In a stunner, the Texas Longhorns ended LSU’s playoffs hopes by scoring a touchdown with. 3 seconds left in the game Saturday night in Tiger Stadium.
Arch Manning’s 4-yard pass to Raleek Brown gave the Longhorns a 22-21 victory.
LSU, No. 21 in the College Football Playoff rankings, dropped to 6-4 overall and 3-4 in the SEC in Lane Kiffin’s first season as head coach. Sixth-ranked Texas improved to 8-2 and 5-2.
“Credit Texas for driving down and winning it at the end of the game,” Kiffin said. “It was really a hard-fought game where both teams played really hard.
“The game comes down to one play and with all the hard plays through the game we just don’t run out and cover the guy and make the play really easy and they walk in to the end zone.”
LSU let a 21-10 second-half lead slip away. The Tigers had plenty of chances to close out the Longhorns but couldn’t do it.
“Really disappointing to be up two scores In the game and not be able to close it out,” Kiffin said.
Texas Gianni Spetic made three field goals. LSU’s Scott Starzyk missed his only attempt from 38 yards on the last play of the half.
Leading 21-13 after three quarters, LSU was forced to punt four times in the fourth. The Tigers managed just one first down. The other four possessions were three-and-out,
After LSU lost 12 yards on its final possession, a 32-yard punt set Texas up at its 42 with 2:15 left.
The Longhorns converted a third-and-3 at their 49. After a sack, Texas faced a second-and-16. Manning passed 13 yards to Ryan Wingo.
He then ran for a first down and completed a 19-yard pass to Ryan Wingo to the 16 with 19 seconds left,
Manning hit Wingo again for five yards. The ball came loose and LSU recovered it. But the call was overturned and Wingo was ruled down by contact.
Texas took a time out then LSU called one.
Manning ran to the 4 The Longhorns took their last time out with 9 seconds left then scored the winning touchdown.
LSU led 14-10 at the half, but the Tigers could’ve had more. Besides the missed field goal, Sam Leavitt threw two interceptions in the end zone. Ty Benefield intercepted a Manning pass after the second one, though, setting up LSU’s second touchdown.
LSU took the 21-10 lead on a 44-yard run run by Dilin Jones with 5:52 left in the third quarter.
A 41-yard field goal by Spetic field goal cut the lead to 21-13 with 1:35 left in the third. Spetic made one from 50 yards out early in the fourth. He made a 42-yard kick in the second quarter.
Texas drove 75 yards for a touchdown, a 1-yard run by Manning, on its first possession of the game. LSU answered with a 75-yard touchdown drive.
LSU outgained Texas 366 to 273. The Tigers were 7-of-14 on third-down conversion attempts and 2-of-2 on fourth down.
The Tigers intercepted Manning three times. He completed 19-of-35 passes for 174 yards.
LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt completed 27-of-37 passes for 244 yards and two first-.half touchdowns of 9 and 10 yards to Jackson Harris. But he also threw three interceptions. Melanie McDonald made all three.
Dilin Jones rushed for 125 yards on 19 carries.
Eugene Wilson III had seven catches for 96 yards. Harris had eight for 64. Trey’Dez Green had five for 49.
Wingo led Texas receivers with six catches for 68 yards.