Barion Brown nears NCAA record with electric kick return TD in Texas Bowl

The LSU Tigers are off to the races in the Texas Bowl. LSU wasted no time providing some electricity on Saturday night, and fans are loving it.

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Barion Brown got the game started in impressive fashion by returning the opening kick-off for a touchdown. Per the ESPN broadcast, the 99-yard kick return was just the 3rd opening kick-off return in LSU Football history, and the first since 1978.

Barion Brown one kick-off return TD away from tying NCAA record

With the play, Brown is now even closer to an impressive NCAA record. It was Brown's 6th kickoff return touchdown in his collegiate career, and he now needs just one more to tie the NCAA record. The current record of seven is held by five players: Tyron Carrier (Houston), Rashaad Penny (San Diego State), Tony Pollard (Memphis), Savon Scarver (Utah State), and C.J. Spiller (Clemson).

With his 6, Brown is the SEC's record holder for most kickoffs returned for touchdown in his career. He had 5 such plays in his 3-year career at Kentucky, which included setting a Kentucky program record for kickoffs returned for a touchdown in a single season with 3 in 2023. As a return specialist, Brown was named First-Team All-SEC in 2024 and Second-Team All-SEC in 2023 with the Wildcats.

Brown entered the Texas Bowl leading the Tigers in catches (52) and receiving yards (449). In Lexington, he appeared in 37 games and totaled 3,273 all-purpose yards for Kentucky. His 122 receptions are tied for No. 14 on Kentucky's all-time receptions list, and his 1,528 receiving yards are ranked No. 10 on the school's all-time receiving yards list.

Brown provided another electric return in the 1st quarter as well, this time for 43 yards. He is out of eligibility after this season, so if he's going to break the NCAA record, he'll have to do so in the Texas Bowl.