The SEC’s final two unbeaten groups go head-to-head as No. 8 LSU visits 14th-ranked Texas A&M Saturday evening (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Curiously, SEC Community analyst Cole Cubelic identified that the Tigers haven’t misplaced to the Aggies when the 2 packages have confronted off as AP-ranked groups.
Whereas each groups started the 2024 season with losses, LSU and Texas A&M have received six straight video games main into their Week 9 showdown. All through their win streaks, LSU knocked off a top-10 Ole Miss workforce behind quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’s 337 passing yards, whereas Texas A&M routed a top-10 Missouri workforce behind a balanced passing and speeding assault.
With greater than 100,000 anticipated on the recreation, LSU should restrict its pre-snap penalties after committing seven complete in the course of the first half of the workforce’s Week 8 victory over Arkansas.
Nussmeier has had an distinctive season after 2023 Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels was drafted No. 2 total by the Washington Commanders within the 2024 NFL Draft. Nussmeier is seventh within the nation in passing yards per recreation (317.4) and at the moment leads the SEC with 18 landing passes.
With a QBR of 82.7, which is eleventh within the nation, Nussmeier has been very environment friendly regardless of his completion share hovering round 55 % in LSU’s three convention video games. Per the Related Press, head coach Brian Kelly attributes that to LSU’s passing scheme, saying, “You are not getting a number of the cupcake throws that hold the chains shifting in another offenses.”
A predominant focus for LSU could also be stopping the Aggies from operating the ball. Led by head coach Mike Elko, Texas A&M is thirteenth within the nation with a mean of 218.6 yards speeding. Junior Le’Veon Moss has rushed for 674 yards and eight TDs this season. Regardless that LSU’s protection has struggled at occasions, Arkansas was held to 38 yards, whereas UCLA solely produced 14 yards on Sept. 21, which ought to give the Tigers some confidence.
Whereas LSU may additionally look to run the ball, freshman operating again Caden Durham, who has produced eight complete touchdowns, comes into the matchup battling a foot damage he suffered on Sept. 28.
With simply over a month left within the common season, the winner of this ranked contest will considerably enhance their probabilities of reaching the Faculty Soccer Playoff. LSU nonetheless has its annual showdown with Alabama on Nov. 9, and Texas A&M will host No. 5 Texas on Nov. 30, however the remaining schedule for each groups shouldn’t be significantly daunting.
