The LSU Tigers (5-4) are set to face the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-7) in a week 12 Southland Conference matchup.
LSU’s mid-season woes have continued with the team’s losing streak extending to three after losing on the road to the Alabama Crimson Tide 20-9. The Tigers have also lost four out of their last five games, going back to September 27th when they lost 24-19 to Ole Miss.
The Razorbacks started the 2025 season strong, going 2-0. Since week three, they’ve lost every game, including five losses to SEC opponents, and a blowout loss to Notre Dame.
Kickoff between LSU and Arkansas from Tiger Stadium is scheduled for 11:45 AM on Saturday, November 15th.
DUAL QUARTERBACKS
Garrett Nussmeier’s season hasn’t gone the way he’d want it to. Injuries and minimal success on offense have led to a massive dip in production and multiple benchings for the senior quarterback.
In the last two games, Michael Van Buren has replaced Nussmeier in the second half against the Aggies and Crimson Tide. To add on, Nussmeier suffered an injury setback in practice this week and is listed as “probable” for Saturday’s contest.
Earlier in the week, head coach Frank Wilson said during his Monday press conference that both quarterbacks will be featured in the game in some capacity. What is the game plan, and how will the Tiger coaching staff handle that quarterback situation? Will they alternate possessions? Maybe they will switch at halftime. We will find out on Saturday morning.
BATTLE OF THE INTERIMS
It’s safe to say both the Tigers and Razorbacks have underperformed in 2025. With the disappointing year, both programs have decided to fire their head coaches in the middle of the season. Brian Kelly was let go after LSU’s 49-25 home loss to Texas A&M, and Arkansas gave Sam Pittman the pink slip after the Razorbacks lost to the Fighting Irish.
LSU elevated coach Wilson to the assistant head coaching position, and Arkansas promoted offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. Since Petrino took over, the Razorback offense has scored 31, 42, 24, and 35 points against Tennessee, Texas A&M, Auburn, and Mississippi State. Wilson’s first and only game in charge of the Tigers was against the Tide.
These programs aren’t the only two in the SEC to part ways with their coaches midseason. The other two, being Auburn with High Freeze, and Florida, as they moved on from Billy Napier.
CLOSE LOSES
In this season, Arkansas has lost the majority of its games, yet has lost by one score almost every time.
In their seven losses, the Razorbacks have lost to SEC opponents five times, with all but one of those games being decided by six points or less. The lone conference loss was when they fell 33-24 to the Auburn Tigers. The non-conference losses featured Arkansas falling on the road to Memphis, 32-31, and getting blown out by Notre Dame, 56-13.
All four of LSU’s losses have come against the SEC. The losses against Ole Miss and Vanderbilt were decided by seven points or less. Then, in these last two games, the Tigers have been dominated by 24 by Texas A&M and by 11 on the road against Alabama.
SERIES RECORD: LSU leads 45-23-2
Last 5 Meetings
2024: LSU 34 – Arkansas 10
2023: LSU 34 – Arkansas 31
2022: LSU 13 – Arkansas 10
2021: Arkansas 16 – LSU 13
2020: LSU 27 – Arkansas 24
STAT LEADERS:
LSU
Garrett Nussmeier: 194-288, 1,927 Yards, 12 TD, 5 INT
Caden Durham: 82 Carries, 382 Yards, 2 TD
Barion Brown: 41 Catches, 405 Yards, 1 TD
Harold Perkins Jr: 3 Sacks
A.J. Haulcy: 65 Tackles (36 Solo)
A.J. Haulcy, Tamarcus Cooley & Dashawn Spears: 2 INT
Damian Ramos: 17-of-21 Field Goals, Long of 52, 20-of-21 PAT
Arkansas
Taylen Green: 171-274, 19 TD, 8 INT
Mike Washington: 127 Carries, 828 Yards, 6 TD
O’Mega Blake: 50 Catches, 661 Yards, 4 TD
Quincy Rhodes Jr: 8 Sacks
Xavian Sorey Jr: 64 Tackles (28 Solo)
Julian Neal: 2 INT
Scott Starzyk: 10-of-12 Field Goals, Long of 53, 39-of-39 PAT