LSU football Texas Bowl opt outs, who's in, who's out vs Houston
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BATON ROUGE — If anything has happened with LSU football since the end of the season, it’s been change.
Lane Kiffin was hired as the next Tigers coach and he’s already brought in the majority of his coaching staff. But neither he nor any of the new staff will coach LSU (7-5) against Houston (9-3) in the Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on Dec. 27 (8:15 p.m. CT, ESPN). LSU interim coach Frank Wilson will lead the Tigers in the bowl game but following the game, he’ll be off to Ole Miss.
Since the inception of the transfer portal a few years ago, players opting out of non-playoff bowl games has become an annual thing to watch for teams in those situations. This offseason, the transfer portal doesn’t officially open until Jan. 2 but players still announce their intentions to enter their name into the portal before and, in many cases, that they won’t play in their team’s bowl game.
Here are the updates on LSU and Houston opt-out decisions for the Texas Bowl.
LSU football players opting out of Texas Bowl
Cornerback Mansoor Delane (NFL)
LSU’s lone All-American, senior cornerback Mansoor Delane has been playing through what he described as a core injury for a number of weeks. He missed one game against Western Kentucky before playing at Oklahoma in LSU’s regular season finale. Delane is projected as a first-round NFL draft pick come April.
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (injury, NFL)
This isn’t an opt out, but LSU senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier won’t play in the Texas Bowl as he’s missed the past three games for LSU with an abdominal strain. Nussmeier saw his final season in college end early, finishing with 1,927 yards, 12 touchdown and five interceptions. According to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., he is considered the eighth-best quarterback in the draft.
Quarterback Colin Hurley (portal)
LSU quarterback Colin Hurley has been away from the team since the firing of former LSU football coach Brian Kelly, so his decision to enter the transfer portals comes as no surprise. The freshman has not played in his two seasons in Baton Rouge.
Running back Kaleb Jackson (portal)
On Dec. 12, Kaleb Jackson announced his intention to enter the portal, so he will not play in the Texas Bowl. The sophomore running back rushed for 331 yards on 82 carries in three seasons in Baton Rouge. He played in four games this season, totaling 49 yards.
Wide receiver Jelani Watkins (portal)
On Dec. 2, wide receiver Jelani Watkins announced he was going to enter his name into the transfer portal when it opens. The freshman appeared in three games in 2025, collecting two receptions for 21 yards.
Wide receiver Kylan Billiot (portal)
On Dec. 2, freshman wide receiver Kylan Billiot announced his intention to enter the portal. He was a former four-star recruit out of Terrebonne High School. Billiot appeared in one game across two seasons with the Tigers.
Cornerback Ashton Stamps (portal)
After playing in just three games for LSU this season, cornerback Ashton Stamps will enter the transfer portal. He recorded one tackle in 2025. He was one of LSU’s starting cornerbacks in 2024, leading it in passes defended with 14 but lost his starting role to P.J. Woodland this preseason.
Cornerback Wallace Foster (portal)
On Dec. 8, cornerback Wallace Foster announced his intention to enter the transfer portal. In two seasons with the Tigers, Foster played in three games and recorded one career tackle.
Other potential LSU opt-outs to watch
Typically, players projected as NFL draft picks consider opting out of non-playoff bowl games. The following LSU players have not announced their decision either way, so we should assume they’re playing in the Texas Bowl until told otherwise. But their draftable status and other factors make them players to watch as potential Texas Bowl opt-outs.
Linebacker Harold Perkins Jr.: The star linebacker has accepted an invitation to the East West Shrine Bowl but he has not publicly stated whether or not he is playing in the Texas Bowl. Perkins does have one more year of eligibility remaining but all signs point to him leaving for the NFL. Currently, Perkins is projected to be a third-round draft choice.
Defensive end Jack Pyburn: Pyburn was a name LSU interim head coach Frank Wilson noted at the beginning of LSU’s bowl preparation that the program had conversations with about playing in the bowl instead of opting out. There has not been an official announcement made one way or another, so the assumption is Pyburn plays against Houston.
Wide receiver Aaron Anderson: The speedy and shifty wide out dealt with a plethora of injuries during the course of the 2025 season. He has accepted an invitation from the East West Shrine Bowl. Anderson has one more year of eligibility. He originally signed with Alabama out of high school but transferred back to his home state and LSU following his freshman season. For his career, Anderson has 106 catches, 1,341 yards receiving and five touchdowns.
Wide receiver Chris Hilton Jr.: Hilton has accepted an invitation to participate in the East West Shrine Bowl. The 6-foot, 190-pounder has not formally announced his intention on sitting out the Texas Bowl so, as of now, the assumption is he is playing one final game in an LSU uniform. Hilton ends his career with 37 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns.
Safety A.J. Haulcy: Haulcy is out of eligibility and is on his way to the NFL. Some draft projections list the LSU safety among the 60 best draft-eligible prospects in this April’s draft. He has not announced his intention to opt-out of the Texas Bowl, so the assumption is Haulcy will play later this month.
Houston football players opting out of Texas Bowl
Center Demetrius Hunter
On Dec. 8, news broke that Houston junior center Demetrius Hunter had left the team. Hunter made the Rimington Trophy watch list, an annual award given to college football’s top center. He was considered one of Houston’s top offensive linemen this season.
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU football Texas Bowl opt outs, who’s in, who’s out vs Houston
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