What a night at NRG Stadium! No. 21 Houston pulled off a hard-fought win against LSU in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl on Saturday, beating the Tigers in a game that had fans on the edge of their seats. LSU showed grit with 344 yards of total offense and two touchdown grabs from star tight end Trey’Dez Green, but Houston’s steady comebacks sealed the deal. This Houston vs LSU Texas Bowl matchup will be talked about for ages—pure college football drama.
LSU couldn’t have dreamed of a hotter start. Just 14 seconds in, Barion Brown lit up the crowd with a stunning 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Boom—7-0 lead right away! It was the Tigers’ first opening kickoff TD since 1978, and the energy was electric. Momentum kept rolling on their first drive too. Running back Harlem Berry busted loose for a huge 36-yard run, setting the stage perfectly. Then, on third-and-nine, quarterback MVB hit Trey’Dez Green for a 23-yard score, making it 14-0 early in the first quarter. Fans were roaring—LSU looked unstoppable.
Green was on fire that night, adding to his monster season. He now holds the LSU record for most touchdown catches by a tight end in a single year with six. And get this—his 10 career TD receptions tie him for the most ever by any LSU tight end in program history. The guy’s a beast, no doubt.
But Houston didn’t panic. They clawed back slowly but surely. Quarterback Connor Weigman orchestrated a slick 75-yard drive, capping it with an 8-yard TD pass to Amare Thomas. LSU’s lead shrunk to 14-7. Not long after, Weigman found Thomas again in the end zone, tying things up at 14-14. The Cougars were heating up. Before halftime, they marched 90 yards—helped by a key pass interference call—and Weigman tossed a short TD to tight end Tanner Kozoil. Houston took a 21-14 edge into the locker room. Talk about flipping the script!
Second half? More back-and-forth thrills. LSU came out swinging. MVB linked up with Green once more on a fade route for a 4-yard touchdown. Green snatched it one-handed—pure clutch—and tied the game again. The teams kept trading blows from there. Houston grabbed the lead back with a quick short TD pass. LSU fired right back though, with a 6-yard score to Kyle Parker. Then a field goal nudged Houston ahead 31-28.
The fourth quarter got intense. Houston needed breathing room, and running back Dean Connors delivered with a 20-yard rushing touchdown. LSU pushed hard late, scoring to make it a nail-biting three-point game. But the Cougars recovered the onside kick and held on for the win. Final score: Houston triumphs in this epic Houston vs LSU showdown.
This loss wraps LSU’s season at 7-6. They’ll regroup and return September 5, 2026, hosting Clemson at Tiger Stadium—mark your calendars for that rematch vibe. Houston, meanwhile, ends strong, proving why they’re a ranked team. Trey’Dez Green’s heroics stole the show for LSU, but Weigman’s poise and the Cougars’ resilience won out. If you’re searching for Texas Bowl highlights, Houston win over LSU recaps, or standout plays like that 99-yard return, this game’s got it all. College football at its rawest—ups, downs, and non-stop action. What a way to cap the year!