HOUSTON – LSU (8-4) looks to finish the 2024 season strong against Baylor (8-4) in the Texas Bowl on Tuesday afternoon at NRG Stadium.

Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN and the LSU Sports Radio Network.

The Tigers are on a two-game winning streak with home wins over Vanderbilt and Oklahoma to close out the regular season. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who recently announced his intention to return to LSU in 2025, has thrown for 3,739 yards and 26 touchdowns. Nussmeier’s numbers are the best for a first-year quarterback in school history.

“They see this is an opportunity for them to develop, help themselves and play for a championship,” head coach Brian Kelly said of Nussmeier’s return. “That’s the momentum we’ve built here to retain our current players and those who have decided to come here.”

LSU’s Texas Bowl receiving corps is led by Aaron Anderson and Zavion Thomas. Anderson recorded 53 receptions for 784 yards and five touchdowns, while Thomas recorded 20 receptions for 188 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman All-SEC RB Caden Durham leads the Tigers with 693 yards and six touchdowns. His 693 yards are first among all freshmen running backs in the SEC.

Saturday marks the first meeting between LSU and Baylor since the 1985 Liberty Bowl, in which the Bears were victorious 21-7. However, LSU leads the all-time series 8-3. It is the third bowl meeting between the teams, as they met in the 1963 Bluebonnet Bowl in Houston (Baylor won 14-7).

“The morale was great,” Kelly said of bowl practice. “Every guy out there wants to be out there. The exercises were lively. The boys are looking forward to the preparation and want the right result. They know they have to prepare properly.”

Against Baylor, LSU will face one of its former assistant coaches for the 24th time when the Tigers face Dave Aranda and the Bears. Aranda coached at LSU from 2016 to 2019, serving as defensive coordinator and eventually assistant head coach.

Baylor is led by quarterback Sawyer Robertson, who has rushed for 2,626 yards and 26 touchdowns. Running back Bryson Washington leads the team in rushing with 1,004 yards and 12 scores. Josh Cameron leads the unit with 643 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

Defensively, linebacker Keaton Thomas leads the team with 100 tackles, while linebacker Matt Jones is close behind with 96.

“We will have a very competitive football team that will represent LSU in the manner we expect,” Kelly said. “They are excited. When you have good morale, you have people who are committed and play hard for LSU. You want a team that competes and competes until the end, and this team will do it.”

LSU will be the home team and will wear white helmets, purple jerseys and white pants. The bowl assigns jersey colors to each team and the home team is designated to wear a dark color.