Texas Ends LSU Playoff Hopes With Last-Second Win

Texas defeated LSU 22-21 on Saturday night in Baton Rouge behind a last-second touchdown pass from Arch Manning to Raleek Brown, effectively ending the Tigers’ College Football Playoff hopes in Lane Kiffin’s first season, according to ESPN.

The dramatic finish in Death Valley shakes up the national landscape as the playoff selection committee prepares for its next rankings release on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 9 p.m. ET. While the Longhorns improved to 8-2 and kept their at-large hopes alive, LSU dropped to 6-4 overall and 3-4 in SEC play, falling out of the top 25 entirely across major projections.

Arch Manning threw three interceptions but led a 2:16 drive that ended in a touchdown pass to Raleek Brown with three seconds left in the fourth quarter.

With this dramatic victory, Texas improved to 5-0 against top-25 teams this season, while Arch Manning advanced his personal record to 9-2 against top-25 opponents. If the Longhorns win out against the Arkansas Razorbacks and Texas A&M Aggies, they will secure a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Texas Ends LSU Playoff Hopes With Last-Second Win — Photo: The New York Times

For LSU, the defeat dealt a fatal blow to their postseason aspirations. Heading into Week 11 ranked No. 21 in the CFP standings, the Tigers suffered their fourth loss of the season and dropped out of the top 25 entirely. LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt threw three interceptions on the night, matching Manning’s turnover total in a game that left the program’s supporters disappointed in Kiffin’s first year.

Georgia Leads the Pack as SEC Contenders Shift

Elsewhere in the conference, Alabama improved to 8-2 with a 21-6 win over Vanderbilt, controlling the second half despite turning the ball over once and averaging just 2.6 yards per carry. Tennessee secured an 8-2 record by defeating Texas A&M 22-7 behind five field goals from Cooper Ranvier, overcoming injuries to quarterback George MacIntyre and several key contributors as backup Faizon Brandon threw a fourth-quarter touchdown to DaSaahn Brame.

“We feel like Alabama now has four really good wins. That's been the separator, and kept them from having that side-by-side comparison right now in our rankings,” Yurachek said. Meanwhile, Florida handed No. 11 Kentucky its third loss of the season with a victory in Lexington, giving the Gators three wins over AP top-15 teams this year.

Big Ten Standouts Advance

Indiana also advanced to 9-1 by defeating USC 27-13, handing the Trojans their third loss of the season and effectively knocking Lincoln Riley’s team out of the playoff picture. The Hoosiers are allowing just 12.5 points per game this season, ranking fourth in the FBS and second in the Big Ten behind Iowa.