LSU Whips Texas A&M, 35-6

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Keisha Smith is a Contributing Writer who attended college at Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge. She is currently writing a book on south Louisiana culture.

How the game unfolded

LSU never trailed. After a three-and-out on its first series, the Tigers marched 82 yards in eight plays. Dilin Jones broke a 36-yard run and capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown, making it 7-0 late in the first quarter.

Texas A&M answered with a long drive that stalled inside the LSU 10. David Olano kicked a 24-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3. Sam Leavitt then connected with Jackson Harris on a 16-yard timing pass to the corner just before halftime for a 14-3 lead.

The third quarter belonged to LSU. On fourth-and-1, Lane Kiffin called a shot: Leavitt hit Harris in stride for a 57-yard touchdown that made it 21-3. Backup quarterback Landen Clark, an Elon transfer, punched in two short runs (4 yards and 2 yards) around another Olano field goal, this one from 53 yards. The Tigers led 35-6 after three quarters and coasted from there.

Standout performances

Leavitt completed 17 of 23 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns despite a hamstring or calf injury that forced him to rotate with Clark at times. Harris had a breakout night with six catches for 163 yards and both scoring throws. Winston Watkins Jr. added five receptions for 107 yards. Jones led the rushing attack with 63 yards and a score.

Marcel Reed, who had burned LSU in previous meetings with his dual-threat ability, was contained. He finished 10-of-26 for 106 yards with an interception and minus-13 rushing yards on 10 carries. LSU recorded multiple sacks (reports cited four or five) and two interceptions, including one by Tamarcus Cooley. Reed was pulled in the fourth quarter.

Defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s unit, which had struggled against mobile quarterbacks in recent seasons, executed a plan built over the offseason. “That’s what good coaches do,” Kiffin said. “They spend an offseason to game-plan for a specific game like this.”

Bigger picture

The win was LSU’s first over Texas A&M since 2023 and revenge for a 49-25 home loss last year that contributed to Brian Kelly’s firing. Kiffin, in his first season, called the result “good payback.” Texas A&M coach Mike Elko called it his largest defeat at the school and said his team “is not playing at nearly a good enough level.”

LSU hosts McNeese next Saturday. Texas A&M returns home to face Arkansas. The Tigers’ 3-1 September keeps College Football Playoff hopes intact after a statement performance in Death Valley.

Keisha Smith

Keisha Smith is a Contributing Writer who attended college at Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge. She is currently writing a book on south Louisiana culture.