No. 14 Texas A&M vs. No. 8 LSU Preview: Keys to the Game

With both teams without key players due to the NFL draft, this will simply be a grudge match between two SEC rivals.

Nov 26, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) and Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Enai White (6) in action during the game between the Texas A&M Aggies and the LSU Tigers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Texas A&M Aggies will host their long-time SEC rival, the LSU Tigers, on October 26 in a game that will be another chapter in this memorable rivalry between the two schools.

Many questions about this game will more than likely be answered in the contests leading up to the showdown. How will Conner Weigman look after missing a giant portion of last year? How will LSU's offense function without Heisman winner Jayden Daniels and their two best wide receivers now that they are all in the NFL now? How will the Aggie defense look under Mike Elko and Jay Bateman?

This, folks, is why the games are played.

Whatever the answers to these questions are, you can bet that the six-figure crowd that makes up the 12th Man at Kyle Field is going to do their best to knock LSU's concentration loose.

With what seems like an even matchup, let's see the keys to the game that can ensure the Maroon and White take the top spot in the SEC rankings.

Play Their Best Football Through All Four Quarters

Texas A&M seemed like they were geared up for quite the upset of Brian Kelly's LSU team last year in Baton Rouge, leading 24-21 going into the fourth quarter. Fast forward 15 minutes and LSU had gashed the defense for three passing touchdowns, while the Aggies could only squander one touchdown and a failed two-point conversion and fell to the Tigers 42-30.

One of those three touchdowns was hauled in by Kyren Lacy, the main returning receiver to the Tigers this year. If Texas A&M keeps the ball out of his hands and gives it all they have for the whole 60 minutes, they will have their best chance at winning.

Let The Ground Game Do The Talking

The Aggie running back may have taken a slight step back in yardage against Mississippi State, but the points were definitely still there in the form of three rushing touchdowns by the team. With many of LSU's key defensive players battling injuries, Le'Veon Moss and Amari Daniels should take full advantage of whatever hole they find in the Tiger defense.

Don't Forget About The Home Crowd

Loud? Yes. Distracting? Yes again. Effective? Also, yes. The 12th Man is expected to show up loud and proud for the contest with LSU, despite what LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier might have said earlier in the week.

After all, we all know what happened last time a Tiger quarterback tried to come at the Kyle Field crowd.

Obviously, the crowd isn't the ones playing on the field, but they remain a major factor in any Aggie football game and if used properly Saturday night, Brian Kelly and his boys could be in for a long night in College Station.

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