Texas A&M Falls to 2-2 After 35-6 Loss at LSU in SEC Play
The short version
- Texas A&M fell to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in the SEC after a 35-6 loss at LSU in Week 4.
- Marcel Reed completed 10 of 26 passes for 106 yards; Mike Elko said "no" when asked about a quarterback change.
- LSU's Sam Leavitt threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns despite a leg injury; Jackson Harris had 163 yards and two scores.
- The loss followed a 31-21 home defeat to unranked Kentucky.
- Texas A&M hosts Arkansas next in a primetime matchup.
The Aggies dropped their second straight SEC game as Marcel Reed struggled, the secondary was beaten repeatedly, and Mike Elko shut down talk of a quarterback change.
Texas A&M fell to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in SEC play after a 35-6 road loss to LSU in Week 4. The defeat followed a 31-21 home loss to unranked Kentucky the previous weekend, giving the Aggies back-to-back double-digit conference losses. The program now appears likely to fall out of both the US LBM Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25.
Quarterback play was at the center of the problems. Starter Marcel Reed completed 10 of 26 passes for 106 yards, posted a 31.1 QBR, and averaged 4.1 yards per completion. The performance was a steep decline from last season, when Reed threw for 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns, though his career-high 12 interceptions that year had already raised concerns about his decision-making.
Reed's backup, sophomore Brady Hart, saw limited snaps once the game was out of reach and threw an interception almost immediately. After the game, head coach Mike Elko answered "no" when asked whether a quarterback change was possible, indicating either that Hart is not yet trusted or that Reed remains the only viable option for the rest of the season.
The Aggies' defense, and in particular a secondary Elko had previously called the best group he has coached at Texas A&M, was exploited throughout the night. LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt, limited by a leg injury for much of the game, completed 17 of 23 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 13.6 yards per completion.
LSU wide receiver Jackson Harris led the Tigers with 163 receiving yards and two touchdowns, while Winston Watkins added 107 yards. Texas A&M's cornerbacks held up early, but busted coverages in the second half allowed LSU to pull away. Transfer linebacker Ray Coney also struggled, missing tackles and appearing out of place in coverage.
First-year offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins drew criticism for his playcalling, particularly a tendency to call passes after successful runs that put Reed in difficult situations. The offensive line struggled in pass protection but was creating holes in the run game, and receivers Mario Craver and Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton are considered capable of producing big plays even on average throws.
Elko signed a six-year extension this offseason after leading Texas A&M to its first College Football Playoff appearance in program history. Since then, ten players from the roster were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the 17 transfer portal additions the program brought in have made little impact aside from kicker David Olano. Elko also has seven losses in three seasons as a betting favorite.
Speaking after the loss, Elko said: "We have to play better football. I don't know what else to say. We got our butts whooped. We have to execute what we're trying to execute. We have to look at everything and figure it out."
Texas A&M hosts Arkansas next in a primetime game. With the Aggies' College Football Playoff chances effectively gone, questions about the direction of the program and Elko's roster decisions will continue to grow if results do not improve.
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