LSU Rolls Past No. 23 Texas A&M 35-6 in Death Valley
The short version
- No. 10 LSU beat No. 23 Texas A&M 35-6 at Tiger Stadium, dropping the Aggies to 2-2.
- It was Texas A&M's worst loss since 2019 and the largest of Mike Elko's tenure.
- LSU gained over 500 yards; A&M managed 197, with QB Marcel Reed throwing for 106 yards and an interception.
- Elko said no when asked about a quarterback change.
- It was A&M's second straight lopsided loss after a Week 3 defeat to Kentucky.
The 10th-ranked Tigers piled up over 500 yards of offense while the Aggies fell to 2-2 with their worst loss since 2019.
No. 10 LSU handed No. 23 Texas A&M a 35-6 defeat at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge on Saturday night, a result that dropped the Aggies to 2-2 on the season. The 29-point margin marked Texas A&M's worst loss since 2019 and the largest defeat of head coach Mike Elko's tenure through 30 games.
LSU, coached by Lane Kiffin, controlled the game on both sides of the ball. The Tigers rolled up more than 500 yards of total offense, while the Aggies managed just 197 yards. A 14-3 LSU halftime lead turned into a blowout in less than a quarter of second-half play.
Tigers wide receiver Jackson Harris was a particular problem for the Texas A&M secondary. He finished with six receptions for 163 yards and two touchdowns, per Pro Football Focus College.
For Texas A&M, junior quarterback Marcel Reed delivered another uneven performance. He threw for only 106 yards and one interception, and his struggles as a passer have curtailed the explosive offense the Aggies displayed under Collin Klein. After the game, Elko was asked whether he would consider a quarterback change and answered with a flat no.
The receiving corps also went quiet. Mario Craver and Isaiah Horton combined for just six catches and 74 yards, and offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins has drawn criticism for failing to feature the team's most talented skill players.
The loss was the second straight rough outing for Texas A&M, following a Week 3 defeat to Kentucky in which the Wildcats outscored the Aggies 21-0 after halftime and outgained them by 176 yards. Against LSU, the Aggies were outscored 21-3 in the third quarter and outgained by 164 yards, a pattern that left observers questioning the staff's second-half adjustments.
The result also flipped the script from a year earlier, when Texas A&M went into Death Valley and blew out LSU. On Saturday, many Tigers fans headed for the exits early for the second consecutive season in this matchup, this time celebrating a lopsided win rather than a loss. Louisiana native and UFC fighter Dustin Poirier joined LSU for its Tiger Walk before the game.
Fan reaction on social media was harsh, with some Texas A&M supporters calling for a quarterback change and others describing it as the program's worst team in two decades. ESPN College Football framed the result as revenge for LSU after last season's meeting.
Texas A&M enters Week 5 facing significant questions on both sides of the ball, with the offense searching for answers and a defense that has now been shredded in consecutive weeks. Whether the Aggies can correct course under Elko, who remains committed to Reed at quarterback, will shape the rest of their 2026 season.
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