Arch Manning threw a four-yard touchdown pass with three seconds left to beat LSU 22-21 on Saturday night. This dramatic win in Baton Rouge keeps Texas in the hunt for the College Football Playoff while effectively ending LSU’s chances. The No. 8 Longhorns escaped Tiger Stadium with the victory after trailing by five points late in the third quarter.
The game took place in the state where Manning grew up, in a stadium where he watched games as a child. His grandfather Archie and uncle Eli both led famous comebacks at this same venue in 1968 and 2001. Manning followed their lead by finding Raleek Brown for the winning score near where his parents, Cooper and Ellen, sat in the stands.
The Final Drive
Texas started its final push from its own 42-yard line while down 21-16 with 2:19 remaining. Manning converted three third downs to keep the drive alive, using both his arm and his legs to move the chains. He completed a five-yard pass and ran for two other first downs before setting up the game-winning play. The New York Post reported that Manning converted these crucial downs to set up the decisive strike into the end zone.
Before this final sequence, LSU running back Dilin Jones had given the Tigers a 21-10 lead with a weaving 44-yard scoring run. That run happened with 5:52 left in the third quarter and seemed to seal the game for Baton Rouge. Texas kicker Gianni Spetic kept the Longhorns in the game with field goals of 41 and 50 yards to cut the deficit to 21-16.
Statistical Night for Both Quarterbacks
Manning was not perfect in this win, completing 19 of 35 passes for 174 yards and one touchdown while throwing three interceptions. He also rushed for an early score to help get Texas on the board. While Jackson Harris achieved similar numbers, LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns, also tossing three interceptions.
The loss hurts LSU deeply after they held a 14-10 lead at halftime. A 38-yard field goal attempt by the Tigers at the first half’s conclusion was missed, which would have extended their lead. These missed opportunities combined with the late turnover to give Texas the edge in a tight contest.
Playoff Stakes and Family Legacy
The victory moves Texas to an 8-2 record with a 5-2 mark in the SEC conference play. This result keeps the Longhorns firmly in contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff as the No. 6 team in the latest rankings. Conversely, the defeat drops LSU to 6-4 overall and 3-4 in the SEC, virtually eliminating them from playoff contention as the No. 21 team.
This win adds another chapter to the Manning family history of comebacks in Death Valley. The New York Post noted that Manning, like his grandfather and uncle before him, has a comeback story to tell from this venue.
LSU will have to look back at the missed 38-yard field goal and the final two minutes as the turning point of their season.
