Garrett Nussmeier – Page 4 – Syndication Server

Stock Up, Stock Down: A tale of 2 halves as LSU falls at Texas A&M

What looked like it could be a statement win for the Tigers turned into a disaster in the second half.

LSU took a trip to College Station, Texas, to take on the Texas A&M Aggies and their new head coach, Mike Elko. In the first half, LSU was on fire. They took a 17-7 lead into the break.

Unfortunately, that lead would not last. In the second half, LSU was outscored 31-6 as Nussmeier threw three interceptions and a new quarterback for A&M was unstoppable. Elko subbed in Marcel Reed in the second half for the Aggies and they scored on every drive he had. It was a rough loss for LSU as it suffered its first conference loss.

Let’s look at who saw their stock rise and who saw their stock fall in the Tigers’ loss to Texas A&M in Week 9.

Stock Down: Garrett Nussmeier

[autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] picked a bad night to have his worst game of the season. Nussmeier looked great in the first half but in the second half, he got bullied by the Aggies defense. He finished the night with three interceptions, the most interceptions he has thrown in a single game in his career.

Stock Up: Aaron Anderson

[autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] had another big game as he finished the night with three receptions for 126 yards and a touchdown. He led the Tigers in receiving yards with [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] right behind him.

Stock Down: Special Teams

[autotag]Damien Ramos[/autotag] had a rough night in College Station. He made his first field goal but he missed his last two field goal attempts as he doinked the first one and just missed the second one.

Stock Down: Abhorrent second half

After taking a 17-7 lead before halftime, LSU was outscored 31-6 in the second half. Nussmeier threw three interceptions and the defense had no answer for Marcel Reed. Every drive Reed started ended in points.

Stock Down: Running game

I have been harping on the LSU run game for two years in a row and I will continue to do it. Texas A&M outgained LSU on the ground 242-24. LSU finished the game with only 24 rushing yards. How do you plan on opening up the passing game if the other team does not have to respect your run game?

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Instant Analysis: LSU collapses in second half, suffers first SEC loss against Texas A&M

It was a tale of two halves for the Tigers in Saturday night’s frustrating loss to Texas A&M.

It was a tale of two halves for LSU on Saturday night against Texas A&M.

The Tigers dominated the first half and looked like they were on the way to a statement win on the road. But TAMU completely reversed the script in the second half, outscoring them 31-6 as it ultimately pulled away to win 38-23 and hand coach Brian Kelly’s team its first SEC loss as well as a severe blow to its College Football Playoff hopes.

LSU captured the early momentum on the road, taking a 3-0 lead before a fumble from star Aggies running back Le’Veon Moss deep in their own territory set it up with excellent field position. The Tigers’ offense cashed in with an excellent throw and catch from [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] to [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] to extend the lead to 10-0.

However, Texas A&M responded with an impressive drive to get on the board as Moss made up for the fumble with a touchdown to get on the board.

LSU had a chance to push its lead back up to 10, but a dropped touchdown from [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag], who mistimed his attempt to high-point a ball in the endzone in his first target of the season, brought out the field goal unit. From 48 yards out, [autotag]Damian Ramos[/autotag] missed just to the right as the Tigers wasted a scoring opportunity.

However, they wouldn’t waste their next possession. After starting at the 10, Nussmeier found [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] on a quick slant, and he did the rest as he hit a gap and found paydirt 75 yards later, outrunning the entire Aggie secondary.

LSU had the momentum entering the second half but missed some opportunities. Ramos missed another long field goal before halftime, and early in the third quarter, [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] threw an ugly interception to set the Aggies up with excellent field position.

After a 6 of 18 start for Conner Weigman, Mike Elko opted for a quarterback change to the more mobile Marcel Reed, and they quickly capitalized and cut the deficit to three. LSU had a chance to answer on the ensuing drive, but more special teams mishaps cost it as an early snap ruined the timing on Ramos’ kick, which couldn’t even be attempted.

