LSU is back on the road this week, traveling to College Station for a top-25 showdown with Texas A&M.
By some standards, it’s the game of the week. The Tigers and Aggies will get ABC’s primetime slot and it’s the only Week 9 game featuring two top 25 teams.
The conference and playoff implications are massive. LSU and A&M are tied atop the SEC, meaning the winner sits alone in first place and controls its own destiny.
Controlling a path to a conference title means controlling a path to a first-round bye in the playoff.
A win buys room for error too. If LSU left College Station 7-1 with two marquee wins on the resume, the Tigers could afford to drop a game in November and remain in the playoff mix. The same could be said for A&M, who already has a stomping of ranked Missouri under its belt.
The stakes are set. Now, here’s what LSU fans should know about Texas A&M before kickoff on Saturday night.
How the Aggies got here
Texas A&M is in its first year under head coach Mike Elko. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and Elko have a previous connection after Elko worked on Kelly’s Notre Dame staff in 2017.
Texas A&M began the year by hosting a ranked Notre Dame team. The Fighting Irish had their way with the Aggie offense and A&M fell to 0-1.
But in a story not that different from LSU’s path, A&M has ripped off six straight to move to 6-1.
A&M already has four SEC wins, including the aforementioned stomping of Missouri in which the Aggies won 41-10. Elko and crew kept it rolling last week with a 34-24 win over Mississippi State.
Talent was never the issue with the previous staff, and the core of that group remains in place. Elko landed some high-profile transfers too. This isn’t your typical first-year head coach roster. It’s one capable of competing for a playoff spot.
Connor Weigman’s season
Connor Weigman was a popular breakout candidate entering the year, but after a poor Week 1 performance that came along with an injury, the hype cooled.
Weigman missed a few weeks while Marcel Reed played well enough to keep A&M afloat. With Weigman ready to return, there was some doubt about whether he’d get the job back.
Weigman returned for the Missouri game and his recent play has looked more like what Aggie fans hoped for. Weigman is averaging 10.5 yards per attempt in his last two games — second in the SEC in that span. He’s completing 70.2% of his passes over that same period.
A&M’s EPA/dropback was in the 80th percentile or better against Missouri and Mississippi State. Weigman isn’t a threat to put up 400 yards and throw for five scores, but he’s playing efficient football and A&M’s passing attack is rounding into form at the right time.
A&M is strong against the run but may allow some big plays
A&M’s defensive line is one of the most talented LSU will see all year. The Aggies are loaded with blue-chip recruits and now have Nic Scourton too, one of the nation’s top transfers.
If you need a couple of yards, A&M is tough to run on. The Aggies are near the top of the SEC in stuffed run rate (runs that go for two yards or less).
But there are some holes — A&M has a tendency to allow big plays on the ground.
With the way LSU has run the ball this year, I doubt LSU’s ability to be efficient on the ground. But with running back [autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] getting back to full health, the Tigers have a chance to rip off some big runs.
Mississippi State RB Davon Booth had three 10+ yard runs on just 12 carries vs A&M. RB Johnnie Daniels had a big run of his own.
If LSU can get just a few of those from Durham, the Tigers’ offense is in good shape.
A&M lacks offensive firepower
The Aggies are still waiting for a playmaker to emerge on the offensive side of the ball. A&M’s leading receiver is Noah Thomas with just 289 yards on the year.
Le’Veon Moss is a bellcow at running back, but he’s coming off a game where he averaged 3.8 yards on 17 carries and didn’t record a single run over 10+ yards. Moss can be explosive, but it’s not consistent.
Explosive plays have hurt LSU this year, but A&M isn’t prone to chunk plays. LSU’s secondary can play with the Aggie receivers. If LSU tackles well and doesn’t let Texas A&M turn efficient plays into explosive plays, LSU can make it a long night for the A&M offense.
Players to know
On offense, you know about Weigman and Moss. Here are the other Aggies to watch.
LB Scooby Williams: According to PFF, Williams is the top-graded defender on the Aggie defense. He’s active in the run game and has the presence to step up and fill a hole or chase a play down from the backside. LSU will have to make Williams miss a couple of tackles.
EDGE Shemar Stewart: LSU’s offensive tackles will have their hands full with Stewart, who has 20 pressures on the year. LSU is one of the top pass-protecting offensive lines in the country, but Stewart will be a test.
LT Trey Zuhn: Zuhn continues to be one of the SEC’s most reliable offensive tackles. In 470 snaps this year, he’s yet to allow a sack.
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