Kim Mulkey and the LSU Tigers have a chance to make a massive statement on Thursday night. The 5th-ranked Tigers are set to battle the 4th-ranked Texas Longhorns on the road in Austin in what is a must-watch game for all college basketball fans.
Expectations for LSU Baseball are perfectly clear in USA Today Preseason Rankings
Not only is this contest a matchup between the top two teams in the country's most competitive conference, but it's a rematch from just a few weeks ago on January 11. Texas entered that meeting boasting a perfect 18-0 record, but the Tigers ruined the Longhorns' perfect season with a 70-65 victory at the PMAC.
With the rematch taking place on the road, LSU has a great chance to boost their National Championship odds with a victory.
LSU can improve National Championship odds with win over Texas
LSU entered the 2025-26 season with odds of +950 to win the National Championship on DraftKings Sportsbook. That was good for the 5th-best odds on the market. Now, those odds have gotten longer.
As it stands, the Tigers are still 5th on DraftKings when it comes to national title odds. However, LSU's odds have increased to +1300. Furthermore, Texas remains ahead of LSU. With odds of +900, the Longhorns have the 3rd-best odds to win it all on DraftKings. But an LSU victory on Thursday can change that and push LSU further up on the National Championship odds boards.
Tigers looking for signature top-5 road win
Prior to LSU's victory over Texas back on January 11, The Tigers were previously 0-7 against top-5 SEC teams in the Mulkey era. Now, they are looking to pickup another win over the top-5 Longhorns - this time on the road.
So far this season, LSU's best road win was over No. 13 Oklahoma on January 18 by a score of 91-72. A win over No. 4 Texas on Thursday would give them the signature road win Mulkey is looking for.
Mikaylah Williams led the way with 20 points in the previous matchup against Texas, with Jada Richard (10), Flau'jae Johnson (10), ZaKiyah Johnson (10), and MiLaysia Fulwiley (10) all reaching double-digits as well.
That kind of well-balanced scoring attack makes the Tigers extremely dangerous. LSU leads the nation with 98.9 points per game and boasts seven players averaging at least 10 points per game.
Tip-off between the Tigers and Longhorns is slated for 8 p.m. CT at the Moody Center in Austin. The top-5 matchup will be nationally televised on ESPN.