TAMU responded with a quick touchdown drive led and capped off by Reed, giving it its first lead of the game. Things went from bad to worse as Nussmeier, who was excellent in the first half, tossed his second interception to give the Aggies great field position again. Though a penalty took a touchdown off the board, Texas A&M ultimately found the end zone to extend the lead to 11.

With their backs against the wall, the Tigers had to respond. Nussmeier made a few gutsy throws to lead them down the field, and after a touchdown pass to [autotag]Trey’Dez Green[/autotag] was ruled short at the one, Nussmeier did it himself on a sneak to cut the deficit back to one score. However, the two-point conversion attempt to cut it to three was no good, and LSU still faced a five-point deficit.

However, it ultimately didn’t matter. Once Reed entered the game, the Tiger defense couldn’t get off the field. On the following drive, Reed connected with Noah Thomas for a 54-yard gain, and Moss quickly scored again to push the lead to 12, the biggest lead of the game to that point for either team.

The offense got the ball back, but a well-read check down was intercepted, Nussmeier’s third of the game, and while Texas A&M couldn’t quite deliver the dagger, it hit a field goal to push the lead to 15 and make things difficult for the Tigers.

LSU turned the ball over on downs, officially ending any hope of a comeback. After dominating the first half, Nussmeier was just 11 of 24 in the second along with his three turnovers. He was also sacked twice and faced the most pressure he has all season, though he still managed 405 yards on 50 attempts with 50% completion.

Nussmeier had to lead the way on offense as there was no ground game to speak of. LSU totaled just 24 yards on 23 carries.

Defensively, it was a disastrous second half. The Tigers allowed 229 yards in the final two quarters and 376 overall. The Aggies ran for 242 yards and five touchdowns, with Reed accounting for 62 of those yards and three of those touchdowns.

It’s an ugly loss for an LSU team that seemed to have turned the corner in recent weeks. Now, it will have the week off to refocus before hosting Alabama in what has become a must-win game.

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LSU vs. Texas A&M: Preview and prediction ahead of Tigers’ pivotal Week 9 matchup

Here’s what to watch for when LSU and Texas A&M hit the field on Saturday night.

LSU and Texas A&M will battle for sole first place in the SEC on Saturday night. The two programs are the last remaining undefeated units in conference play and the winner enters the driver’s seat for a trip to Atlanta and the College Football Playoff.

Dating back to 2017, the Tigers and Aggies have traded wins. Texas A&M wins in College Station and LSU wins in Baton Rouge — that’s the script of the last six years.

LSU’s last win at Kyle Field was in November of 2016. It was the final game of Ed Orgeron’s interim stint before being named head coach, so it’s been a minute.

A&M is led by first-year head coach Mike Elko, a former assistant of Brian Kelly’s at Notre Dame. Elko had success at Duke and already has A&M on an upward swing.

Both teams are expecting to compete for the playoff late into November and a win on Saturday all but secures that.

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect when LSU and Texas A&M hit the field.

LSU vs. Texas A&M Betting lines

Spread: Texas A&M -1
Total: 54.5
Moneyline: Texas A&M -115

All College Football Odds via BetMGM.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

The line moved in LSU’s favor throughout the week. LSU was a field goal underdog at one point, but A&M is only getting a point now, per BetMGM.

Vegas is expecting a close one with an implied score of 28-27.

Despite a 6-1 record, Texas A&M is 2-5 against the spread. The two covers came against Florida and Missouri, but A&M failed to cover against Mississippi State last week.

LSU began the year 0-4 ATS, but has covered three straight spreads. LSU is rounding into form, but Kelly and Tiger fans will hope for another step on Saturday.

As for the total, it reflects the balance both teams are playing with. LSU and A&M are playing good football on both sides of the ball right now.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]

When LSU has the ball

LSU’s offensive line vs. Texas A&M’s defensive front is the matchup to watch.

