Texas Southern University received a $25,000 guarantee payment for traveling to face LSU on Thursday night, but the Tigers left Baton Rouge on the wrong side of history after suffering a record-setting defeat.
The matchup between the Texas Southern Tigers and LSU Tigers resulted in a lopsided loss for the Southwestern Athletic Conference program. The financial arrangement is typical for guarantee games where smaller programs visit power conference opponents for a predetermined payout.
Thursday's game marked a historic margin of defeat for Texas Southern, raising questions about whether the financial benefit justified the competitive disparity. Such guarantee games remain common in college football as programs from smaller conferences seek revenue to support their athletic departments.
The contest took place on November 6, 2026, at LSU's home venue. Texas Southern, a member of the SWAC, faced an LSU program that competes in the Southeastern Conference, widely regarded as the strongest conference in college football.
