Oct 19, 2024; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Texas A&M Aggies operating again Le’Veon Moss (8) reacts with teammates after a landing towards the Mississippi State Bulldogs through the third quarter at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Subject. Necessary Credit score: Matt Bush-Imagn Pictures If it is attainable for a staff to steer the Southeastern Convention and fly beneath the radar, No. 14 Texas A&M would possibly simply qualify for that distinction.
Since shedding the season opener at residence towards Notre Dame, the Aggies (6-1, 4-0) have quietly received six straight video games and are certainly one of simply two unbeaten groups in SEC play.
That standing will get an enormous check Saturday evening when the opposite undefeated staff in SEC video games, No. 8 LSU, invades School Station, Texas, for a prime-time matchup with potential School Soccer Playoff ramifications.
“I do not hearken to the skin noise,” Texas A&M linebacker Scooby Williams stated. “The one noise that issues is the noise between us. It is about listening to (coach Mike) Elko, our coaches and my teammates.”
Texas A&M has been listening and enjoying properly for the reason that calendar flipped to September. The Aggies got here off their first bye final week and topped Mississippi State 34-24 in Starkville, Miss., getting two touchdowns from Le’Veon Moss and changing 9 of 14 third downs.
Whereas the Aggies have been productive on offense throughout their successful streak, the actual key has been a protection that ranks within the prime 20 in factors allowed per sport (17.7). They’ve additionally been in a position to get off the sphere, limiting opponents to a 30.9 % conversion price on third downs, tied for seventeenth within the nation.
Even so, Elko is cautious of the Tigers’ offense, and for good purpose. With quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, 4 succesful receivers and an rising operating again, Caden Durham, they’ve the steadiness required to maintain any protection off-balance.
LSU (6-1, 3-0) additionally has an offensive line that hasn’t allowed a sack in 4 video games, together with its 34-10 victory final week at Arkansas.
“They’ve a clearly established No. 1 (receiver), however additionally they have three different folks, together with a decent finish, that may flat-out beat you for those who do not take note of them,” Elko stated. “The problem is week in, week out on this league. That is simply SEC soccer.”
The Tigers made that problem look pretty simple final week towards the Razorbacks, who had been coming off an enormous win over then-No. 4 Tennessee. LSU by no means trailed and saddled up Durham, a freshman who rushed for 101 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries.
What’s extra, Durham did it regardless of a foot harm that coach Brian Kelly stated lowered him to about 80 to 85 % capability. On the season, Durham has 382 yards and 6 touchdowns on the bottom, and he’s averaging 6.2 yards per carry.
“Numerous guys wouldn’t be within the sport,” Kelly stated of Durham’s harm. “He is acquired nice imaginative and prescient, he is acquired toughness (and he) retains his legs transferring. I am actually impressed with a freshman operating again that’s not enjoying at one hundred pc however (is) in there enjoying with grit and toughness.”
It helps that Nussmeier is such a potent power beneath heart. He has thrown for two,222 yards and 18 touchdowns with six interceptions this 12 months. Three Tigers have not less than 30 catches, led by huge receiver Kyren Lacy and tight finish Mason Taylor with 36 apiece.
LSU topped Texas A&M 42-30 in Baton Rouge, La., final 12 months, the seventh season in a row that the host staff received the matchup.
–Subject Degree Media
