Tigers Rally Late, Take Down Arkansas

BATON ROUGE — This one didn’t fix everything.

But it mattered.

A lot.

LSU Tigers football found a way Saturday night, taking down Arkansas Razorbacks football 23–22 in a game that felt like it could’ve gone either way… and probably shouldn’t have been that close in the first place.

But that’s been the theme.

And this time, LSU finished.

Coming into this one, the questions were everywhere—offense, consistency, direction, everything that’s followed this team over the last few weeks. And early on, it didn’t look like those answers were coming.

LSU fell behind 14–0.

A blocked punt turned touchdown. Another Arkansas score. And just like that, it felt like the same script starting to play out again.

But LSU didn’t fold.

That’s the difference in this one.

They chipped away. A big run got them on the board. A field goal cut into the lead. And then the defense started to take over.

Because if there’s one thing that’s been consistent, it’s that side of the ball.

Turnovers. Stops. Big plays when it mattered.

Harold Perkins came up with a huge interception to swing momentum. Mansoor Delane added another in the end zone right before halftime. Suddenly, LSU had flipped a 14-point deficit into a 16–14 lead going into the break.

Not clean. But controlled.

And then the second half turned into exactly what this game felt like from the start—a grind.

Arkansas answered. LSU responded. Neither team really took full control.

But the biggest shift? LSU found something at quarterback.

With Garrett Nussmeier out, Michael Van Buren Jr. stepped in and didn’t try to be perfect—he just made plays when LSU needed them.

And that’s all this team needed.

Late in the fourth quarter, with LSU trailing and the game on the line, Van Buren extended the play, got outside the pocket, and found a wide-open Bauer Sharp in the end zone for the go-ahead score.

23–22.

That was the moment.

But it wasn’t over yet.

LSU still needed one more stop—and they got it.

Arkansas missed a go-ahead field goal. LSU got the ball back. And instead of giving it right back, they did something we haven’t always seen this season—they closed.

A long scramble. A key third-down conversion. Smart football.

Harlem Berry picked up the final first down and slid to keep the clock moving, sealing it.

Game over.

And just like that, LSU had it.

This wasn’t a perfect performance. The offense still has questions. The consistency still isn’t fully there.

And the same issues showed up in stretches again.

But this team fought.

They responded.

And most importantly—they finished.

The defense gave them the chance. The offense did just enough. And for one night, that was enough to bring something back to Baton Rouge that’s mattered for a long time.

Momentum.

Because in a season that’s had its ups and downs, this one felt like a reminder—this team still has something in it.

Geaux Time.