Three takeaways from No. 6 LSU's solid win over No. 9 Texas

Thomas Lott

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Three takeaways from No. 6 LSU's solid win over No. 9 Texas image

LSU made an early-season statement Saturday with a 45-38 win over No. 9 Texas.

Joe Burrow gave credibility to the Steve Ensminger's office by putting up solid numbers against a Texas defense that doesn't get enough credit.

Burrow went 31-of-39 passing for 471 yards and four touchdowns. He led big drives late in the first half to extend LSU's lead and a couple more in the fourth quarter to maintain it while the Longhorns made a push to erase the Tigers' lead.

Here are three takeaways from the game.

Three takeaways from No. 6 LSU's solid win over No. 9 Texas

This game does not eliminate Texas but it is a great win for LSU

This game is very much like Oklahoma's win over Ohio State two years ago. That particular game didn't eliminate the Buckeyes, their loss later in the season to Iowa did.

Texas lost this game at home, yes, but don't forget, it very well could run the table in the Big 12 (though OU is going to be a very tough out) and if that happens, it could find itself in the playoffs. And while this win did come last year, a win last season over Georgia and a good showing against LSU does give some credit to the Longhorns' recent success.

This is a really good win for the Tigers. To go to Texas and to beat a team that could very logically have a Heisman contender in Sam Ehlinger by the end of the year (that could be far fetched, but it's not out of the realm of possibility) is a very good win.

Texas is a College Football Playoff contender whether the nation likes it or not and a win over the No. 9 team in the country on the road, and a good offensive showing as well against a team with a better defense than it gets credit for, is definitely something to hang your hat on.

If LSU can get through Florida, Texas A&M and Auburn, a loss to Alabama probably won't eliminate it from the playoff race. This is a big win for the Tigers.

Missed opportunities, second chances

Texas was every bit as good of a team as LSU. That may pain a lot of SEC fans to hear, but the Longhorns traded blow for blow with this team throughout much of the game and had their chances to win it. But missed opportunities and second chances cost UT a chance to win Saturday.

First and foremost the first quarter has to be looked at. On consecutive possessions, the Longhorns dropped a sure touchdown pass on 4th and goal and had a touchdown taken away by review on the next only to run two poorly designed play and come away with zero points.

And that was just on offense. On a second-quarter drive by LSU, Joe Burrow threw a pass behind his receiver in the end zone that should have been intercepted but a Texas defensive back dropped it. The Tigers scored on the next play.

Finally, at the end of the half, UT called a timeout to grab another possession right before the Tigers kicked a field goal. Then after UT got the ball back it went three and out and LSU was able to add another touchdown.

This game was all about missed opportunities and second chances for Texas and it may well have cost it the game.

Derek Stingley Jr. introduces himself to the college football world

So, if you're an LSU football fan, you know Derek Stingley Jr.. The true freshman cornerback was the No. 1 player at his position coming out of Baton Rouge last year. He was a wonderful recruit for LSU to add and one its fans were certainly excited to get.

But for people who don't study top-100 lists, they don't know Stingley. They might know quarterbacks and running back but they won't know Stingley. However, if they were watching Saturday's game they know him now.

The 6-1, 190-pound corner routinely made huge plays on the Longhorns stud receiver Collin Johnson throughout this game. He nearly came away with an improbable interception in the first half and added an impressive pass deflection in the second half.

Yes, Texas wore shirts calling itself DBU (defensive back university) this week and it has had first-round picks in Michael Huff, Aaron Ross and Michael Griffin in the last few years, but Stingley joins a crew that already had Grant Delpit and recently put Morris Claiborne, Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu into the NFL.

LSU proved to be, without a doubt, DBU on Saturday.

 

Thomas Lott