Texas A&M (6-1, 4-0 SEC) has won six consecutive games after falling to Notre Dame in the 2024 season opener.
The Aggies came out of Starkville (MS) with a 34-24 win over Mississippi State in Week 8 and will now host 8th-ranked LSU on Saturday night for a primetime matchup with plenty of postseason implications on the line.
This week, head coach Mike Elko and select players took questions from the media, previewing what looks like one of the year’s biggest games. Both teams are 6-1 and undefeated in SEC play.
For the Aggies to earn a victory, starting quarterback Conner Weigman will need to play with more confidence and better footwork. In contrast, Texas A&M’s pass rush will need to pressure LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier to make quick decisions in the pocket.
Look at the top LSU players the Aggies will face on Saturday night.
LB Whitt Weeks
After it was announced that linebacker and top pass rusher Harold Perkins Jr. would miss the rest of the 2024 regular season, LSU’s defense had to step up in his absence, especially at linebacker. Enter sophomore backer Whitt Weeks, who is currently second in the SEC in tackles (68), including his 18-tackle performance in LSU’s 29-26 OT win over Ole Miss.
Weeks’ speed, instincts, and enhanced pass rush prowess (2.5 sacks) could be a problem for the Aggie running game.
RB Caden Durham
LSU’s offense has become more balanced over the last three weeks, mainly due to dynamic freshman running back Caden Durham’s physical running style, pairing well with what wide receiver Kyren Lacy brings to the passing game.
While I could have easily chosen Lacy as the player to watch, LSU head coach Bryan Kelly will more than likely want to run the football early, meaning Texas A&M’s improved run defense needs to plug holes and, most importantly, set the edge early to force QB Garrett Nussmeier to pass more than he’d like.
In six games this season, Durham has rushed for 382 yards and six touchdowns with an impressive 6.2-yard per carry average.
QB Garrett Nussmeier
Junior LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier stayed the course the last two years after playing behind current Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels when he could have easily transferred elsewhere.
Through seven games this season, the junior signal-caller is a clear Heisman candidate, throwing for 2,222 yards, 18 touchdowns, and six interceptions, consistently displacing impressive accuracy and ball placement, and is by far the team’s MVP and the main reason for the program’s 6-1 record.
Texas A&M’s secondary struggled in the first half against Mississippi State last Saturday, but it adjusted in the second half. However, facing Nussmeier and LSU’s bookend NFL-level tackles is by far the defenses’ most significant challenge this season.
Texas A&M will host LSU at home on Saturday, Oct. 26th, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ABC.
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