LSU vs. Houston: Time, Date, TV Channel, 2025 Texas Bowl Preview
It’s bowl season, which means we have a lot of football to watch between Dec. 13 and Jan. 19! Ohio State, Utah, Georgia Southern, Army, Texas A&M — and just about everyone in between — will take part in a total of 47 games that will ultimately conclude with the 2026 CFP National Championship.
NESN has you covered with previews for each and every game — with our next contest featuring two local programs:
2025 Kinder’s Texas Bowl
Matchup: LSU Tigers vs. Houston Cougars
Date: Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025
Kickoff: 9:15 p.m. ET
Stadium: NRG Stadium – Houston, Texas
TV: ESPN
Game Overview
The Texas Bowl is the only bowl game that routinely features programs from the state that it is named after, and that is no different as the Houston Cougars will face the LSU Tigers.
LSU and Houston’s campuses are separated by just a few hundred miles, making this bowl game the perfect one for these two schools to really ramp up the spirit.
Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier took home the game’s MVP in 2024, and his replacement Michael Van Buren is looking to make it back-to-back wins for that position group in 2025.
Team Overviews
LSU Tigers
Conference: SEC
Head Coach: Frank Wilson (Interim)
Record: 7–5
LSU is wrapping up a rather tumultuous season, with quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, wide receivers Nic Anderson and Aaron Anderson, linebackers Whit Weeks and Harold Perkins, and cornerback Mansoor Delane expected to miss this one.
The Tigers are excited about the future with head coach Lane Kiffin, but will finish things off with interim Frank Wilson on Saturday.
It’ll remain to be seen just how bright the future is, with plenty of young players expected to receive an opportunity.
Houston Cougars
Conference: Big 12
Head Coach: Willie Fritz
Record: 9-3
Houston rose from the ashes of a few rough seasons with its 9-3 finish in 2025, securing the third nine-plus win season for the program this decade.
Willie Fritz is a good coach, having taken home victories in the 2022 Cotton Bowl, 2019 Armed Forces Bowl and 2018 Cure Bowl during his time at Tulane.
The Cougars boast wins over Arizona, Arizona State, UCF and Baylor this season, and are looking to top things off with LSU.
Players to Watch
LSU
QB Michael Van Buren
RB Caden Durham
WR Barion Brown
TE Trey’Dez Green
LB West Weeks
DB A.J. Haulcy
DB DJ Pickett
Houston
QB Connor Weigman
RB Dean Connors
WR Amare Thomas
TE Tanner Koziol
DL Eddie Walls III
DL Brandon Mack
LB Corey Platt Jr.
DB Will James
DB Wrook Brown
Key Notes
LSU can become the first team to win three Texas Bowls.
Betting Lines
DraftKings Sportsbook: Houston -2.5 | O/U 41.5
FanDuel Sportsbook: Houston -2.5 | O/U 41.5
BetMGM Sportsbook: Houston -2.5 | O/U 41.5
The Pick: Houston -2.5