It has been a forgettable season for LSU fans, but Frank Wilson and Michael Van Buren will never forget November 15th, 2025. That’s because Wilson became the first Black coach to lead an LSU football team to a victory, and Van Buren won his first SEC game as a starting quarterback.
It did not get off to a good start, as there must have been some bad Juju left over from LSU’s game in Tiger Stadium, when they were blown out by Texas A&M, leading to the firing of head coach Brian Kelly and athletics director Scott Woodward.
The Tigers got behind 14-0, but rallied for a 23-22 victory.
Wilson told the team before the game that beating Arkansas would not be easy, despite their 2-8 record.
“When adversity hits you, you find a way, you will a way and you keep on punching, because it’s going to happen, I wish I could tell you that we are going to shut them out and it will be 50-0, that’s not a reality, the reality is that you are going to have to earn everything you get,” Wilson said.
The adversity arrived quickly for LSU as Arkansas returned a blocked punt for a touchdown, and a bad punt set up a second first-quarter touchdown as Taylen Green ran it in from 11 yards out for a 14-0 lead.
Poor special teams play was not the only reason LSU got off to a slow start. Van Buren was shaky in his first start in a Tiger uniform.
LSU went 3-and-out on its first two possessions, but once Van Buren settled down, the Tigers would score on four of their next five possessions to give LSU a 16-14 lead at halftime.
“He knew what was in front of him, he got comfortable and began to take control of the game of the football team and picked up huge opportunities in rushing and great throws as well,” Wilson said.
Van Buren was 21-of-31 for 221 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 36 yards.
A mobile quarterback has been needed this season because of the Tigers’ poor offensive line. Van Buren’s ability to run helped, especially his 35-yard run in the fourth quarter as the Tigers kept the football for the final five minutes of the game.
Van Buren made eight starts last season at Mississippi State, but was 0-7 in SEC play.
“It’s hard league to get wins, so to fight through adversity to get the first win, it feels amazing,” Van Buren.
And it helped that Arkansas is a bad football team, and we found out why they have five losses this season in games decided by six points or less.
The Hogs fumbled on their opening drive as they were approaching the red zone.
Green threw his second interception of the 1st half when they had a chance to go up 21-13 before halftime. It was a miscommunication between him and his receiver, and LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane picked off the pass in the end zone.
On Arkansas’s first drive of the 2nd half, they marched down the field, only to be stopped at the goal line.
A missed field goal on their last drive capped off another frustrating day for Arkansas.
It was an emotional week for Wilson. On Tuesday, the New Orleans native spoke at the funeral of his long-time mentor, Shane Williams.
The longtime assistant coach got a Gatorade bath when the final seconds ticked off the clock. He was emotional as the team celebrated on the field, took pictures with family members before addressing the team in the locker room.
It’s unknown what the future holds for Wilson or Van Buren. There’s a chance Van Buren starts the final two regular-season games for LSU, as it’s unknown if Garrett Nussmeier will get over the re-aggravation of his abdominal injury.
Unless Van Buren plays really well, the next head coach will likely bring his own quarterback in.
Wilson might also not be part of the next coaching staff.
But on November 15, 2025, Wilson and Van Buren basked in the glow of years of hard work paying off and resulting in a come-from-behind win in the SEC.
