Good morning, Tiger Fans. It’s Game Day.
At 6:30 tonight, No. 10 LSU welcomes No.
23 Texas A&M to Death Valley in a September matchup with real weight to it. This is the second straight week the Tigers have circled a date for a long time, though for very different reasons.
Last week’s trip to Ole Miss carried the Lane Kiffin storyline and all the familiar faces that came with it. Tonight is about something far more raw for LSU: getting even for last season’s 49-25 loss to the Aggies in Tiger Stadium.
That game still hangs around. LSU had an 18-14 lead at halftime before everything fell apart and Texas A&M ripped off 35 straight points.
It was one of the most deflating nights in recent memory in Death Valley, and it ended up mattering far beyond the final score. The loss crushed LSU’s already thin playoff chances and turned out to be Brian Kelly’s last game as head coach.
He was fired before sunrise.
A lot of faces have changed since then, but the motivation hasn’t. LSU doesn’t return many starters from that team, yet the players who are back - along with defensive coordinator Blake Baker - should have plenty of reason to want this one badly.
And even without the revenge angle, the stakes are obvious. Both teams are coming off disappointing losses, and a second defeat in September would put either side in a tight spot with seven SEC games still ahead.
For LSU, the path to a win starts with one simple priority: don’t let Marcel Reed beat them with his legs again. Reed has rushed for 170 yards and five touchdowns over his last two games against the Tigers, and that kind of damage changes everything.
LSU needs to keep him contained, force him to operate from the pocket and make him win as a thrower. If Reed becomes a passer first, LSU’s odds get a lot better.
The Tigers also need to find a way to attack vertically. LSU has shown it can move the ball, but the next step is connecting on more downfield chances.
The Tigers rank 13th nationally with 15 completions of at least 20 yards, though only two have gone for 40 or more. Texas A&M’s defensive communication issues against Kentucky last week suggest there should be openings to exploit.
That said, it won’t happen unless LSU protects the quarterback, stays composed and wins a few matchups on the outside.
Tempo matters too, and incomplete passes can wreck it. LSU’s offense is built to stretch defenses sideline to sideline and keep them moving, with skill players quickly getting the ball back to the middle of the field so the next snap can come fast.
When throws fall incomplete, that rhythm disappears. LSU’s completion percentage sits at 62.5%, which ranks 82nd nationally, and that number has to rise if the offense is going to run the way it’s designed to.
There’s also the red zone, where LSU cannot afford to keep leaving points behind. Tight end Trey’Dez Green is injured and out, which only makes that area more important.
The Tigers struggled there against Louisiana Tech, and against Ole Miss they had multiple receivers open on key trips but still came away with only three points on their final two red-zone possessions. Those are the kind of missed chances that decide close games.
Somebody else has to step up now.
And then there’s the tone of the night. LSU has to play angry, physical and on its terms.
Last year’s loss still stings, and the Tigers cannot let another team come into Tiger Stadium and take control of the place. Hit first, keep hitting and make Texas A&M feel it from the opening series to the final whistle.
None of that happens without cleaner play up front. LSU’s offensive line has to hold up much better to make the rest of this work.
Left tackle Jordan Seaton needs a rebound after a rough outing and has to live up to his billing. Left guard Bo Bordelon also has to justify his spot if he gets the start.
The quarterback, too, has to settle down, shed the happy feet and play with poise and confidence. That should be easier at home than it was in Oxford in his first SEC start.
And, of course, the fans have a role as well. LSU needs the second-half atmosphere to be the opposite of what happened a year ago.
In Other News...
LSU Suddenly Has A Whit Weeks Problem It Couldn't Afford
Whit Weeks afternoon against Texas A&M took an uneasy turn midway through the third quarter, when the LSU linebacker left with an apparent right ankle injury and later was seen in a walking boot and on crutches. It was a rough sight for a defense that leans heavily on his presence, especially in a game where every answer matters and every lost body changes the plan in a hurry.
Weeks has dealt with ankle injuries in previous seasons, so the scene naturally raised more concern than the average in-game exit. The Tigers do not yet know how severe this latest issue is, leaving LSU to wait and see whether one of its most important defenders will be available going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffin Just Gave LSU Fans Another Reason To Be Frustrated
Trinidad Chambliss gave LSU plenty to think about in Ole Miss 32-24 win, and Lane Kiffin had no trouble explaining why. The former LSU target carved up the Tigers through the air and added a late rushing score, looking every bit like the kind of dual-threat quarterback that can tilt a game when the pressure rises. For LSU fans still sorting through a frustrating result, hearing Kiffin praise the very player he once recruited to Oxford only adds another layer to the storyline.
Chambliss, a sixth-year senior, has already become one of those quarterbacks who seems to keep finding his way back into the biggest moments. He helped Ole Miss reach the playoffs before getting another year of eligibility through legal proceedings, and his latest outing only reinforced how difficult he can be to handle. For LSU, the loss stings on its own, but the broader reminder is hard to ignore: the Rebels had a quarterback in control, and Kiffin sounded like a coach who knew it all along. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Just Got A Notable Vote Of Confidence At LSU
With LSU coming off a rough SEC opener and Texas A&M dealing with its own early setback, the upcoming matchup already had the feel of a measuring stick game. It got a little more interesting when SEC Network host Peter Burns publicly leaned toward the Aggies, pointing to Marcell Reeds past success against LSU and the Tigers offensive concerns as the reasons for his pick.
For LSU fans, the prediction lands as one more reminder that this is not just another conference game, especially with both teams trying to steady themselves after losses that shaped the first stretch of league play. Burns vote of confidence in Texas A&M adds an extra layer of intrigue, and it also puts a sharper spotlight on whether LSU can answer the questions that have followed its offense into this one. [Read more 🡒]