Instant Analysis: Texas A&M stuns LSU in finale, snuffs out Tigers’ CFP hopes
You can never look past anyone in the SEC, even teams that ostensibly have nothing to play for.
No. 5 LSU learned that lesson the hard way on Saturday night as it closed out the regular season on a sour note, losing to a previously 4-7 Texas A&M team 38-23 in College Station. The Tigers finish the regular season 9-3 and will still represent the SEC West in the conference title game in Atlanta this weekend, but their hopes of making the College Football Playoff in Year 1 are all but over.
The Tigers never led in this game, and though the first half was a back-and-forth affair, Texas A&M managed to take a 17-10 lead into the locker room. LSU tied it early in the third quarter, but a strip-sack against Jayden Daniels was returned for an Aggies touchdown to retake the lead, and they rode that momentum to a 38-17 second-half lead as this one was never really in doubt down the stretch.
LSU struggled quite a bit defensively, especially against the run. Devon Achane had a great game for TAMU in his return, rushing for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman quarterback Conner Weigman was efficient, completing 12 of 18 passes for 155 yards and two scores. He had a strong connection with receiver Moose Muhammad III, who led the way with five catches for 94 yards and a touchdown.
The Aggies managed to stifle talented linebacker Harold Perkins Jr., holding him to a relatively quiet night in which he had just two tackles.
Daniels, meanwhile, had one of his least efficient games of the season. He went just 21 of 35 for 189 yards and didn’t find the end zone with his arm or legs, though he did add 84 yards rushing. With Josh Williams out, John Emery Jr. stepped up. He took nine carries for 55 yards and three scores, though it wasn’t enough.
Jimbo Fisher’s team still isn’t going bowling, but it ends the year with a momentum-building win after a season that has been notoriously absent of high moments. On the other hand, LSU will have to salvage some motivation as it looks to capture an SEC title and spoil the best team in the country’s season when it takes on Georgia on Saturday.
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