A&M’s front seven is loaded with talent and the duo of Shemar Stewart and Nic Scourton off the edge is dangerous. But LSU’s line isn’t new to this challenge,

The Tigers faced one of the SEC’s top pass rushes when it faced South Carolina and another good one against Ole Miss. LSU QB [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] has taken one sack all year and I expect LSU’s protection to hold up again on Saturday.

The real test is in the run game. LSU’s offensive line doesn’t get a consistent push against top defensive lines. According to GameOnPaper.com, LSU ranks 99th in rushing success rate — a mark that won’t get LSU where it wants to go.

A&M will be able to keep LSU off schedule and stuff a few runs, but LSU’s offense knows how to operate in passing downs.

That’s what this matchup comes down to. Can A&M cover LSU or get to Nussmeier when the Tigers get in 2nd and 3rd and long?

When Texas A&M has the ball

Mike Elko tabbed Colin Klein to run the Aggies’ offense. Game 1 was rough as A&M struggled to score against Notre Dame. But since Week 1, there’s been a steady improvement.

A&M showcases a balanced attack that ranks above average in EPA/run and EPA/pass. Connor Weigman is averaging over 10 yards per attempt since returning from injury and RB Le’Veon Moss has proven to be a bellcow in the backfield.

The key for LSU’s defense: ensuring efficient plays don’t turn into explosive plays.

Nearly 65% of Weigman’s passing attempts travel nine air yards or less. A&M will get the ball out quickly and hope its skill guys make a play. It’s on LSU’s secondary to prevent those plays from getting mad.

A&M can take the completions that are there, but LSU must limit the catch-and-run opportunities.

The same can be said for Moss running the ball. Four to five yards per carry is fine as long as he’s not ripping off 15-yard runs. If LSU tackles well, A&M has to earn its points drive after drive. I’m not sure the Aggie offense is ready to do that yet.

LSU vs. Texas A&M Prediction

If this comes down to what offense makes just enough plays to win, I trust LSU. Nussmeier gives LSU a reliable QB to come through on third down and Durham has the elusiveness to rip off big runs.

I think LB [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] continues to lead a defensive renaissance and LSU keeps the Aggie offense in check.

I like to cover and win, 27-23.

Spread Pick: LSU +1

Total pick: Under

[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″]

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Texas A&M’s Mike Elko addresses Garrett Nussmeier’s comments about Kyle Field

Garrett Nussmeier’s comments from June after the release of College Football 25 are making the rounds again.

When EA Sports released College Football 25 over the summer, it made a fairly controversial choice when it came to the toughest place to play in the sport.

Texas A&M’s Kyle Field claimed the top spot, with Tiger Stadium coming it at No. 3. That’s a mistake that has since been rectified, with LSU jumping up to No. 1 while the Aggies fell out of the top 10. But it drew the ire of Tigers quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] at the time.

“Don’t even get me started, first off,” Nussmeier said in June. “There’s no place like Death Valley at night, first off, it’s not even close. Kyle Field is loud, it’s not Death Valley. The Swamp is loud, it’s not Death Valley.”

Those comments made the rounds with Aggies fans this week ahead of Saturday night’s top-15 matchup in College Station, and Aggies coach Mike Elko addressed them on Wednesday.

“I’m gonna leave the first part of that question for about 10 o’clock Saturday night,” Elko said when asked about Nussmeier’s comments and what made Kyle Field special, per On3. “The second part of that question, what makes it special, and I joked about this because I couldn’t believe in the spring there was conversations about the 12th Man showing up at the spring game. And I addressed it in the spring, there’s a lot of things I worry about, the one thing I never worry about is where the 12th Man will be when Texas A&M football is playing on Saturday,” Elko added. “They will be in Kyle, they will be loud and proud, and they will give us an unbelievable home-field advantage.”

Ahead of Saturday’s game, Nussmeier acknowledged that Kyle Field is a tough place to play and is “going to be loud.”

