Tigers take Texas Bowl, 44-31

By Hunt Palmer

THE STORY: LSU was just better than Baylor.

Sawyer Robertson and Josh Cameron made some plays in the passing game for the Bears, and they put a small scare into the Tigers by drawing within 10 with 6:21 to play in the third and picking Garrett Nussmeier off two minutes later, but the majority of the game was dominated by LSU.

Nussmeier was the best player on the field, and the patchwork offensive line allowed him to be just that. Dave Aranda said on his radio show this week that Nussmeier was the best quarterback Baylor had seen. That manifested itself.

Aside from the brutal interception which was another of those misreads he has to clean up in 2025, the Tiger quarterback was surgical.

He featured some lightly used receiving threats and enough of a run game to march the ball up and down the field.

LSU’s defense was not as consistent.

Robertson threw for too many yards as LSU’s corners wrapped up an inconsistent season. The defense did bow its neck on fourth downs to thwart some scoring chances, albeit with some help from a bad snap and a toe inches out of the back of the endzone.

Davhon Keys took advantage of some more good fortune when a screen caromed off a Baylor facemask into his outstretched arms for a touchdown.

Special teams scuffled with a shanked punt, a blocked field goal, a missed extra point and what looked like a punt returned for a late touchdown.

Zavion Thomas’s kickoff return was a crucial bright spot.

In all, the result was largely inconsequential, but LSU came to Houston focused and took care of business.

The obvious low point was Whit Weeks being carted off the field near halftime. He was taken to the Houston Texans facility for X-rays.

THE STATS: Nussmeier finished 24-for-34 for 304 yards and 3 TDs. He threw for 300 yards eight times and passed Jayden Daniels for second on LSU single season passing list.

Chris Hilton finished with four catches for 113 yards and touchdown

Trey’Dez Green caught six passes for 53 yards and two touchdowns to double his season total of scores.

Roberston set a career high for passing yards with 443 yards.

Baylor was 0-for-5 on fourth downs which crippled the Bears in some scoring chances.

Baylor had 11 passes of 15 yards or more in the game.

LSU only punted once. A blocked field goal (after a drop), a fumble on a big play, and a late fourth down trying to run out the clock were the other drive stallers.

Baylor outgained LSU 507-418.

Baylor ran the ball 33 times for 62 yards.

There were 85 passing attempts between the two teams. Just one sack was registered, Paris Shand’s.

THE PLAYS: LSU came out aggressively, going for a 4^th and 5 on the opening drive inside Baylor territory. Nussmeier calmly hit Trey’Dez Green near the right sideline for a conversion.

Green would finish the drive with his third touchdown catch of the season. Nussmeier zipped a bullet to Green in the back of the endzone to get the scoring started.

LSU’s defense didn’t waste any time making a big play of its own. With a little help from Baylor. At the 6:50 mark of the first quarter, Robertson’s screen pass hit the facemask of Baylor’s Bryson Washington. Devohn Keys plucked it out of the air and brought it back 40 yards to double the lead. 14-0 Tigers.

On the first play of the second quarter, Baylor struck. Robertson’s fade to Josh Cameron was perfectly thrown and impressively hauled in at the back pylon. Zy Alexander had good coverage. It was initially called incomplete due to a bobble, but replay overturned the call. 14-7 Tigers.

Back-to-back deep strikes gave LSU another two-score lead. Nussmeier made a sensational escape and throw down the left sideline that floated into the waiting arms of Aaron Anderson for a toe-tapping 20 yards gain. Then Chris Hilton did what Chris Hilton does, torching a defensive back with his speed for a 41-yard touchdown catch. 21-7. LSU.

LSU stonewalled a Baylor 3^rd and 1 to create a three-and-out on the next drive.

LSU paid off six plays later thanks to a nifty punt return by Zavion Thomas and another deep ball from Nussmeier to Hilton. It would have been a touchdown had Hilton not been pulled down from behind at the one. Green made his second touchdown catch of the game on a gorgeous call by Joe Sloan to leave Green all by his lonesome. 28-7 LSU.

Down three touchdowns, Baylor elected to go for 4^th and 10 with 6:35 to play before halftime at the LSU 40. Robertson was swallowed up at the line of scrimmage. Turnover on downs.

Two plays after Aaron Anderson dropped a would-be touchdown in the back of the endzone. Baylor blocked a 37-yard field goal try from Damion Ramos. The Bears took over with 3:18 to play in the half and went down for a touchdown that also ended Whit Weeks’ season as he was carted off. \

Zavion Thomas brought the ensuing kickoff back 95 yards of a touchdown.

Baylor added a chip shot from 23 yards to cut the lead to 34-17 at half.

Baylor took the ball right down the field and elected to go for a 4^th and 6^th from the nine. Robertson found Ashtyn Hawkins in the back of the endzone. He appeared to had tapped a toe in bounds for an acrobatic touchdown. Instead review wiped it off. LSU took over.

But the Tigers gave it right back. Anderson reeled in a gorgeous throw from Nussmeier and approached midfield but was stripped of the football. Baylor recovered at the LSU 36.

Baylor got a 46 yard catch and run from Monaray Baldwin down to the four and scored a play later. 34-24 Tigers, 6:21 to play in the third.

LSU’s generosity continued with 4:41 to play in the third. Nussmeier was picked off by an edge rusher he didn’t see dropping into coverage. The ball was returned to the LSU 25.

The sloppy play continued for both teams. Baylor tried to convert a 4^th and 1, and the snap sailed over Robertson’s head and was chased down just into LSU territory for a massive turnover on downs.

LSU cashed in with a two-yard plunge by Houston native Josh Williams on the first play of the 4^th quarter. 41-24.

Make it 0-for-4 on 4^th downs. Baylor went on 4^th and 2 from the LSU 47 and threw incomplete. Tigers football with 12:06 to play.

Baylor would march down for another touchdown, 9-plays, 75-yard drive that concluded with a short rushing score with 6:20 remaining in the game. 44-31 Tigers.

LSU lined up to go for a 4th and 1 with 3:46 to play. Nussmeier appeared to have drawn Baylor offsides, but the ball was not snapped, and LSU was called for a false start. That set up a punt which Baylor ran back for a touchdown…but Baylor was flagged for roughing the punter. First down LSU. Ballgame.