By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
Arch Manning and the No. 6 Texas Longhorns left Tiger fans stunned and heartbroken in a spectacular 41-36 victory to eliminate LSU from playoff contention in an EA Sports College Football 27 simulation of Saturday’s top 25 matchup.
Lane Kiffin’s Tigers trailed by 25 points at halftime but battled back to take a one-point lead with two and a half minutes left in the game. Manning, who had already thrown for 293 yards and four touchdowns, called his own number and broke off a 31-yard touchdown run with 58 seconds remaining to win the game for the Longhorns.
The real-life No. 21 LSU Tigers (6-3, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) host No. 6 Texas (7-2, 4-2 SEC) in Tiger Stadium at 6:30 p.m. Saturday on ABC.
It was the same story for the Tigers in back-to-back weeks, as LSU outgained Texas 502 yards to 413. The Tigers ran 11 more offensive plays, averaged more yards per play and won the time of possession battle, but critical red zone field goals and a Sam Leavitt interception were the difference.
After going 0-of-4 on fourth down in the 31-13 loss to Alabama, LSU converted four of its five attempts. Instead, it was third down where they came up short, converting just six of 18 attempts (33%) compared to Texas’s 52% conversion rate (9-of-17).
Leavitt threw for over 300 yards for the fifth time this season and third straight game, but his 59.6% completion percentage was his lowest since the loss to Ole Miss. He finished 28-of-47 passing for 308 yards, two touchdowns and the interception. He also rushed 12 times for 98 yards and another score.
Texas’s hot start began with 14 unanswered points in the first quarter. Manning connected with Auburn transfer wide receiver Cam Coleman on a 10-yard touchdown, and then he found wideout Emmet Mosley V in the end zone from 18 yards out. LSU running back Dilin Jones got the Tigers on the board with a 1-yard touchdown run to end the first quarter on a positive note. Jones finished the game with 85 yards and the score on 15 carries.
That did not stop the Longhorns from piling on with a pair of touchdowns from the 1-yard line to start the second quarter. First, running back Raleek Brown punched in a score. A minute and a half of game time later, wide receiver Ryan Wingo caught his first touchdown of the game. LSU put a pause to the Longhorns’ stampede but again failed to finish out a drive deep in opposing territory and settled for a 38-yard Scott Starzyk field goal to make it a 28-10 Texas lead. The Longhorns were not done yet, though and Manning hit Wingo on a 17-yard score for his fourth passing touchdown of the half and Wingo’s second trip to the end zone of the quarter.
After trailing 35-10 heading into the locker room, came out for the second half and scored 26 straight points. Leavitt got things started with a 47-yard scramble for the Tigers’ second touchdown of the game. Starzyk drilled a 44-yard field goal to end the third quarter down 35-20. Malachi Thomas made his first catch as a Tiger on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Leavitt to start the fourth, and wide receiver Jackson Harris hauled in a 12-yard touchdown catch to put LSU behind 35-33 with 7:56 left in the game after LSU failed the two-point conversion attempt.
Harris was the only Tigers wide receiver to find the end zone, totaling nine catches for 95 yards on the night. Slot receiver Winston Watkins Jr. narrowly beat out Harris to lead LSU pass catchers with 99 yards on eight receptions, and Eugen Wilson III added seven catches for 88 yards. Tight end Trey’Dez Green was largely a non-factor, making just one catch for 12 yards.
After another critical stop by the LSU defense, which shut down the Longhorns in the second half, the Tigers drove down into Texas territory. This time, though, they again sputtered out near the 20-yard line and settled for a 38-yard field goal to give them a 36-35 lead. Manning, however, willed Texas into the end zone for its only score of the half, and LSU was not able to respond in the final minute.
After being picked apart by Manning and the Texas offense in the first half, the LSU defense fell short in a big moment for the fourth time this season. Even the return of linebacker Whit Weeks was not enough to change their fortune in the loss. He and linebacker TJ Dottery each record nine tackles. Edge rusher Jordan Ross tallied two sacks and defensive end Princewill Umanmielen and linebacker Tylen Singleton each recorded one against a porous Longhorn offensive line.
The LSU offensive front held up well against Texas’s explosive pass rush, all things considered. Center Braelin Moore and right guard Aliou Bah each gave up a sack, but SEC sack leader Colin Simmons did not record a sack or tackle for loss.
The Longhorns are the only team the Tigers have faced this season that EA CFB 27 gives the edge to in the overall team ratings. Texas received an 89 overall rating – one point higher than LSU’s 88.
The top three Longhorns all have higher overall than any individual Tigers. Simmons’s 97 overall is tied for the third highest in the game, Coleman is the No. 1 wide receiver in the SEC and No. 3 receiver in the game at a 94 rating and linebacker Rasheem Biles just received a rating adjustment to boost him to a 94 overall.
LSU’s top players have remained the same throughout the season: Left tackle Jordan Seaton and Green are both 93 overalls, and Umanmielen is a 92. In the quarterback matchup, Leavitt is up to a 91 overall while Manning is listed as an 88.
LSU Record vs. Simulated Games
Real Life: 6-3
Week 1: 51-10 W vs. Clemson
Week 2: 45-14 W vs. LA Tech
Week 3: 32-24 L at Ole Miss
Week 4: 35-6 W vs. Texas A&M
Week 5: 63-14 W vs. McNeese State
Week 6: 35-34 L at Kentucky
Week 7: 31-0 W vs Mississippi State
Week 8: 38-17 W at Auburn
Week 10: 31-13 L vs Alabama
EA Sports CFB 27: 8-2
Week 1: 44-10 W vs. Clemson
Week 2: 17-6 W vs. LA Tech
Week 3: 38-36 L at Ole Miss
Week 4: 24-13 W vs. Texas A&M
Week 5: No game vs. FCS McNeese State (W)
Week 6: 20-13 W at Kentucky
Week 7: 31-25 W vs. Mississippi State
Week 8: 45-29 W at Auburn
Week 10: 46-24 W vs. Alabama
Week 11: 41-36 L vs. Texas
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