LSU Tigers Outlast Baylor Bears in High-Scoring Texas Bowl Showdown, 44-31

On December 31, 2024, the LSU Tigers (9-4) defeated the Baylor Bears (8-5) 44-31 in a thrilling Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, attended by 59,940 fans. The game, a high-octane offensive battle, saw LSU capitalize on big plays, including a 95-yard kickoff return and a 41-yard interception return, to snap Baylor’s six-game winning streak. Powered by quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’s stellar performance and a balanced attack, LSU held off a valiant Baylor comeback led by Sawyer Robertson’s career-best passing day. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the player stats and key moments from this explosive matchup.

Match Summary

• Sport: American Football
• League: NCAA Division I FBS (College Football – Bowl Game)
• Event: 2024 Texas Bowl
• Date: December 31, 2024
• Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
• Attendance: 59,940
• Matchup: Baylor Bears Football vs LSU Tigers Football Match Player Stats
• Winner: LSU Tigers
• Final Score:
  • LSU Tigers – 44
  • Baylor Bears – 31
• Game Duration: ~3 hours
• Notable: LSU snapped Baylor’s 6-game winning streak

Game Overview

The Texas Bowl featured 75 total points and 925 combined yards of offense, with LSU’s early lead and momentum plays proving decisive. The Tigers jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and extended it to 34-17 by halftime, thanks to a combination of offensive firepower and defensive scores. Baylor fought back, outgaining LSU 507-427 in total yards, but two costly fourth-down failures, including a 36-yard loss on a high snap, and missed opportunities in the red zone sealed their fate. The game, played on December 31, 2024, lasted approximately 3 hours and showcased both teams’ offensive capabilities, with LSU’s efficiency on third downs (6-of-13) and big plays outweighing Baylor’s 31 first downs and 30:22 time of possession.

Baylor Bears: Key Performances

Batting Highlights

Baylor’s offense racked up 507 total yards, including 445 passing yards, but struggled with a one-dimensional attack, managing only 62 rushing yards. Key performers included:

• Sawyer Robertson (QB): Robertson had a career day, completing 30 of 51 passes for 445 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception (153.1 passer rating). His touchdowns included a 21-yard pass to Josh Cameron in the 2nd quarter and a 4-yard pass to Ashtyn Hawkins in the 3rd. He also rushed for 3 yards on 4 carries but lost 36 yards on a critical high snap in the 4th quarter.
• Josh Cameron (WR): Cameron tied a career high with 8 receptions for 111 yards and a 21-yard touchdown, posting a 14.5 yards-per-catch average. His performance was crucial in keeping Baylor competitive.
• Dawson Pendergrass (RB): With freshman All-American Bryson Washington sidelined by injury, Pendergrass stepped up, rushing for 63 yards on 21 carries (3.0 yards per carry) and scoring two touchdowns (1-yard and 3-yard runs in the 2nd and 4th quarters). He also caught 3 passes for 26 yards.
• Ashtyn Hawkins (WR): Hawkins had 4 receptions for 55 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown in the 3rd quarter, but a potential touchdown catch in the end zone was ruled incomplete after review.
• Ketron Jackson Jr. (WR): Jackson Jr. caught 3 passes for 71 yards, including a 35-yard reception that set up Pendergrass’s first touchdown.
• Monaray Baldwin (WR): Baldwin had 4 receptions for 79 yards, averaging 19.8 yards per catch, adding depth to Baylor’s passing game.
• Hal Presley (WR): Presley caught 3 passes for 40 yards, contributing to Baylor’s 31 first downs.
• Matthew Klopfenstein (TE): Klopfenstein had 3 receptions for 33 yards, providing a reliable target in the middle.
• Gavin Yates (TE): Yates caught 2 passes for 30 yards, including an 18-yard reception that helped Baylor reach the LSU 4-yard line late in the game.

Baylor went 5-of-13 on third downs and 1-of-6 on fourth downs, with their 445 passing yards marking the most LSU allowed all season. However, their 1.9 yards per carry limited their offensive balance.

Defensive Highlights

• Keaton Thomas (LB): Thomas led with 106 tackles (62 solo, 44 assisted), 2.5 sacks, and 1 interception across the season, though specific game stats were not detailed.
• Devyn Bobby (S): Bobby recovered a fumble forced by Carl Williams IV and had 76 tackles (51 solo) and 3 interceptions on the season.
• Garmon Randolph (OLB): Randolph intercepted Nussmeier and returned it 17 yards to the LSU 26, setting up a scoring opportunity, and had 33 tackles (3.5 sacks) on the season.
• Carl Williams IV (S): Williams IV forced a fumble recovered by Bobby, contributing to one of Baylor’s two forced turnovers.

Kicking

• Isaiah Hankins (K): Hankins was perfect, going 4-for-4 on extra points and 1-for-1 on a 23-yard field goal as time expired in the 2nd quarter, moving him to second place in Baylor history with 46 career field goals.

