No. 8 LSU, No. 14 Texas A&M play to stay perfect in the SEC this week
No. 8 LSU, No. 14 Texas A&M play to stay perfect in the SEC this week
LSU offensive lineman Bo Bordelon (89) celebrates with LSU fans after they rushed the field after the team’s overtime victory against Mississippi in an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
LSU offensive lineman Bo Bordelon (89) celebrates with LSU fans after they rushed the field after the team’s overtime victory over Mississippi during an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
LSU head coach Brian Kelly reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko, center, celebrates with players as they walk off the field during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas A&M running back Le’Veon Moss (8) catches the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Randy J. Williams)
Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson (6) runs for yardage as he’s chased by Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell (11), and defensive back Keon Sabb (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) celebrates the team’s 40-35 win against Alabama after an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
LSU offensive lineman Bo Bordelon (89) celebrates with LSU fans after they rushed the field after the team’s overtime victory against Mississippi in an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
LSU offensive lineman Bo Bordelon (89) celebrates with LSU fans after they rushed the field after the team’s overtime victory against Mississippi in an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
LSU offensive lineman Bo Bordelon (89) celebrates with LSU fans after they rushed the field after the team’s overtime victory over Mississippi during an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
LSU offensive lineman Bo Bordelon (89) celebrates with LSU fans after they rushed the field after the team’s overtime victory over Mississippi during an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
LSU head coach Brian Kelly reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
LSU head coach Brian Kelly reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko, center, celebrates with players as they walk off the field during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko, center, celebrates with players as they walk off the field during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas A&M running back Le’Veon Moss (8) catches the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Randy J. Williams)
Texas A&M running back Le’Veon Moss (8) catches the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Randy J. Williams)
Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson (6) runs for yardage as he’s chased by Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell (11), and defensive back Keon Sabb (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson (6) runs for yardage as he’s chased by Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell (11), and defensive back Keon Sabb (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) celebrates the team’s 40-35 win against Alabama after an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) celebrates the team’s 40-35 win against Alabama after an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Things to watch this week in the Southeastern Conference:
Game of the week
No. 8 LSU (6-1, 3-0 SEC) at No. 14 Texas A&M (6-1, 4-0), 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ABC)
The last two undefeated teams in Southeastern Conference meet in a showdown to stay on top in the league with Texas A&M looking for its first ever 5-0 start to SEC play. LSU hopes to open 4-0 in the conference for the first time since 2019 when it won the national championship.
LSU ranks second in the SEC in passing offense at more than 323 yards per game. Quarterback Grant Nussmeier is second in the league (317 ypg) and tops the SEC with 18 touchdown throws. Texas A&M is second in the SEC in rushing this season with tailback Le’Veon Moss second with 684 yards and eight TDs.
The Aggies have been susceptible to the pass this year, giving up 209 yards per game through the air. Their nine TD passes allowed are tied for third-worst in the SEC. The Tigers rank in the middle of the SEC in allowing more than 114 yards rushing per game.
Texas A&M and LSU have traded victories with the home team winning the past seven meetings. The Tigers, ranked 12th a year ago, won 42-30 last season while the Aggies beat top-10 LSU 38-23 the last time they played at Kyle Field.
The undercard
No. 21 Missouri (6-1, 2-1) at No. 15 Alabama (5-2, 2-2), 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ABC).
Early in the season, this matchup looked like a battle for the top of the SEC. Now, it’s a battle for survival. The loser is certainly in trouble in the chase to make the league championship game. In the case of Alabama, a third loss coming right after a defeat at Tennesse e could eliminate the Tide from College Football Playoff consideration.
Missouri is coming off an escape at home against Auburn, 21-17.
Impact player
Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson leads the SEC at more than 119 yards rushing per game and his league-best 17 touchdowns are nearly double the output of any other back. Sampson ran for 139 yards and two scores as the Vols defeated Alabama 24-17 a week ago. Sampson has rushed for 100 or more yards in six of his seven games, with only Oklahoma holding him under that number (92 yards) in Tennessee’s victory.
Inside the numbers
Alabama quarterback Jaylen Milroe has accounted for 24 touchdowns (13 passing, 11 rushing) this season, fourth most in the FBS. ... Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart is the active FBS quarterback with at least 10,000 yards passing and 1,200 yards rushing. ... No. 5 Texas and No. 25 Vanderbilt are playing for the first time since 1928. The Commodores lead the all-time series, 8-3-1 including 4-0 in Nashville. It will be Vanderbilt’s first game as a ranked team since 2008. The team was ranked in the final poll of the 2013, but was not in next year’s preseason rankings. ... Kentucky’s defense is fourth in the country in first downs allowed. ... Arkansas receiver Andrew Armstrong is averaging 107.7 yards in pass catches per game, among eight FBS players with averages of 100 or more yards. ... Florida, No. 2 Georgia, South Carolina and No. 7 Tennessee are off this week.
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