Baton Rouge, La. — Marcel Reed delivered another Heisman-worthy performance Saturday night, throwing for two touchdowns and running for two more as No. 3 Texas A&M stormed back from a halftime deficit to crush No. 20 LSU 49–25 at Tiger Stadium.
The unbeaten Aggies (8–0, 5–0 SEC) exploded for 35 second-half points, ending a six-game losing streak in Baton Rouge and notching their first win at Death Valley since 1994.
Freshman playmaker KC Concepcion put on a show, catching a touchdown and returning a punt 79 yards for a score, breaking the game open midway through the third quarter.
A Halftime Message Turns the Tide
Texas A&M trailed 18–14 at the break after a sloppy first half filled with miscues. But head coach Mike Elko’s fiery locker room speech flipped the momentum.
“You’re the better team,” Elko told his players. “But if you don’t start playing like it, you’re going to let this one slip away.”
The message stuck. The Aggies came out firing, dominating the final two quarters in every phase.
“We want to be a program that achieves things — not just talks about them,” Elko said after the game. “This group has earned every bit of this by how hard they fight.”
Reed Leads the Way
Reed was unstoppable, accounting for 310 total yards — 202 passing and 108 rushing — including a dazzling 41-yard touchdown scramble that left LSU defenders grasping at air. He also threw scoring passes to KC Concepcion and Jamarion Morrow, while Morrow added an 11-yard rushing TD to seal the win.
Reed’s performance bolstered his growing Heisman Trophy résumé as A&M improved to 8–0 for the first time since 1992, when the Aggies went 12–0 in the regular season.
LSU Falters After Strong Start
For LSU (5–3, 2–3 SEC), the night began with promise. The Tigers capitalized on Aggie mistakes — including a blocked punt for a safety and two first-half interceptions — to take an 18–14 halftime lead.
Freshman Harlem Berry’s 7-yard touchdown run and a field goal by Damian Ramos helped fuel the early surge. But once the second half began, the Tigers were buried under an avalanche of Aggie pressure.
Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier struggled to find rhythm, finishing with just 168 passing yards and one touchdown before being sacked five times and ultimately pulled from the game.
“We were struggling in protection, and I didn’t want to risk him getting hurt,” LSU coach Brian Kelly said. “That second half was unacceptable at every level.”
Aggies Dominate the Second Half
Texas A&M took control early in the third quarter when Reed powered in from five yards out to give the Aggies a 21–18 lead. Just minutes later, Concepcion electrified the crowd with his 79-yard punt return touchdown, slicing through LSU’s coverage unit to make it 28–18.
When tight end Nate Boerkircher punched in a 1-yard run early in the fourth, the Aggies led 42–18 — and Tiger Stadium, once deafening, fell silent as fans streamed toward the exits.
“We just started playing clean football,” Elko said. “When we do that, we’re a really good football team.”
A Personal Victory for Moffitt
After the game, the Aggies celebrated with strength and conditioning coach Tommy Moffitt, who was fired by LSU’s Brian Kelly in 2021.
Reed revealed that during practice this week, Moffitt placed a photo of Kelly on a tackling dummy — a bit of lighthearted motivation that fired up the team.
“We all started kicking and stomping on it,” Reed laughed. “We definitely played this one for Coach Moffitt.”
A&M has now outscored LSU 66–13 in the second halves of their last two meetings.
The Takeaway
Texas A&M: The Aggies continue to erase old demons — ending streaks and proving they belong among college football’s elite. Their 41–40 win at Notre Dame earlier this season was their first road victory over a Top 10 opponent since 2014, and Saturday’s triumph was their first in Baton Rouge in 31 years.
LSU: What began as a promising season has unraveled quickly. Once ranked No. 3 in September, the Tigers have now lost two straight and could fall out of the Top 25 entirely. Kelly’s team was undone by poor protection, penalties, and a lack of composure.
“Our fans have every right to be upset,” Kelly said. “We didn’t compete the way an LSU team should.”
Up Next:
Texas A&M: Travels to Missouri on Nov. 8.
LSU: Heads to Alabama on Nov. 8.
Texas A&M walked into Death Valley and left with more than a statement win — they left with proof that their championship ambitions are real, powered by a star quarterback who refuses to lose.
