LSU’s 35-6 win over Texas A&M gave the Tigers a clean SEC reset after the loss in Oxford, and it also offered a clear look at who made the most of the moment - and who didn’t.
The biggest defensive winner was Tamarcus Cooley, who kept showing up everywhere LSU needed him. He finished with 11 yards in tackles for loss, added a sack and picked off an Aggies pass, then did it while handling a bigger role after stepping in for Dashawn Spears at star safety. With Spears out last week with a season-ending injury, defensive coordinator Blake Baker had to shuffle the nickel defense, and Cooley answered by not only covering the back end but making plays at his new spot.
LSU also got a major boost from Jackson Harris in the receiver room. Filling in for tight end Trey'Dez Green, Harris turned in 163 receiving yards and two touchdowns against Texas A&M. His biggest moment came on a sneaky 57-yard touchdown on 4th & 1, a play that kept the Tigers in control and showed just how dangerous he could be in a bigger role.
Landen Clark gave LSU another lift when he entered at quarterback in the third quarter. On his first snap, he scored on a 4-yard rushing touchdown, then added another rushing touchdown and finished with 41 rushing yards. With Leavitt showing early signs of a possible hamstring injury, Clark’s production gave LSU a useful spark and a dose of confidence in the backup spot.
Leavitt, meanwhile, benefited from having more time in the pocket after the offensive line reconstruction and the minor hamstring issue that limited his running. That extra time helped the passing game develop, and it opened the door for the receivers to work.
But not every wideout took advantage. Jayce Brown finished with zero yards on one target, a quiet night for a player who arrived in Baton Rouge with plenty of offseason praise as a major transfer portal addition.
There was also a special teams issue worth watching. Wilson’s lone punt return went for negative yardage, putting LSU behind on the drive instead of giving the offense a better starting point. In a game this lopsided, it didn’t change the outcome, but it’s the kind of problem that can matter a lot more in the close SEC games LSU will face later in the season.
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Lane Kiffin Sends LSU Message After Silencing A Major Concern
LSUs 35-6 win over No. 23 Texas A&M did more than keep the Tigers rolling, it answered a question that had been hanging over the program. The No. 10 Tigers controlled the game in total yards and leaned on a defense that dictated the tempo from the start, giving the kind of complete performance that has been hard to miss in a crowded SEC race.
Lane Kiffin had plenty to point to afterward, from the defensive effort to Sam Leavitts play while dealing with injury and Jackson Harris breakout as a Hawaii transfer. The next stop is a more local one, with McNeese coming to Baton Rouge, but LSU will still be carrying the bigger picture: whether this was a one-night statement or the start of something sturdier. [Read more 🡒]
LSU May Have Found Answers To Two Problems Fans Feared Most
After the disappointment of the previous week, LSU needed a response, and it got one in a 35-6 win over Texas A&M that felt as much about problem-solving as scoreboard watching. The Tigers had to navigate injuries and a few offensive concerns, but they still found enough rhythm to settle things down and remind everyone that there are answers on this roster when the situation gets messy.
Jackson Harris became the kind of big-play outlet LSU badly needed after TreyDez Greens injury, turning into a reliable downfield threat and changing the shape of the offense. On the other side, Blake Bakers defense made life miserable for Texas A&M by leaning on the safeties, with Tamarcus Cooley and Ty Benefield both showing up around the ball in big moments, leaving LSU with reason to believe two of its biggest worries may not be as dire as they first looked. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Has A New Top 10 Snub Fans Wont Like
LSUs strong start still didnt buy the Tigers any extra respect in the latest Associated Press Top 25, where they slipped from 10th to 11th despite handling Texas A&M at home. In a Week 4 poll that shuffled a few contenders around, the Tigers found themselves on the outside of the top 10 even after a decisive result that should have helped their case.
At the top, Texas stayed No. 1 after surviving a tight one against Tennessee, while other teams moved based on how the weekend played out. For LSU, the placement is the kind of early-season reminder that style points and perception can matter just as much as the win column, and it leaves the Tigers with a little more to prove as the schedule rolls on. [Read more 🡒]