How it Happened: LSU interim head coach Frank Wilson's first win
LSU interim head coach Frank Wilson got his first win on Saturday afternoon in Death Valley.
One week after a 20-9 loss at Alabama in the first game of the post-Brian Kelly era, Wilson used a backup quarterback, a heavy dose of the ground game, and a big showing from LSU’s defense to get a 23-22 win over Arkansas.
The Tigers, now 6-4 on the season and bowl eligible once again, rebounded from a 14-0 deficit in the first quarter to take a halftime lead. After the Razorbacks took the lead in the second half, LSU used a 12-play, 92-yard drive to go ahead 23-22.
Then, a missed field goal by Arkansas gave LSU the ball back with more than five minutes left in the game. From there, the Razorbacks would never get it back.
Here’s how Wilson and the Tigers rallied to beat Arkansas in the battle for the Golden Boot.
Michael Van Buren makes his first LSU start
11/15/2025 10:24:15 AMLSU backup quarterback Michael Van Buren will get his first start in purple-and-gold. The decision comes after starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was downgraded to “doubtful” on Friday’s SEC injury report. Van Buren made his first LSU appearance against FBS competition a week ago when he went into the game for Nussmeier midway through the third quarter vs. Alabama. Van Buren played the rest of the game for the Tigers on a night when the Tide held LSU without a touchdown in a 20-9 win.
LSU wins the coin toss for second week in a row
11/15/2025 11:47:58 AMPrior to the Alabama game a week ago, LSU had not won a coin toss all season. In all but one of those games, the LSU offense had to take the field first. For the second week in a row, winning the coin toss gave the Tigers a chance to send the defense out first before receiving the ball after halftime.
Arkansas blocks a punt to score first in Death Valley
11/15/2025 11:57:47 AMThe Arkansas offense moved the ball down the field with relative ease to begin the game, but a fumble on third down bailed out the LSU defense. Following the turnover, LSU quarterback Michael Van Buren and the offense went three-and-out. But a blown blocking assignment by the special teams unit resulted in Arkansas not only blocking LSU’s punt, but recovering the loose ball for a scoop-and-score to take a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter.
Arkansas opens up a 14-0 lead in the first quarter
11/15/2025 12:17:32 PMLSU quarterback Michael Van Buren was just 1-for-4 passing for three yards on his first two drives, and both possessions resulted in a three-and-out. After scoring a touchdown off a blocked punt, the Razorbacks took advantage of an LSU shanked punt by quickly driving down the field for another score. After getting to the red zone, Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green ran the ball in for the 11-yard score to give the Razorbacks a 14-0 lead in a first quarter dominated by the road team.
LSU leans on the running backs to get on the scoreboard
11/15/2025 12:28:02 PMDown 14-0 to start the second quarter, the Tigers needed just six seconds to cut into the lead. LSU put together an impressive nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that culminated in a 27-yard rushing touchdown by Caden Durham. Both Durham and Harlem Berry carried the football and caught passes out of the backfield on the drive, which helped Van Buren settle in enough to also hit also hit on a pair of short passes to wide receiver Zavion Thomas. With the extra point from Damian Ramos, LSU trimmed the deficit to 14-7.
LSU gets points on three straight drives
11/15/2025 12:58:09 PMAfter cutting the lead to 14-7, the LSU defense forced Arkansas to punt it back to the Van Buren and the offense. Van Buren hit on a 20-yard pass to Barion Brown to avoid going three-and-out on three of the team’s first four possessions, and a quick pass play to Caden Durham on third down gave the Tigers the ball in Arkansas territory. LSU’s offensive line allowed a pass rusher to come free for a sack to push the Tigers backwards, but kicker Damian Ramos stepped in to save the drive with a 50-yard field goal. After Harold Perkins intercepted Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green on the next drive, the Tigers were able to add another field goal by Ramos to the board. In less than 10 minutes of game time, LSU went from trailing by 14 points to down just a point (14-13).
LSU steals points – and the lead – before halftime
11/15/2025 01:23:12 PMArkansas took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, but LSU used four drives in the second quarter to grab 16 points and the lead. The Razorbacks were driving for points in the final minutes before halftime, but LSU star cornerback Mansoor Delane’s interception in the end zone ended the threat. With LSU’s defense forcing three turnovers in the first half, the offense found a way to steal points thanks to back-to-back runs by Caden Durham and Harlem Berry. With the ball in Arkansas territory, LSU used a pass interference and a first down throw from Van Buren to Zavion Thomas to get into field goal range. And for the third drive in a row, kicker Damian Ramos converted on his field goal attempt to give LSU the lead. On a drive that started with less than 40 seconds on the game clock, LSU needed just 30 seconds and five plays to go 55 yards and grab the halftime lead.
LSU’s goal line stand keeps the Tigers ahead
11/15/2025 02:04:51 PMLSU hit on a big pass play from Van Buren to Zavion Thomas to open the second half, but a sack ultimately forced the Tigers to punt it away despite being in Arkansas territory. Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green delivered a timely 55-yard run on the second snap of the second half, and Arkansas was able to get into a first-and-goal situation. Five plays and one offsides call later, LSU defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory came up with a huge stop at the goal line to keep Arkansas out of the ennd zone and force the turnover on downs.
Arkansas ends the scoring drought
11/15/2025 02:11:19 PMArkansas took a 14-0 lead just 10 minutes into the fist quarter, but the Razorbacks didn’t score again until 10 minutes into the third quarter. After a goal line stand kept Arkansas out of the end zone on the prior drive, the Razorbacks found points on the team’s second possession of the half. After converting on a 3rd-and-19, and moving the ball even further down the field on a pass interference call on LSU cornerback PJ Woodland, Arkansas scored on a nine-yard run. Then, Taylen Green scrambled out of the pocket before hurdling over LSU defenders at the goal line to convert the two-point conversion and give Arkansas the 22-16 lead.
Van Buren’s first passing TD gives LSU a fourth quarter lead
11/15/2025 02:42:52 PMIt might have taken 11 drives, but Van Buren’s first touchdown pass came at a time when the Tigers needed it most. Trailing 22-16 in the fourth quarter, Van Buren rolled right on third down before finding tight end Bauer Sharp in the end zone for the 12-yard, go-ahead score. With 7:53 remaining on the clock, the Tigers took a 23-22 lead. The score came after Van Buren led the offense 92 yards on 12 plays. Taking more than six minutes off the clock, it was LSU’s longest drive of the game.
LSU ices the game after an Arkansas missed FG
11/15/2025 03:14:44 PMLSU’s go-ahead touchdown with a little less than eight minutes left in the game appeared to be in jeopardy when Arkansas quickly moved the ball across midfield. But thanks to a pass broken up by LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, the Razorbacks were forced to settle for the go-ahead field goal attempt. The kick sailed wide right, giving the Tigers the ball with 5:08 left on the clock. From there, LSU’s offense did the rest. Van Buren’s longest run of the game went for 35 yards on 2nd-and-16. Then came a wave of touches for freshman Harlem Berry, the biggest coming on third down when he juked an Arkansas defender for the first down before giving himself up short of the end zone to secure the victory. With Arkansas out of timeouts, Van Buren kneeled it out to secure the victory – and give LSU interim head coach Frank Wilson his first win.
