Marcel Reed and Sam Leavitt enter this matchup with a lot more on their shoulders than just the usual quarterback pressure. LSU and A&M are both coming off losses, both are trying to steady offenses that have sputtered, and both are asking their quarterbacks to stop the slide before it gets worse.
Reed has already made life difficult for LSU in the past. In 2024, he took over for A&M against the Tigers and sparked the comeback that locked him in as the starter.
Last year, he brought the Aggies into Death Valley and beat LSU again. Some would say that loss pushed LSU toward current head coach Lane Kiffin.
The numbers this season haven’t matched the hype that followed Reed into the year as a Heisman favorite. He has completed 62 of 104 passes for 632 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions, while completing 59.6% of his throws. He’s also been sacked four times.
What’s been even more surprising is how little he has done on the ground compared with what LSU has seen from him before. Through three games, Reed has 117 rushing yards on 24 carries and one rushing touchdown.
He has hurt the Tigers with his legs in the past, especially against a defense that has had trouble handling a scrambling quarterback. This version of LSU, though, looks different.
The Tigers have elite pass rushers on both edges, and the linebacker group is described as probably the best combination in the country.
A&M will also be without Terry Bussey, who suffered a season-ending injury last week against Kentucky. Even so, Reed still has Mario Craver and Isaiah Horton as reliable targets, and the Aggies’ run game has been solid enough to support him. If LSU can shut down the run and keep Reed in the pocket, the game could tilt hard in the Tigers’ direction.
Leavitt, meanwhile, is looking for a reset after the loss to Ole Miss and a rough performance. He has been playing too fast, his mechanics have looked rushed, and even when protection holds up, he has been leaving the pocket too early.
His season line reflects the uneven play. Leavitt has completed 57 of 93 passes for 732 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions, good for a 61.3% completion rate. He has thrown at least one interception in every game so far and has been sacked seven times.
There is one area where Leavitt has been more productive than Reed: the ground game. He has 40 carries for 198 yards, averaging 5 yards per rush, and has scored six rushing touchdowns. Like Reed, he can create problems when he decides to take off.
Leavitt will also have to do it without his primary target, Trey’Dez Green. Green is expected back later this season, but this will be the first game Leavitt has to manage without him. That puts the spotlight on how the offense gets reworked and where those targets end up going.
The run game gives Leavitt something to lean on, too. The Aggies have used several backs, while LSU has a central figure in Dilin Jones.
Jones, Leavitt and the rest of the rushing attack have combined for 628 yards on the ground, 4.4 yards per carry and 10 rushing touchdowns through the first three games. If Leavitt can get the passing game moving, that ground attack should have even more room to work.
It all sets up as one of the more intriguing quarterback matchups of the season. The two are similar in style, both are coming off tough losses, and both are dealing with many of the same problems.
One of these teams is going to walk away with a second straight defeat. The question now is whether the Tigers can be the team that avoids that fate.
In Other News...
Joe Burrow Just Gave LSU Fans A Reason To Stay Patient
Lane Kiffins LSU debut did not give Tiger fans the quick jolt they were hoping for, with a loss to Ole Miss serving as an awkward opening chapter for a coach who used to run that program himself. Even so, the early-season setback hardly changes the bigger picture around Baton Rouge, where LSUs expectations remain high and the talent base still gives the staff room to settle in.
Joe Burrow offered a reminder of that bigger picture in a recent interview, saying he believes Kiffin will have long-term success in the job. Coming from one of the most respected voices in LSU history, the confidence carries weight, especially with the season still in its infancy and plenty of time for the new era to take shape as Kiffin works with the resources at his disposal. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Secondary Gets A Timely Boost Before A Huge Texas A&M Test
LSU heads into its SEC home matchup with Texas A&M still looking for its first conference win, and the Tigers will need a cleaner night on the back end after the secondary had a rough outing last time out. The assignment does not get any easier against a top-25 Aggies team with a capable group of wide receivers, but LSU did get a bit of encouraging injury news on the eve of kickoff.
Cornerback Ja'Keem Jackson has been upgraded to questionable, and safety Tamarcus Cooley is listed as active, giving the Tigers a chance to add some needed stability in the defensive backfield. LSU will still be without tight end Trey'Dez Green and safety Dashawn Spears for the season, so every available body matters in a game that could go a long way toward shaping the league race early in the year. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Fans Just Got The Full Tiger Stadium Plan For Texas A&M
LSU has laid out the full game day roadmap for Saturday nights primetime showdown with Texas A&M at Tiger Stadium, giving fans a clear look at how the evening will unfold from parking and fan zone activities all the way through kickoff. The release also includes pregame performances, the team walk, and other pieces of the presentation that turn Death Valley into more than just a football venue on a big SEC night.
The schedule goes beyond the opening whistle, with halftime performances, in-game recognitions, and stadium entry policies all spelled out for fans making the trip. For a matchup with plenty of atmosphere already built in, the timetable should help set the tone long before the teams take the field, while also making sure the crowd knows what to expect once the gates open. [Read more 🡒]