Just a couple of years ago, LSU and Texas A&M nearly burned down the scoreboard. This time in Kyle Field, LSU was barely to score.
LSU (3-4, 3-4 SEC) was dominated by No. 6 Texas A&M (6-1, 6-1 SEC) on Saturday night in College Station, Texas as the Aggies looked to pad their College Football Playoff profile for the selection committee.
One late touchdown pass by Max Johnson to Terrance Marshall helped LSU avoid its first road shutout since 2014, when LSU lost to Arkansas 17-0. Regardless, Texas A&M celebrated a 20-7 win.
To be fair, the LSU defense did about as good a job as they could have been asked to do.
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Of the 20 points given up by LSU in the game, only 13 were scored against the Tigers defense. LSU quarterback TJ Finley threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the third quarter to help put the game firmly out of reach.
Whether it was the weather or just signs that the LSU defense has found a way to improve, this game could not possibly fall on the shoulders of the defense and defensive coordinator Bo Pelini.
LSU’s defense really got to Aggies quarterback Kellen Mond and rendered him largely ineffective in the passing game.
Mond ended the game completing just 11 of 34 pass attempts for 105 yards. Mond’s ability to do damage on the ground was held down as well, as Mond rushed for just 27 yards, highlighted by a 26-yard gain. Texas A&M did get a big night from running back Isaiah Spiller though.
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Spiller led all players with 141 rushing yards and a touchdown. But there were few moments when it looked as though LSU’s defense did not belong on the same field as one of the top 10 teams in the country.
The LSU offense certainly picked a bad night to take a step back.
Just one week after signs of encouragement against Arkansas, LSU’s offense was unable to crack what has been one of the top defenses in the country this season. TJ Finley started the game at quarterback but Max Johnson got some work throughout the game before finishing the game leading the offense for the Tigers.
Finley completed nine of 25 attempts for 118 yards with a critical interception. Johnson ended his night only marginally better with completion percentage and yardage, and was responsible for the very late touchdown with the game all but officially declared for Texas A&M.
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LSU’s offensive struggles have been one of the constant hurdles for the team this season, and for at least one more week, LSU will be forced to face questions about the quarterback situation going into its next game.
But it wasn’t just the passing game that was a struggle for LSU against Texas A&M. LSU could not get things going on the ground either. Tyrion Davis-Price carried the football 11 times for a total of 18 yards, and he led the team in rushing. LSU, as a team, combined for 36 rushing yards.
Tiem is running out on the 2020 season to end the year on a positive note, and the offense is once again set to go back to the drawing board with a monumental task on deck. LSU faces Alabama next weekend.
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