No. 6 LSU's offense, led by quarterback Joe Burrow, was too much for No. 9 Texas on Saturday night as the Tigers powered to a 45-38 victory in the first top-10 game of the 2019 college football season.
Burrow threw for 471 yards and four touchdowns, outdueling Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger, who had 401 yards and four scores through the air. Both teams eclipsed 500 total yards, and there were a combined 39 points scored in the fourth quarter.
The Tigers delivered the dagger with 2:27 remaining. On third-and-17, Burrow danced around the pocket and found wide receiver Justin Jefferson over the middle. Jefferson broke a tackle and then sprinted down the sideline to complete a 61-yard touchdown. After a two-point conversion, LSU led 45-31.
MORE: Odds, betting trends, predictions for LSU vs. Texas
Texas scored with 22 seconds remaining but the ensuing onside kick went through the hands of wide receiver Collin Johnson, who couldn't keep the ball from going out of bounds despite a full-extension dive along the sideline.
Before the points started piling up, the Longhorns missed two golden opportunities early, failing to convert fourth-and-goals on consecutive drives. Ingram was wide-open in the end zone but dropped a fourth-down pass on their second drive; about 2 1/2 minutes later, LSU stuffed a pair of runs from inside the 2 to thwart Texas again.
Later in the first half, Burrow and the rest of the LSU offense found its rhythm. The Tigers scored on three consecutive possessions, including a three-play, 58-yard touchdown drive that lasted just 26 seconds. They went to the locker room leading 20-7 at halftime.
Sporting News provided live scoring updates and highlights from the LSU-Texas top-10 matchup. Here's how the game played out in real time:
Texas vs. LSU score, updates, highlights
Final
LSU: 45
Texas: 38
11:30 p.m.: The Longhorns just miss recovering the onside kick. Collin Johnson had a chance with a dive, but the ball went through his hands and out of bounds. LSU will win.
11:26 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, TEXAS. The Longhorns close the gap to seven points with 22 seconds to play. They need an onside recovery. LSU 45, Texas 38.
11:15 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, LSU. Facing a third-and-17, Burrow eludes pressure and throws an off-balance, wobbly pass to Jefferson, who breaks a tackle and sprints down the sideline for a 61-yard touchdown. The Tigers convert a 2-point conversion to go up 14. LSU 45, Texas 31.
11:07 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, TEXAS. The Longhorns now trail by six with 3:59 to play. LSU can ice it with a long drive. LSU 37, Texas 31.
10:45 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, LSU. This one came on the ground, just to keep us on our toes. Six plays, 75 yards. The game's last four drives have each lasted less than three minutes and ended with touchdowns. LSU 37, Texas 28.
10:37 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, Texas. The Longhorns respond, and back and forth we go. Wide receiver Devin Duvernay catches a short pass on fourth-and-2, runs through a couple of tackles and goes 44 yards to the house. Ehlinger matches Burrow with three passing scores. LSU 30, Texas 28.
10:28 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, LSU. The offenses are taking over. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Burrow throws his third touchdown pass of the night and makes Terrace Marshall LSU's second receiver to eclipse 100 receiving yards. LSU 30, Texas 21.
Third quarter: LSU 23, Texas 21
10:20 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, Texas. Ehlinger cuts the deficit to two with a 20-yard dime to wide receiver Jake Smith. LSU 23, Texas 21.
10:13 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, LSU. The Tigers quickly move across midfield and stall, but a 40-yard field goal slows the Longhorns' momentum. LSU 23, Texas 14.
10:02 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, Texas. The Longhorns come out of the locker room firing, forcing the Tigers into a three-and-out on the first drive and then going 86 yards on 19 plays for a touchdown drive that took more than seven minutes. Ehlinger caps it off with some tough running for a 2-yard score. LSU 20, Texas 14.