LSU Tigers: Key Performances

Batting Highlights

LSU amassed 427 total yards (304 passing, 114 rushing), with 20 first downs and a more balanced attack at 4.2 yards per carry. Standout performers included:

• Garrett Nussmeier (QB): Nussmeier was the game’s MVP, completing 24 of 34 passes for 304 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception (8.9 yards per attempt). His touchdowns included a 10-yard and 1-yard pass to Trey’Dez Green and a 41-yard pass to Chris Hilton Jr. He also rushed for 7 yards on 1 carry.
• Chris Hilton Jr. (WR): Hilton Jr. led receivers with 4 catches for 113 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown and a 43-yard reception that set up another score, averaging 28.3 yards per catch.
• Trey’Dez Green (WR): Green caught 6 passes for 53 yards, scoring on a 10-yard and 1-yard touchdown pass from Nussmeier.
• Aaron Anderson (WR): Anderson had 8 receptions for 91 yards, providing consistent targets for Nussmeier.
• Zavion Thomas (WR): Thomas caught 3 passes for 30 yards and returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, a pivotal momentum play in the 2nd quarter.
• Caden Durham (RB): Durham led the ground game with 60 yards on 13 carries (4.6 yards per carry) and caught 1 pass for 3 yards.
• Josh Williams (RB): Williams rushed for 42 yards on 9 carries, scoring a 4-yard touchdown in the 4th quarter, and caught 2 passes for 14 yards.

LSU went 6-of-13 on third downs and 1-of-2 on fourth downs, surviving two turnovers (one fumble, one interception) thanks to their ability to sustain drives.

Defensive Highlights

• Davhon Keys (LB): Keys returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown in the 1st quarter, giving LSU an early 14-0 lead. He also had 1 interception on the season.
• Whit Weeks (LB): Weeks was noted on the LSU bench due to an injury concern but was part of a defense that forced two fourth-down stops.

Kicking

• Damian Ramos (K): Ramos went 5-for-6 on extra points, missing one after Thomas’s kickoff return, and made 1-of-2 field goals, hitting a 43-yard kick in the 4th quarter.

Key Moments and Scoring Summary

• 1st Quarter:
  • 8:31: Nussmeier’s 10-yard touchdown pass to Green capped a 12-play, 68-yard drive (LSU 7-0).
  • 6:40: Keys’s 41-yard interception return for a touchdown off a bobbled Baylor screen pass extended LSU’s lead (LSU 14-0).
• 2nd Quarter:
  • 14:54: Robertson’s 21-yard touchdown pass to Cameron after a short punt cut the deficit (LSU 14-7).
  • 12:16: Nussmeier’s 41-yard touchdown pass to Hilton Jr. extended LSU’s lead (LSU 21-7).
  • 8:46: Nussmeier’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Green made it 28-7.
  • 1:41: Pendergrass’s 1-yard touchdown run, set up by a 35-yard pass to Jackson Jr., brought Baylor closer (LSU 28-14).
  • 1:28: Thomas’s 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown pushed LSU’s lead to 34-14 (PAT missed).
  • 0:00: Hankins’s 23-yard field goal as time expired made it 34-17 at halftime.
• 3rd Quarter:
  • 6:21: Robertson’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Hawkins after a fumble recovery by Bobby cut the lead to 34-24.
• 4th Quarter:
  • 14:56: Williams’s 4-yard touchdown run after a Baylor fourth-down failure restored a 17-point lead (LSU 41-24).
  • 9:46: Ramos’s 43-yard field goal pushed the lead to 44-24.
  • 6:20: Pendergrass’s 3-yard touchdown run made it 44-31, but a nullified 84-yard punt return by Cameron due to a penalty halted Baylor’s momentum.

Win Probability and Top Plays

According to my Analytics, LSU maintained a high win probability throughout, peaking at 100% by the end of the 4th quarter. Key plays by Win Probability Added (WPA) included:

• Keys’s 41-yard interception return (1st quarter): Significantly boosted LSU’s win probability to 85%.
• Thomas’s 95-yard kickoff return (2nd quarter): Increased LSU’s win probability to 95%.
• Baylor’s failed fourth-down snap (4th quarter): A 36-yard loss dropped Baylor’s win probability to under 5%.
• Cameron’s nullified punt return (4th quarter): A roughing the punter penalty kept LSU’s win probability above 90%.

Analysis and Takeaways

LSU’s victory was fueled by Nussmeier’s precision passing (70.6% completion rate) and explosive plays, including Thomas’s kickoff return and Keys’s pick-six. The Tigers’ ability to convert 6-of-13 third downs and capitalize on Baylor’s mistakes (two failed fourth-down attempts, one turnover) kept them in control despite being outgained. Baylor’s Robertson showcased his potential with 445 passing yards, but the Bears’ inability to run effectively (1.9 yards per carry) and critical errors, like the high snap and nullified punt return, proved costly. Baylor’s 507 yards were the most LSU allowed all season, tying for the second-most since Missouri’s 527 yards on October 7, 2023.

The game highlighted LSU’s knack for big momentum plays, as noted on baylorbears.com, with 10 points off fourth-down stops and defensive/special teams scores. Baylor’s resilience was evident, but their one-dimensional offense and failure to convert in the red zone (1-of-6 on fourth downs) underscored the gap between the teams. Posts on X also reflected LSU’s strong preseason expectations, with the Tigers ranked 9th in the AP Preseason Poll, signaling their potential for 2025.

Conclusion

The LSU Tigers’ 44-31 victory over the Baylor Bears in the 2024 Texas Bowl was a showcase of offensive firepower and decisive special teams play. Nussmeier’s 304 yards and three touchdowns, paired with Thomas’s 95-yard kickoff return and Keys’s pick-six, powered LSU to a 9-4 season finish. Baylor’s Robertson and Cameron delivered valiant efforts, but costly mistakes and a lack of rushing production halted their comeback bid. This thrilling bowl game, one of the highest-scoring in recent Texas Bowl history, set the stage for both teams to build momentum heading into the 2025 season.