LSU is making two lineup changes ahead of Saturday night’s matchup with No. 23 Texas A&M, and both come on the defensive front and along the offensive line.
Sophomore CJ Jimcoily is expected to start at star after working with the first team during pre-game warm-ups, and the public address system announced him as the starter. On the other side of the ball, sophomore transfer William Satterwhite, who came over from Tennessee, was taking first-team reps at left guard in place of fifth-year senior Bo Bordelon.
The move at star was forced by the loss of starting defensive back Dashawn Spears, who is done for the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in the second quarter last Saturday at Ole Miss. Jimcoily filled in first, while Cooley also played the spot. When Cooley shifted to star, Thomas moved to safety.
Bordelon had started LSU’s first three games at left guard, but he has struggled and was with the second team during warm-ups.
LSU, ranked No. 10, kicks off against Texas A&M at 6:49 p.m. Saturday at Tiger Stadium on ABC.
The Tigers will also be without starting tight end Trey’Dez Green, who hurt his knee on the second play of the fourth quarter last week and did not return. He is expected back after missing two to four weeks. In his absence, Malachi Thomas or Zach Grace is expected to start.
LSU’s only other injury concern entering the game is backup cornerback Ja’Keem Jackson. He was listed as questionable from Wednesday through Friday and is a game time decision tonight.
Texas A&M, meanwhile, will be missing starting wide receiver/kick returner Terry Bussey for the rest of the season after he suffered a knee injury in last week’s loss to Kentucky. The Aggies also won’t have backup running back Jamarion Morrow, while wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman is a game time decision.
The Tigers are trying to avoid a second straight loss. The last time LSU coach Lane Kiffin dropped consecutive games came in 2022 at Ole Miss, when his team lost four in a row: 30-24 to No. 9 Alabama as the No. 11 team, 42-27 at Arkansas as the No. 14 team, 24-22 to Mississippi STate as the No. 20 team and 42-25 to Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl.
LSU has also lost its last two meetings with Texas A&M, though the Tigers were in control at halftime both times - 18-14 last season at Tiger Stadium before a 49-25 defeat, and 17-7 in 2024 in College Station before a 38-23 loss.
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