Arch Manning’s Last-Second TD Pass Lifts No. 6 Texas Past No. 21 LSU 22-21
Arch Manning’s Last-Second TD Pass Lifts No. 6 Texas Past No. 21 LSU 22-21
Arch Manning threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Raleek Brown with six seconds remaining on Saturday night, lifting No. 6 Texas to a 22-21 victory over No. 21 LSU at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.
The Longhorns trailed 21-16 and faced second-and-goal from the LSU 4-yard line when Manning found Brown in the end zone. The extra point gave Texas the lead with almost no time left, and LSU could not answer on the final play.
The win improved Texas to 8-2 and kept the Longhorns firmly in the College Football Playoff race. LSU fell to 6-4 after losing its second straight home game.
A wild finish in Death Valley
Texas struck first. Manning scored on a 1-yard run midway through the opening quarter to give the Longhorns a 7-0 lead.
LSU answered behind quarterback Sam Leavitt, who threw touchdown passes of 10 yards and 9 yards to wide receiver Jackson Harris. The second score put the Tigers ahead 14-7 late in the second quarter.
Texas kicker Spetic made a 42-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 14-10 before halftime. LSU running back Dilin Jones then broke free for a 44-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, extending the lead to 21-10.
Another field goal, this one from 41 yards, pulled Texas within 21-13. The Longhorns’ defense held LSU scoreless the rest of the way, setting up the final drive.
Manning marched Texas into the red zone in the closing seconds. On second-and-goal from the 4, he swung the ball to Brown, who caught it and crossed the goal line for the winning score.
Manning overcomes three interceptions
The finish rescued a difficult night for Manning. The Texas quarterback completed 19 of 35 passes for 174 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. He also ran 12 times for 35 yards and scored the game’s first touchdown on the ground.
Brown finished with 15 carries for 35 yards and four catches for 8 yards, but his final catch was the biggest play of the night.
For LSU, Leavitt threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns, both to Harris. Jones rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown. LSU led for most of the second half but scored nothing after Jones’s third-quarter run.
Why this matters
The result was one of the most dramatic finishes of the college football season. Texas entered the night ranked No. 6 in the latest College Football Playoff Top 25, and a loss at LSU would have badly damaged the Longhorns’ playoff hopes. Instead, Texas escaped Baton Rouge with a win that keeps its season on track.
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For LSU, the loss was a bitter one. The Tigers controlled much of the game, led by eight points in the fourth quarter, and were six seconds from a win over a top-six opponent. Instead, they dropped to 6-4.
The game also continued a big weekend in college football. Earlier on Saturday, Tennessee’s 22-7 win over Texas A&M, Indiana’s 27-13 win over USC and Georgia’s 48-21 rout of Missouri all reshaped the playoff picture.
Latest developments
Texas returns home after the road win, while LSU hits the road next week. The Tigers travel to Neyland Stadium in Knoxville to face Tennessee on Saturday, Nov. 21.
The College Football Playoff committee releases its next rankings on Tuesday, and Texas’s last-second win should keep the Longhorns in the top six.
Frequently asked questions
What was the final score of Texas vs. LSU?
Texas beat LSU 22-21 on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.
Who caught the game-winning touchdown for Texas?
Running back Raleek Brown caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Arch Manning with six seconds left in the fourth quarter.
How did Arch Manning play against LSU?
Manning completed 19 of 35 passes for 174 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. He also ran for 35 yards and scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter.
What does the win mean for Texas’s playoff hopes?
Texas improved to 8-2 and stayed in strong position in the College Football Playoff race. A loss would have seriously hurt the Longhorns’ chances of reaching the playoff.
Texas escaped Death Valley with one of the wildest wins of the season — and with its playoff hopes intact.
Sources: Sportradar (final score, play-by-play and box score); Louisiana First News (https://www.louisianafirstnews.com/home/lsu-tigers-fall-to-the-texas-longhorns-22-21/); On3 live updates (https://www.on3.com/news/texas-vs-lsu-live-updates-score-highlights-analysis/)
