss?
LSU, now with four losses, travels to face Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday, November 21, with its playoff hopes effectively over.