Quick Read
- Houston defeated LSU 38-35 in the 2025 Texas Bowl after trailing 14-0 early.
- LSU’s Trey’Dez Green set a school record for tight end touchdowns with two scores.
- Houston’s Conner Weigman earned MVP with 236 passing yards and four touchdowns.
The 2025 Texas Bowl delivered exactly what college football fans crave: drama, high stakes, and a shifting narrative that left both Houston and LSU supporters on the edge of their seats. On December 27, inside Houston’s NRG Stadium, the No. 21-ranked Cougars staged a gritty comeback to edge the Tigers, 38-35, in a contest that felt more like a heavyweight fight than a season finale.
For LSU, this game marked not just the end of a turbulent season but the closing chapter under interim coach Frank Wilson, who departs for Ole Miss. The Tigers, hampered by key defensive opt-outs and injuries, fought valiantly but couldn’t overcome a relentless Houston squad led by second-year coach Willie Fritz.
The fireworks began immediately. Barion Brown electrified the stadium by returning the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown—the first such play for LSU since 1978. Running back Harlem Berry quickly followed with a 36-yard dash, setting up quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr.’s 23-yard touchdown strike to tight end Trey’Dez Green. LSU jumped to a 14-0 lead before Houston even found its rhythm.
But Houston, refusing to be rattled, responded. Quarterback Conner Weigman, familiar with LSU from his Texas A&M days, orchestrated a 75-yard drive capped by an 8-yard touchdown to Amare Thomas. The Cougars, methodical and resilient, tied the game with another Weigman-to-Thomas connection, then seized the halftime lead after a controversial pass interference call and an unsportsmanlike penalty on Wilson allowed Houston to capitalize. A 7-yard touchdown pass to Tanner Koziol made it 21-14 heading into the break.
The second half saw momentum swing like a pendulum. Van Buren found Green again with a spectacular one-handed, 4-yard touchdown catch to knot the score at 21. Yet Houston’s offense, powered by Dean Connors’ 126 rushing yards and Weigman’s surgical passing (27-of-36, 236 yards, 4 touchdowns), was unrelenting. Traville Frederick Jr. hauled in a 2-yard touchdown, and Ethan Sanchez’s 25-yard field goal reclaimed the lead for Houston late in the fourth.
LSU answered with urgency. Van Buren connected with Kyle Parker for a 6-yard touchdown, and Zavion Thomas added a 3-yard rushing score to keep the Tigers within striking distance. But time and Houston’s disciplined defense worked against LSU. A crucial onside kick was recovered by the Cougars, sealing their hard-fought victory and a 10-3 finish—Houston’s best season under Fritz, who noted, “We’ve got everybody playing in the bowl game,” highlighting the team’s unity and resolve (USA TODAY, LSUSports.net).
Beyond the scoreboard, the Texas Bowl showcased individual performances worth remembering. Trey’Dez Green’s two touchdown receptions set an LSU single-season record for a tight end, underscoring his emergence as a matchup nightmare. For Houston, Weigman earned MVP honors, adding his name to a storied lineage of Cougar quarterbacks and proving his transfer from Texas A&M was a game-changer.
LSU, meanwhile, faces a crossroads. The Tigers finished 7-6, their four-game bowl win streak snapped, and their defense stretched thin by opt-outs—including star safety AJ Haulcy, cornerback Mansoor Delane, and linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. New head coach Lane Kiffin, present on the sideline but not coaching, now inherits a program eager for stability and identity. The quarterback situation remains unresolved, with Van Buren’s mobility and promise on display but his passing consistency still under scrutiny.
Off the field, the Texas Bowl highlighted the emotional toll of transition. Wilson’s halftime penalty and postgame exit marked the end of an era, while several Tigers, including Bernard Gooden, left the field with injuries. The game also served as an audition for younger LSU defenders—players who may shape the program’s future under defensive coordinator Blake Baker.
For Houston, the victory is more than a single night’s triumph. It’s validation for Fritz’s vision and a launching pad for the Cougars’ ambitions in the evolving college football landscape. With a healthy roster and a cohesive culture, Houston’s rise appears far from finished.
The Texas Bowl may not rewrite history books, but it did provide a snapshot of two programs at pivotal moments: LSU seeking to rebuild, Houston aiming to ascend. The contest left fans with one lingering question—what comes next for these storied teams?
Houston’s resilience and roster continuity proved decisive against an LSU squad in transition, exposing the depth and leadership gaps the Tigers must address as Lane Kiffin begins his tenure. For Houston, the win signals a new era of credibility and momentum. For LSU, the lessons learned under the bright lights of NRG Stadium will echo through the off-season, demanding introspection and renewal.