Oct 18, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Louisiana State Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (18) stands within the pocket in opposition to the Vanderbilt Commodores in the course of the first half at FirstBank Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Photographs Texas A&M — not Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee or anybody else — is the highest-ranked group within the ultra-competitive Southeastern Convention.
The No. 3 Aggies are tied with the No. 4 Crimson Tide atop the convention standings as Texas A&M prepares for a matchup with No. 20 LSU on Saturday night time in Baton Rouge, La.
“This place really does have the potential that I believed it did after I took the job,” second-year Aggies coach Mike Elko mentioned. “We got here right here with a imaginative and prescient for what this program must be.”
The Aggies (7-0, 4-0 SEC) have been capable of win shut video games whether or not they have been high-scoring or low-scoring.
Texas A&M gave up 40 factors to Notre Dame on the street and gained by a degree. The Aggies scored simply 16 factors at residence in opposition to Auburn and gained by six factors. Final week, the surrendered 42 factors at Arkansas and gained by three factors as quarterback Marcel Reed accounted for 4 touchdowns.
“Whenever you speak about what a championship program appears to be like like, it appears to be like like a bunch of fellows being purchased in for when it is time,” Elko mentioned. “There may be going to return a time when the sport is on the road and the ball goes to return to you. Your problem is that you need to be able to make that play.
“We will not simply hold saying we wish to be one thing. Sooner or later, we will must exit and do it. … It is good to see this system proceed to maneuver in the suitable path.”
LSU (5-2, 2-2) is transferring within the fallacious path. The Tigers had been ranked as excessive as No. 3 early within the season, however they misplaced two of their previous three video games, most not too long ago falling 31-24 at then-No. 17 Vanderbilt final weekend.
The Tigers would possibly find yourself lacking the School Soccer Playoff for the fourth time in as many seasons underneath $100 million coach Brian Kelly.
“I perceive all people’s angst,” Kelly mentioned. “I imply, my meal would not style good. I am not in an awesome temper. I am not glad. … We have put in a lot preparation time and to to not come via in these conditions, the fellows are offended they usually’re annoyed.
“Some (followers) are saying that I am not getting it finished now. I get that, proper? We’re working onerous each single day to get our soccer group higher.”
Kelly mentioned he is happy with his gamers’ “resolve,” however the operating recreation has been under par and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and the protection have been inconsistent.
“We’ve not performed that complementary soccer the place each side are hitting on all cylinders,” Kelly mentioned. “We simply have not hit that time but. So we’ll proceed to organize our soccer group, work on the issues that may assist us get to that degree.
“It is a aggressive situation every week. The SEC is a troublesome league. It is aggressive every week. There aren’t any layups.”
–Discipline Stage Media
