BATON ROUGE, La. — Turns out the Texas Longhorns had one last drive left, on a night where nothing went quite like Arch Manning.
What we witnessed Saturday night inside Tiger Stadium will be remembered for a while by both Texas and LSU fans.
What started as a party for the Tigers faithful has turned into a funeral for the 2026 LSU season that will leave the people of Louisiana wondering how they could deliver this one to the Longhorns.
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The pressure that led to this was strong on both sides. Texas couldn’t afford another loss and feel completely safe making the playoffs, while a fourth loss for LSU would end their CFP hopes, even though they were already hanging by a thread.
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Texas quarterback Arch Manning celebrates his touchdown in the first half of an NCAA college football game against LSU, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (AP Photo/Gérald Herbert)
Was there some hesitation among LSU fans to get too excited about this one? If you were wondering why, the final drive of this game pretty much proved that Lane Kiffin is the same guy who couldn’t win the big game at Ole Miss, and now as head coach of the Tigers.
Maybe it’s because Sam Leavitt had three interceptions in three quarters tonight, and it’s hard to trust this LSU offense at times. It wasn’t whether the other team was better, with Arch Manning throwing three of his own.
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Texas quarterback Arch Manning (16) carries against LSU in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (AP Photo/Gérald Herbert)
It was supposed to end this way for the Tigers, at the hands of the Louisiana native
Why not? We’re talking LSU football here, with a head coach who spent more than $40 million on his staff this season. You bet Kiffin and his team have been feeling the pressure in the week leading up to this one, and rightly so.
This was a game in which both teams couldn’t afford to lose, although it leaned more in LSU’s direction given their three losses.
As day turned to night, the madness began for both teams. Several interceptions, special teams errors and some interesting plays on both ends of the field.
But it was Arch Manning who had the ball with just over two minutes left in a game that set offenses back years 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 get away from 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.
Did you expect anything different?
LSU head coach Lane Kiffin walks on the field before an NCAA college football game against Texas, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (AP Photo/Gérald Herbert)
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Arch Manning hit Raleek Brown on a swing pass that caught the LSU defense off guard, and Brown bulldozed his way into the end zone to secure Texas’ 22-21 victory, eliciting a roar from a Texas crowd that had essentially invaded the south end of Tiger Stadium.
Just when you thought the Longhorns were done, the defense gave this team one last chance to achieve what many will remember as one of the best moments of Arch Manning’s college career. Let’s be clear, this Texas offense looked putrid at times, torched along the line of scrimmage, while Manning finished the game with three interceptions.
But all it took was legendary coaching for a quarterback who will be remembered for a number of inconsistencies in college.
Arch Manning delivers when it matters most, puts an end to the Tigers
On Saturday night, none of that mattered when Manning grabbed Steve Sarkisian during the postgame interview with ESPN. His interceptions will forever be remembered by those who cover him daily, but the touchdown pass will forever be a part of Texas lore.
As Sarkisian and Manning walked toward 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 on the starting quarterback’s face.
Not that Arch thought he couldn’t do it. But even more so is the fact that so many things weren’t going as planned before this last ride.
“Holy shit,” Manning proclaimed as he leaned into the end zone during the postgame celebration.
“It was incredible.”
On the other hand, LSU is done with any talk of making the College Football Playoff. A team worth more than $40 million will now stay home while others fight for a national championship, much to the dismay of Tigers fans who bought into their head coach’s words.
BATON ROUGE, LA – NOVEMBER 14: Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates after a 22-21 victory against the LSU Tigers during a game at Tiger Stadium on November 14, 2026, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Derick Hingle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Fool you once, shame on you. You cheat four times, you’re just unlucky.
Arch Manning delivered a dagger to his home state Saturday night, just when people in the college football community thought the Longhorns were done in Baton Rouge.
We got the ending we deserved after suffering this offensive disaster for almost an entire game.
For the Texas Longhorns, the season continues and a run to the College Football Playoff could have started weeks ago.
But tonight, inside Tiger Stadium, Arch Manning and Steve Sarkisian put together a drive that will forever be remembered in Austin.
And it was the Tigers who brought out another side of a Manning that we had never seen before.
The season in Texas will most likely continue through the end of December.
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Lane Kiffin will have a hard time answering that question at the local quarterback club once this season finally ends.
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