COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The LSU Tigers ended the regular season in disappointing fashion with a 38-23 loss at Texas A&M. With Saturday’s defeat at Kyle Field, LSU falls to 9-3 overall on the season and takes themselves out of contention for making the College Football Playoff.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
After LSU was forced to punt on its opening possession, A&M produced a methodical drive. The Aggies chewed up 7:37 off the game clock as they went 90 yards on 15 plays, picking up three third-down conversions, and found the end zone with a 10-yard touchdown run by Devon Achane.
LSU responded as Jayden Daniels led the Tigers down the field with a 12-play, 75-yard drive which was capped with a four-yard TD run by John Emery Jr.
After producing a 15-play drive on its opening possession, A&M then put together a 12-play, 58-yard drive but this time LSU’s defense stood tall on third down. The Aggies had to settle for a 25-yard field goal by Randy Bond.
LSU once again answered an A&M scoring drive with one of their own. The Tigers moved the ball to the Aggies’ 16-yard line but had to settle for a 34-yard field goal by Damian Ramos.
A&M took the field for a third time and scored for the third time.
The Aggies needed nine plays to go 72 yards and capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown pass from Conner Weigman to Donovan Green.
LSU’s defense began the second half by forcing A&M to punt for the first time, and then the Tigers marched down the field in nine plays. Emery Jr. capped the drive by scoring his second touchdown of the game — this time from 19 yards out. The extra point was good and the game was tied 17-17.
After forcing another A&M punt, LSU got the back but the Tigers would not be the one to score.
On third-and-one, Daniels was sacked-stripped by A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper and Demani Richardson returned it 27 yards for a touchdown.
A&M would extend its lead to start the fourth quarter when Weigman threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Moose Muhammed III — who hauled in the score with one hand.
The Aggies then added another score with a 10-yard touchdown run by Achane.
The Tigers would add one more touchdown drive — a third touchdown run by Emery but the ensuing two-point conversion was no good.
BIG NUMBER: 38
Entering Saturday’s contest, the most points A&M had scored against a FBS opponent was 28 (Ole Miss) and the most points the team had scored all season was 31 (against Sam Houston). The Aggies exceeded both of those totals against the Tigers.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: JOHN EMERY JR.
The Tigers running back was a bright spot as he scored three rushing touchdowns, rushed for 55 yards, and averaged a healthy 6.1 yards per carry.
UP NEXT: LSU (9-3, 6-2 SEC) will take on Georgia (12-0, 8-0 SEC) in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. and it can be heard on THE GAME 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles.