Jelani McDonald Snags Three Interceptions at LSU
Texas senior defensive back Jelani McDonald recorded three interceptions in the first three quarters of the Longhorns' road game at LSU.
Updated on Nov. 15, 2026 in Football
Texas defensive back Jelani McDonald recorded three interceptions during the Longhorns' road game at LSU on Saturday, November 14, 2026. Texas trailed 21-13 after three quarters.
Why it matters
McDonald's three interceptions give him a rare single-game performance for the Longhorns, the first by a Texas player this century and the first by any SEC player since 2020. He is one interception shy of the Texas single-game record of four.
McDonald's three interceptions are one shy of the Texas single-game record of four, set by Bill Bradley in 1968. Texas entered the game at 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the SEC, and the final result was not part of the extraction.
The players
Jelani McDonald
A senior defensive back from Waco, Texas, McDonald is a Longhorns player known for his ball-hawking performance in this game.
Sam Leavitt
LSU's starting quarterback, Leavitt threw the passes that McDonald intercepted three times.
Arch Manning
Texas quarterback Arch Manning, a member of the Manning football family, passed for 82 yards in the first half of the game.
The details
McDonald's first interception came on a deep pass from LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt in the first quarter at the Texas 30-yard line, after a hit from Texas linebacker Rasheem Biles. His next two picks came in the end zone on potential touchdown passes from Leavitt, including one late in the third quarter where he double-covered LSU receiver Jackson Harris and leaped over him to secure the ball.
Timeline
Saturday, November 14, 2026: Texas at LSU game, where McDonald recorded three interceptions in the first three quarters
Season Trajectory
McDonald's three interceptions put him one short of Bill Bradley's 1968 Texas single-game record of four, a benchmark rarely approached in the program's modern era. The performance arrives as Texas, at 4-2 in the SEC, works to keep its conference standing competitive.
McDonald's three picks make him a notable name for fantasy defensive back lineups going forward. His interception total is the kind of stat that can swing matchup decisions for owners in standard and IDP formats.
The takeaway
Turnovers in close road games can swing the result, and McDonald's ball production gave Texas a chance to climb back in a contest where it trailed the entire second half. Fans tracking the Longhorns' defense should watch whether this performance is a repeatable pattern.
Further reading
Explore more Football coverage for context on this Texas and SEC matchup.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Austin American-Statesman.