Both stadiums are among the toughest places to play in the country and seat more than 100,000 people. But there’s nothing quite like a night game in Death Valley, and LSU will look to prove that by claiming first place in the SEC with a win on Saturday night.

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LSU starting QB Garrett Nussmeier changes his tune regarding Kyle Field impact

LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier is now fully aware of Kyle Field’s in-game impact

Ahead of No. 14 Texas A&M’s Week 9 primetime home matchup against 8th-ranked LSU, Tigers starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, one of the top signal callers in the country after waiting his turn the last two years, discussed his first career start inside what could be a sold out Kyle Field.

Back in June, Nussmeier’s opinion of Kyle Field’s overall impact was that of most of the Aggies’ competitors, who want to look unaffected by any crowd until the results tell another story.

“Kyle Field is loud, I’ll give them that, but it’s not Death Valley.”

However, he now knows after likely watching Missouri quarterback Brady Cook’s mistake of downplaying the Stadium’s impact after falling 41-10 in Week 6.

“Obviously we acknowledge that it’s going to be a tough envrionment, it’s gonna be loud and exciting.”

Nussmeier referenced the “one game at a time” mentality that led to the Tiger’s comeback win over Ole Miss, knowing that Texas A&M’s defense would be ready to adjust when necessary.

The winner of Saturday’s game will more than likely stay atop the SEC standings for the rest of the regular season unless late-season lapses occur, making this one of the most important games of the year for both squads.

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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3 LSU football players to watch ahead of Texas A&M’s Week 9 matchup

Here are three LSU players to watch ahead of Texas A&M’s Week 9 primetime matchup

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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Is Texas A&M vs. LSU the most significant game since the Aggies entered the SEC?

We’re in for one heck of a game on Saturday night

Texas A&M (6-1, 4-1 SEC) enters Week 9 of the 2024 college football season on a six-game winning streak while still sitting atop the SEC standings after defeating Mississippi State 34-24 on the road for the program’s second conference road win this season.

While a win is a win, Texas A&M’s offense was somewhat disjointed, as starting quarterback Conner Weigman’s two interceptions hindered the Aggies from blowing out the Bulldogs, instead giving the home team life on several late possessions.

However, the Aggie’s red zone offense was excellent yet again. At the same time, early defensive lapses resulted in a 360-degree turnaround in the second half, limiting Mississippi State’s offense to under 100 yards after the half.

So, just how critical is Texas A&M’s upcoming matchup against LSU? Head coach Mike Elko is well aware of what the Tigers present from a talent standpoint.

“They’re extremely talented. They’ve gotten more and more comfortable with the defense.”

“Some of the nature progression and growth, you’ve seen that from them from start to finish.”

Knowing that their A-game is more than necessary to make Saturday’s game a fourth-quarter contest, the postseason implications make this game one of the biggest of the season. The winner on Saturday is in a clear position to reach the SEC Championship game.

On Tuesday, TexAgs Co-Owner Billy Liucci previewed the matchup with SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum, furthering the notion that Saturday night is the most significant game for Texas A&M since the program entered the SEC during the start of the 2012 season.

“It’s the biggest LSU-A&M ever…I think it’s the biggest home game the Aggies have had since they joined the SEC.”

In the series history, LSU currently leads 32-23-3. Still, since the legendary 74-27 7 OT Texas A&M win at the end of the 2018 season, both programs have traded wins year to year ever since, with the Tigers, behind current Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, helping secure a 42-30 win at home.

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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‘We trust Conner Weigman’ Texas A&M HC Mike Elko is sticking behind his starting QB

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko is firmly behind his starting quarterback

Texas A&M (6-1, 4-0 SEC) heads back to Kyle Field for what some now deem as the Aggies’ toughest game on the schedule against 8th-ranked LSU, as the Tigers have also won six consecutive games after losing their home opener.

Behind veteran quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, LSU’s offense has continued to improve. At the same time, the defense, minus star linebacker Harold Perkins, has looked better in some areas due to the play of sophomore backer White Weeks, who is currently second in the SEC in tackles with 68.

