LSU will play Baylor in Texas Bowl

By Matt Moscona

BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU will finish the 2024 season in Houston against Baylor in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl. The game will be played at NRG Stadium on New Year’s Eve at 2:30 p.m.

GEAUX TIGERS‼️@LSUfootball is coming to H-Town 🤘 #GeauxTigers pic.twitter.com/TM39BxqVfd

— Kinder’s Texas Bowl (@TexasBowl) December 8, 2024

The Bears (8-4) are coached by former LSU defensive cooridnator Dave Aranda, who is in his fifth season in Waco, Texas.

This will be LSU’s third time in the Texas Bowl. The Tigers beat Texas Tech, 56-27, following the 2015 season and lost to Kansas State following the 2021 season, 42-21. Interim head coach Brad Davis led the Tigers in the most recent visit following Ed Orgeron’s firing.

After winning just three games a season ago, 2024 was a bounceback year for Aranda’s Bears. Despite starting the season 2-4, Baylor rallied to win six straight to finish the season. The Bears average 34.7 points per game, which is 24th nationally.

LSU ripped off a six-game winning streak of their own, climbing as high as No. 8 in the country, but suffered a three-game losing streak to fall out of the rankings. The Tigers polished off the season with wins over Vanderbilt and Oklahoma to get to 8-4.

The Tigers are still awaiting an NFL Draft decision from quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who opted out of the 2022 game to preserve a year of eligibility. Ten Tigers have already declared their intention to enter the Transfer Portal.

LSU is no stranger to Houston, the largest alumni base outside of Louisiana. The Tigers defeated Wisconsin there to open the 2014 season. The 2017 opener agaisnt BYU was moved from Houston to New Orleans when Hurricane Harvey devastated the city. LSU is scheduled to open the 2027 season at NRG Stadium against the Houston Cougars.