Halftime: LSU 20, Texas 7
Halftime stats:
Joe Burrow: 16 for 21, 220 yards, two touchdowns, one interception
Sam Ehlinger: 9 for 19, 136 yards, one touchdown
Justin Jefferson: Six receptions, 83 yards, two touchdowns
Total yards: LSU 298, Texas 144
9:19 p.m.: Texas doesn't do anything with the 47 seconds left on the clock. We head to halftime with LSU leading by 13 and set to receive the second-half kickoff.
9:15 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, LSU. The Tigers go 58 yards in three plays and 28 seconds, with a beautiful catch from wide receiver Justin Jefferson to secure his second touchdown of the night. The Tigers get a big score before the half. LSU 20, Texas 7.
9:13 p.m.: Now it's LSU's turn to call timeout and give its offense a look before halftime. Texas goes three-and-out, punctuated by a huge sack, and the Tigers take over around midfield with 1:13 to play.
9:08 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, LSU. Texas' pass rush comes through with a sack on third-and-goal and the Tigers knock through a chip-shot field goal. Longhorns coach Tom Herman called a timeout before the field goal to give his offense a chance to respond with 1:41 left before half. LSU 13, Texas 7.
9:05 p.m.: LSU's offense is getting whatever it wants right now. Chunks of yardage on the ground and through the air.
8:59 p.m.: Ehlinger takes a coverage sack after moving around the pocket a bit more than the pass rush necessitated. Texas sent out its kicking unit for what would have been a 58-yard field goal attempt but eventually elected to punt following an LSU timeout.
8:55 p.m.: The Longhorns are driving into LSU territory, and a Tigers lineman goes down with a cramp that triggers an injury timeout.
8:46 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, LSU. Burrow and the Tigers' offense go on a clinical eight-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 6-yard touchdown pass. Impressive response from the visitors. LSU 10, Texas 7.
LSU pulls back ahead! pic.twitter.com/Tv0A4aNvhT
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 8, 2019
8:37 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN, TEXAS. Ehlinger hits wide receiver Brennan Eagles deep downfield, and Eagles goes down the sideline for a 55-yard touchdown. Cornerback Kristian Fulton took a risk trying to break it up in the air and came up empty. Texas 7, LSU 3.
Sam Ehlinger with a 55 yard TD to Brennan Eagles!!!
— #Boomin (@ftbeard_17) September 8, 2019
Let the DBU jokes continue!!!! pic.twitter.com/5A0MXs7Cjw
First quarter: LSU 3, Texas 0
8:21 p.m.: The first quarter ends after Burrow scrambles to convert a third down.
8:17 p.m.: GOAL LINE STAND, LSU. Ehlinger thinks he scored on a keeper on second-and-goal, but he's ruled down inside the 1. Ingram is stood up on third down, and Ehlinger can't get through on fourth. Two trips inside the 10 and no points for Texas.
8:13 p.m.: INTERCEPTION, Texas. Burrow's pass is tipped at the line and picked off by linebacker Joseph Ossai. The Longhorns get the ball inside the LSU 10.
8:07 p.m.: Crucial drop! On fourth-and-goal from the 2, running back Keaontay Ingram leaks out of the backfield and is wide-open in the end zone. Quarterback Sam Ehlinger's pass is slightly high but not high enough to justify Ingram's drop. A huge missed opportunity for the Longhorns.
8:03 p.m.: Injury timeout for LSU cornerback Kristian Fulton, who collided with wide receiver Collin Johnson downfield. Trainers appeared to be focused on Fulton's foot or lower leg. Fulton returned after getting some tape on his ankle.
7:55 p.m.: FIELD GOAL, LSU. The Tigers' drive stalls, but freshman Cade York hits from 36 yards to open the scoring. LSU 3, Texas 0.
7:52 p.m.: LSU's offense is clicking early, and Joe Burrow hits wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. for 38 yards. Tigers are into the red zone.
7:48 p.m.: LSU safety Grant Delpit snuffs out a wide receiver screen on third-and-2 to force the Longhorns into a punt.
7:45 p.m. : After a touchback, Texas will start on its 25.