By BATON ROUGE – If you’re an LSU football fan, you had the unit you wanted on the field to close the game out.
LSU’s defense has limited Texas and quarterback Arch Manning all game long as it had allowed just one touchdown on the matchup’s opening series. After that, the Longhorns had mustered just three field goals.
But when the game and College Football Playoffs hopes hung in the balance for No. 22 LSU, the steady defense couldn’t find a stop. Texas marched 68 yards down the field as Manning led the game-winning drive capped by a 4-yard touchdown to Raleek Brown to sink LSU, 22-21, Saturday, Nov. 14.
The Tigers (6-4, 3-4 SEC) let the game slip away inside Tiger Stadium to No. 8 Texas (8-2, 5-2), a game it held control of nearly all night.
Here's how The Daily Advertiser graded LSU's win over the Longhorns.
Offense: C
Somehow LSU shook off two first-half interceptions from Leavitt and led Texas after the offense converted a Ty Benefield-interception of Arch Manning into a touchdown of its own.
Kiffin was trying different things to find mismatches and advantages like switching tackles Jordan Seaton and Weston Davis from left to right tackle, something you never see. LSU outgained Texas 366 to 273 and was able to best the Longhorns in both rushing and passing yards.
Even with the picks, Leavitt threw for 244 yards while completing 73% of his passes (27 for 37). But it wasn't enough.
Defense: B+
LSU's defense was going to have to account for Manning on every play, whether it was run or pass. How the backend of the defense was able to reduce Manning's passing game to just him throwing laterally instead of down put Texas' offense in more predictable situations.
The Tigers defense held Manning to 19 of 35 passing for 174 yards with 32 of those yards coming on one pass in the second quarter. Overall, LSU gave up some yards but it was able to hold Texas out of the end zone after giving up the first touchdown of the game until the game-winning score.
LSU picked off Manning three times and recorded four sacks. But again, it wasn't enough.
Special Teams: F
LSU place kicker Scot Starzyk pushed his first field goal attempt of the night wide right from the 38 yards to close out the first half. Punting was awful and LSU returners had a couple of opportunities to field kickoffs and punts to possibly improve field position but they chose to let the ball land.
Coaching: C-
It looked like LSU opened up the game pretty loose but once things started to unravel a touch, the team seized up. The defense did its thing by preventing much of any big plays from the Longhorns. LSU also piled up 13 penalties for 108 yards for the game.
This game had College Football Playoff implications on the line and the coaches, especially Kiffin and the offensive staff, needed to keep that from affecting how the players performed. They couldn't deliver in the end.
LSU's game MVP: Ty Benefield
LSU's defense was the best unit in the stadium Saturday night and senior safety Ty Benefield was the top player for the best unit in this game. Benefield intercepted two passes from Manning with both setting up touchdowns for LSU.
Overall LSU grade: D+
This was a must-win game for LSU. The offense wasn't pretty but the defense was able to pick the team up when it needed it most. The Tigers stay in the CFP hunt for another week.
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU football report card | Grading the Tigers' dramatic loss to Texas
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