Instant Reactions: Texas A&M 38, LSU 23

A&M outscores LSU 31-6 in the second half to grab control of the SEC

LSU went three and out on its first drive but was able to score three points on its second thanks in large part to Caden Durham. The freshman back/Texas native picked up 53 total yards on three consecutive touches to push LSU into A&M territory. The drive, however, would stall out as LSU would get to the A&M seven yard line, but had to settle for a Damian Ramos field goal.

The biggest mistake of the first half came on the ensuing A&M offensive possession when Sage Ryan caused Le’Veon Moss to fumble and the ball was recovered by former Aggie safety Jardin Gilbert. Even better was LSU got an extra 15 yards added to the field position thanks to a late hit by A&M.

LSU’s offense wouldn’t waste the prime field position and four plays later, Garrett Nussmeier found Mason Taylor in the end zone to push LSU’s lead to 10-0.

A&M wouldn’t go quietly however, as Moss redeemed himself and found the end zone on by far and away the worst defensive drive LSU had in the first half. The Aggies needed nine plays to go 75 yards and get on the board.

LSU had a chance to respond with points of their own, but Ramos would miss from 49 yards out—which would have been a career-best—but a bad hold killed whatever chance Ramos might have had.

Gifted with excellent field position, A&M wouldn’t be able to do anything with it and had to punt.

Pinned at the 10 yard line, Nuss hit Aaron Anderson over the middle and Anderson won a 60-yard foot race to push LSU’s lead to 17-7 that they would carry into halftime.

That’s about when the good things stopped for LSU because the game totally flipped in the second half thanks in large part to Texas A&M inserting Marcel Reed at quarterback and Nuss melting down. A&M ran away with it in the second half, outscoring LSU 31-6 and now have firm control of the SEC.

Reed ran the ball like Jayden Daniels, keeping the ball nine times for 63 yards and three touchdowns. LSU had absolutely no answer for Reed, in fact it looked like they didn’t even prepare for him.

While one QB rose to the occasion, the other shrank and Nussmeier played his worst football in the second half. Nuss threw three second half interceptions, each one more perplexing than the other. He finished the night 25-50 for 405 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Of course Nussmeier had absolutely no running game to rely on. The final line on the LSU rushing game? 23 carries, 24 yards.

LSU is by no means out of the race for the SEC Championship Game, but it’s how LSU lost tonight that stings the most. A&M beat LSU’s ass in the second half and the Tigers gave away a game they were in control of in the first half.

LSU will have the week off to pick themselves up off the mat and gear up for the stretch run. Up next? Oh just those guys from Tuscaloosa.