However, Texas A&M has been one of the best teams in the country, especially at home, since losing to Notre Dame to open the year. For the Aggies to get past the Tigers, starting quarterback Conner Weigman will need to elevate his play compared to what we saw during Saturday’s 34-24 win over Mississippi State.

After completing 15/25 for 217 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, Weigman’s bad footwork led to accuracy issues and poor decisions. Still, as we’ve seen through his last three starts, the redshirt sophomore should be trusted to fix his mechanical issues.

On Monday, head coach Mike Elko noted that Weigman was likely racing through his progressions while the relentless Mississippi State cowbells didn’t help calm things down mentally.

“He just got out of wack with his progression on the other two that could’ve been picked, but I do think that a piece of football is that not every throw is going to be right. You don’t come out of a game without stuff to correct.”

While these are easily correctable issues, Elko stands firmly behind Weigman ahead of hosting LSU, knowing that his signal-caller has stood up to the challenge when highly ranked teams come to Kyle Field, including Texas A&M’s 41-10 blowout win against then top 10-ranked Missouri.

“We trust Conner (Weigman), and Conner should trust himself because he’s really talented. We want him to go through his progression and make the throws he’s capable of making.”

“He knows he has to protect the football. … We’re not shying away from throwing the football.”

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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Garrett Nussmeier separating from nation in 1 key stat

Garrett Nussmeier has been one of the best quarterbacks in the nation when it comes to avoiding negative plays when pressured.

LSU quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] continues to impress with a strong 2024 campaign. Nussmeier entered the year with high expectations and so far, he’s putting that talent on display.

Nussmeier led LSU to victory late against Ole Miss and followed it up with a clean and efficient game vs. Arkansas.

But there’s one key area where Nussmeier is separating from the rest of the sport. That’s the ability to avoid sacks. Nussmeier took just one sack in LSU’s first seven games. He was pressured 65 times, giving him a pressure-to-sack ratio of 1.5%.

The only other QB in the country with a similar sample size and a pressure-to-sack ratio in Nussmeier’s ballpark is New Mexico’s Devon Dampier.

Nussmeier leads the SEC in pressure-to-sack rate, sitting an entire seven points in front of second-place Connor Weigman.

Nussmeier excelling in this area isn’t a surprise. From the moment he arrived as a freshman, Nussmeier got the ball out quickly. In his limited time in 2023, Nussmeier didn’t take a sack on 11 pressures. In 2022, he took just one sack on 16 pressures.

With an average time to throw of 2.62 seconds, Nussmeier ranks third in the SEC. However, his average depth of target is higher than that of Carson Beck and Quinn Ewers, the two SEC quarterbacks who get the ball out quicker.

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LSU has chance to take control of SEC with win over Texas A&M

The winner of LSU and Texas A&M will be in firm control of the SEC.

After winning its sixth straight game, LSU is tied with Texas A&M atop the SEC standings. The Aggies are 4-0 in conference play while LSU sits 3-0. They’re the last two remaining undefeateds.

That will change when LSU travels to College Station in Week 9. After all, someone has to lose.

The winner of the game will sit in pole position in the SEC, controlling its destiny with room for error.

If LSU wins, I’d expect the Tigers to be favored in their remaining games. That doesn’t mean the schedule gets easy. It includes home games with Alabama, Vanderbilt and Oklahoma along with a road trip to Florida.

But again, a win vs. A&M allows LSU to slip up in November and still be a in a great spot to compete for the SEC and make the playoff.

According to ESPN’s FPI, LSU has a 39.7% to make the playoff and a 12.9% chance to win the conference. Both of those marks are significantly higher than they were two weeks ago.

LSU is likely to be an underdog at Texas A&M, but the Tigers overperformed against Ole Miss and Arkansas. This could be a case of a team peaking at the right time — that’s good news as LSU gets set to head down the stretch.

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