LSU football fans are a different breed. Honestly, if you’re reading this, you probably spent your Saturday afternoon checking your phone every five seconds or screaming at a TV screen. But there’s a bit of confusion floating around today, Jan. 17, 2026, about exactly what was the score of the LSU football game.
Here is the quick reality check: LSU didn’t actually play a football game today.
If you saw a "Tigers win 78-70" headline and got excited, I hate to be the bearer of news, but that was the LSU men’s basketball team taking down Missouri at the PMAC. Marquel Sutton went absolutely nuclear with 26 points. Great win, sure, but no pads were involved.
The last time we saw the Tigers on a football field was back on December 27, 2025, in a game that honestly felt like a fever dream.
Breaking Down the Texas Bowl: LSU vs. Houston
To understand where the program sits right now, you have to look at that final score from the Kinder’s Texas Bowl. LSU lost a heartbreaker to No. 21 Houston, 38-35.
It was a weird night in NRG Stadium. For a second there, it looked like LSU was going to run away with it. Barion Brown—who has been a literal lightning bolt all season—opened the game with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Then, Michael Van Buren Jr. (MVB) found Trey’Dez Green for a 23-yard score.
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14-0 LSU. Early first quarter. The Geaux Tigers chants were deafening.
But then, the wheels kinda wiggled loose. Houston’s Conner Weigman started slicing through the secondary. By the time the halftime whistle blew, Houston had scored 21 unanswered points. LSU went into the locker room trailing 21-14.
The second half was basically a heavyweight fight where neither guy wanted to stay down.
- Trey’Dez Green caught his second TD of the night to tie it at 21.
- Houston answered immediately.
- Kyle Parker caught a 6-yarder from MVB to tie it again at 28 early in the fourth.
The end was a gut punch. After Houston took a 31-28 lead, LSU went three-and-out. Dean Connors then broke off a 20-yard run for Houston to make it a 10-point cushion. A late 3-yard TD by Zavion Thomas made the final score 38-35, but an unsuccessful onside kick iced it.
The Chaos of the 2025 Season
Let’s be real: the 2025 season was a mess.
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We started 4-0. Spirits were high. We beat Clemson in the opener 17-10 and looked like playoff contenders. Then everything fell apart. Brian Kelly was fired mid-season—a move that still has talk radio in Baton Rouge on fire—and Frank Wilson III took over as the interim.
LSU finished the year 7-6 overall and 3-5 in the SEC.
That’s not LSU standard. Not even close. Losing to Oklahoma and Alabama hurt, but the 49-25 blowout loss to Texas A&M was probably the low point. It felt like the identity of the team just evaporated for a few weeks there.
Why Everyone Is Talking About Lane Kiffin
The reason you’re likely asking about the score of the LSU football game today isn't just about the past—it’s about the massive shift happening in the building right now.
Lane Kiffin is officially the head coach.
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He was hired on November 30, but he didn’t coach the bowl game. That was still Frank Wilson’s show. Kiffin has been living on the recruiting trail and hitting the transfer portal like his life depends on it. The "Kiffin Era" officially kicks off on September 5, 2026, against Clemson in Tiger Stadium.
People are already calling it the most anticipated home opener in a decade.
What to Expect Next
If you’re looking for more LSU football action, you’ve got a long wait until September. However, the next few months are actually critical for what that scoreboard will look like in 2026.
- The Spring Game: Keep an eye out for the date of the L-Club Spring Game in April. That will be our first look at Kiffin’s offensive scheme with MVB under center.
- Transfer Portal Windows: Kiffin has already added six major transfers this month. Expect more movement as he tries to fix a defense that gave up way too many big plays last year.
- The 2026 Schedule: It’s a gauntlet. We have Alabama, Texas, and Texas A&M all coming to Death Valley.
Basically, the 38-35 loss to Houston was the closing of a very rocky chapter. The Tigers finished second that night, and as Frank Wilson said in the post-game, "Our best wasn't good enough in all three phases."
Now, the focus shifts to whether Kiffin can make "LSU's best" mean a national title run again.
If you're still looking for a live score today, go check out the basketball highlights. The Tigers (the hoops version) are 13-5 now and finally got their first SEC win of 2026. It’s not football, but in Baton Rouge, a win over Missouri is always worth a celebration.
For those planning ahead for the 2026 season, start looking at tickets for that Clemson game now. The hype is only going to grow as the summer heat rolls in. Check the official LSU Sports site for the full 2026 calendar and any updates on spring practice availability.