In a stunning turn of events at Kyle Field, the No. 14 Texas A&M Aggies mounted a furious second half comeback to defeat the No. 8 LSU Tigers 38-23. The catalyst for the Aggies’ surge? Backup quarterback Marcel Reed, who replaced starter Conner Weigman in the third quarter and promptly led A&M to touchdowns on four of his first five drives.
Facing a 17-7 halftime deficit, the Aggies appeared destined for defeat. LSU had won an astounding 104 straight games when leading by more than 10 points at the break, the longest such streak in the nation. Texas A&M, on the other hand, had dropped 26 consecutive contests when trailing by double digits at halftime. But on this electric night in College Station, those trends were about to be shattered.
Reed’s Instant Impact
Coach Mike Elko’s decision to bench Weigman in favor of Reed paid immediate dividends. On his very first snap, the dynamic backup raced 8 yards for a touchdown, igniting the 108,852 fans in attendance – the third-largest crowd in Kyle Field history. From there, the Marcel Reed show was in full effect.
Though Reed attempted just two passes on the night, he made them count, connecting on both for 70 yards, including a 54-yard strike to Noah Thomas. But it was his electrifying rushing ability that left the Tigers’ defense grasping at air. Reed carried the ball nine times for 62 yards and three touchdowns, repeatedly gashing LSU on zone-read plays.
They were just crashing, crashing at our running backs. If they crashed, I pull the ball and run. And you see they did it a lot and I got a lot of opportunities to get some space and run and they didn’t really make any adjustments.
– Marcel Reed on his success against LSU’s defense
Aggies’ Defense Rises Up
Not to be outdone, the Texas A&M defense clamped down on LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier in the second half. Though Nussmeier finished with an impressive 405 yards passing and two touchdowns, he was picked off three times after the break, with two of those interceptions snagged by BJ Mayes, a transfer defensive back who had only recently transitioned from corner to nickel.
It was beautiful, my journey. My first time playing nickel in my life. So to come in, as fast as I did, pick the game up, and then start for a big-time game, LSU, that was amazing.
– BJ Mayes on his two-interception performance
Validating Elko’s Vision
For coach Mike Elko, the stunning comeback served as a powerful validation of his vision for the Aggies’ program. Taking over a team that had signed the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class in 2022 only to go 11-11 over the next two seasons, Elko aimed to change the narrative surrounding Texas A&M football.
The whole rhetoric about this program was NIL, mercenaries and selfishness and all of those things. This is a real program. It’s not fake. I’m not a politician running this program talking fast and BS-ing everybody.
– Mike Elko on proving doubters wrong
The Aggies’ 7-1 start, including a perfect 5-0 mark in SEC play, has certainly silenced many critics. But Elko knows the road ahead remains challenging, with a trip to South Carolina on deck and the ever-present target that comes with success.
The price of success and the price of winning games like that is you have a target on your back. What 5-0 means is we’re really going to have a heck of a time to get to 6-0.
– Mike Elko on the challenges ahead
A Night to Remember
For the Aggie faithful who packed Kyle Field, the come-from-behind triumph over LSU will long be remembered as one of the most thrilling nights in Texas A&M football history. A true team effort, sparked by the heroics of an unlikely hero in Marcel Reed, the victory showcased the grit, resilience, and potential of this Aggies squad.
As the final seconds ticked away and the maroon-clad fans erupted in jubilation, one thing was abundantly clear: Mike Elko and his Texas A&M program had served notice to the rest of the SEC. The Aggies are for real, and they’re just getting started.
