The LSU Tigers close the 2024 season against the Baylor Bears in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl Tuesday in Houston.
Kickoff is 2:30 p.m. on ESPN.
LSU (8-4) comes into the game after winning its final two regular-season games. Baylor (8-4) has won six in a row. It’s the teams’ first meeting since the 1985 Liberty Bowl.
Baylor Head Coach Dave Aranda was the LSU defensive coordinator from 2016-19.
LSU will not have receiver Kyren Lacy, tight end Mason Taylor, offensive linemen Will Campbell and Emery Jones, and safety Major Burns, who have opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft. Receiver CJ Daniels and safety Sage Ryan both entered the transfer portal. Daniels has committed to Miami and Ryan to Ole Miss.
LSU will have redshirt junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who recently announced he is returning for his senior season. He has completed 313-of-491 passes for 3,739 yards and 26 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.
Redshirt sophomore Aaron Anderson is the Tigers’ top receiver in the game. He has caught 53 passes for 784 yards and five touchdowns. Freshman Caden Durham is the Tigers’ rushing leader with 127 carries for 693 yards and six touchdowns.
Defensively, LSU is led by sophomore linebacker Whit Weeks, senior linebacker Greg Penn III, senior defensive end Brayden Swinson and senior cornerback Zy Alexander.
“We will have a very competitive football team that will go out and represent LSU in a manner that we expect,” LSU third-year Head Coach Brian Kelly said. “They are excited. When you have great morale, you have guys that are committed and will play hard for LSU. You want a team that will go out and compete their tail off, and this team will.”
Ten Baylor players have entered the portal, according to media reports, including safety Corey Gordon, defensive end Trey Wilson and offensive lineman Alvin Ebosele.
Four Bears made first-team All-Big 12 — sixth-year senior linebacker Matt Jones, redshirt sophomore linebacker Keaton Thomas, redshirt junior return specialist Josh Cameron and punter Palmer Williams.
Baylor is averaging 34.67 points and 521.4 total yards per game.
Quarterback Sawyer Robertson has completed 199-of-317 passes for 2,626 yards and 26 touchdowns with seven interceptions.
Cameron leads the Bears with 44 catches for 643 yards and nine touchdowns. Ashtyn Hawkins has 41 catches for 512 yards and four touchdowns.
Bryson Washington is the team’s leading rusher with 1,004 yards on 170 carries and 1/ touchdowns. Dawson Pendergrass has rushed for 618 yards on 100 carries and four touchdowns.