Sports columnist Scott Rabalais with his three takeaways from No. 21-ranked LSU’s 22-21 loss to No. 6 Texas on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium:

1. IN HARM’S WAY

Both starting quarterbacks, LSU’s Sam Leavitt and Texas’ Arch Manning, came into the game with reputations for making big plays and big mistakes. Both lived up to those reputations on Saturday night. Leavitt threw three ill-advised interceptions into coverage, all to Jelani McDonald, but was also on the mark with two touchdown passes to Jackson Harris. Manning scrambled for the game’s first touchdown but also threw high for two picks to Ty Benefield and one to DJ Pickett.

2. DIALING UP DILIN

Dilin Jones wasn’t the most heralded LSU transfer going into this season, but the former Wisconsin running back certainly has been one of the most valuable pieces to the Tigers offense in 2026. He can run, he can catch passes out of the backfield or out wide, and he can pass block. His 44-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, in which he ran over Texas free safety Kobe Black at the 8, was Leonard Fournette-like in the losing effort.

3. GAME OVER FOR LSU

Another agonizing defeat dropped LSU to 6-4 on the season, just 3-4 in SEC play, and certainly ended any hopes of earning a trip to the College Football Playoff. LSU now goes to Tennessee next week hoping to play spoiler against a Volunteers team clearly in the CFP mix. It will long be debated what should have been expected from Lane Kiffin’s first LSU team, but there is no way to paint this as anything but a huge disappointment.