Texas A&M is coming to Death Valley on Saturday night, presumably after spending the week checking whether Kentucky really left Kyle Field with the Aggies’ dignity.
It did.
The Aggies entered last weekend ranked No. 9 and carrying the usual collection of expectations, recruiting stars and preseason confidence. They left their own stadium with a 31–21 loss to an unranked Kentucky team that had not beaten Texas A&M since 1952.
Now Texas A&M must play its first road game of the season in Tiger Stadium.
Good luck with that.
Two Teams, Two Very Different Losses
LSU and Texas A&M are both 2–1, but their defeats were not created equal.
The Tigers fell 32–24 at Ole Miss after trailing 24–7 at halftime. LSU responded with 17 consecutive points, tied the game and drove to the Ole Miss 5-yard line with a chance to force overtime.
Texas A&M, meanwhile, was tied 7–7 with Kentucky at halftime before allowing the Wildcats to take control. Kentucky scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter and built a 28–7 lead inside Kyle Field.
LSU’s loss showed fight. Texas A&M’s loss produced an unusually blunt assessment from Aggies coach Mike Elko, who said his team was not good enough in coaching, playing, execution or physicality.
That is a long list of problems to repair before walking into Death Valley at night.
LSU Has the Ground Game to Attack Them
Dilin Jones gives LSU an offensive weapon Texas A&M must respect. Jones rushed for 106 yards against Ole Miss and scored the Tigers’ first touchdown.
LSU finished with 172 rushing yards in Oxford and converted nine of 17 third downs. If the Tigers establish that same physical approach early, they can place pressure on an Aggies defense that lost control of the game against Kentucky after halftime.
Sam Leavitt also adds another rushing threat. His 4-yard touchdown run helped ignite LSU’s comeback at Ole Miss. The combination of Jones between the tackles and Leavitt’s mobility could force Texas A&M to defend every part of the field.
Put the Pressure on Marcel Reed
Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed completed 26 of 49 passes for 236 yards against Kentucky. He threw one touchdown and two interceptions while adding 80 rushing yards and a score.
Reed remains dangerous when he escapes the pocket, but completing barely half his passes and turning the ball over twice is not the ideal preparation for a road game in Tiger Stadium.
LSU’s defensive mission should be straightforward: contain Reed, pressure him into hurried decisions and make him consistently win from the pocket. Death Valley can handle the rest.
Saturday Night in Death Valley
Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Central on ABC. LSU is asking fans to wear gold, although Texas A&M may already be seeing enough warning signs.
The Tigers have an opportunity to respond to a difficult road loss, protect their home field and hand the Aggies a second consecutive SEC defeat. Texas A&M brings talent, but talent has never been the Aggies’ problem.
Turning it into championships has been.
LSU does not need sympathy after Oxford. It needs a target.
Next up: Texas A&M.
LSU Football Report 