Texas A&M vs LSU Recap
A disappointing way to end the season as the Aggies lose a close one in Baton Rouge. LSU 27
Texas A&M 24
By: The Hammer
Jaray Jenkins hauls in the winning touchdown. Photo via WAFB
This recap has taken me quite a bit to get to for a few reasons. I’ve been traveling for my main job which didn't give me a ton of time to dive in, but also I’ve been trying to come to terms with the brutal loss. I said in the preview a loss would be embarrassing, and that’s exactly what it was: embarrassing. I think this was the worst loss in Jimbo’s tenure at A&M. The 50-7 loss in 2019 is right up there, but I think all Aggies knew that game wouldn’t be close. A 43 point loss is far worse than it should have been, but the 2019 LSU team did that to a lot of teams and is arguably the best college football team of all time. The 2021 LSU team is a shell of their former selves and we still found a way to lose this game.
I won’t dive back into all the reasons this loss was an embarrassment, but if you feel so inclined you can read the preview where I laid out what was on the line here and why A&M had such an advantage. Before I really get into it, I do want to address the “forward progress” call when Demani Richardson clearly stripped the ball from LSU’s punt returner just before the Tigers game winning drive. That was an absolutely horrendous call and it’s a damn shame the officials impacted the outcome of the game. I firmly believe if they call that correctly and awarded the Aggies the ball, we win that game. However, Jimbo and this team should never have given the refs that chance. They should have been ahead by more and had the game put away that late in the 4th quarter, and they didn't handle business. The call was wrong and likely cost A&M the game, but good teams don’t allow that to happen, especially against a 5-6 team with a depleted roster and lame duck head coach.
Moose Muhammad had another solid game. The future is bright for number 7. Photo via Stephen Lew, USA TODAY Sports
I knew LSU would give the Aggies their best shot. Going to a bowl game and not finishing with a losing record matters, despite the narrative out there that no one cares about bowl games. These kids are competitors and they have pride. Couple that with their head coach, whom they love, being let go after this game and everyone knew the Bayou Bengals were going to scratch and claw all night. And they did, and they made one more play than A&M in the end.
Similar to other losses this year, it wasn’t just gutting that we lost a game, but it’s how we lost. The Ags started slow again, getting down 10-0 early and trailing 17-7 at the half after an inexcusable 61 yard touchdown off a screen pass from LSU with under a minute remaining at the half. But Jiimbo and the team yet again battled back in the second half, only this time actually took the lead, something we weren’t able to do against Ole Miss, Mississippi State or Arkansas, but then failed to close out the game and allowed LSU to score the winning touchdown with under a minute remaining.
Another loss filled with “what ifs” and “how did this happen?” To come all the way back and take the lead with two fourth quarter touchdowns, the game seemed to be in hand. Surely, this would be the game that A&M makes that comeback and holds on, right? No. It was not to be. The Aggies defense had only allowed a field goal in the second half before LSU got the ball back with under two minutes to play and drove 85 yards for a game winning touchdown. Max Johnson connected with Jaray Jenkins on a 28 yard pass for a touchdown with 20 seconds remaining, all but sealing the game for the Tigers.
Photo via Derick Hingle, AP
It really stinks seeing this group of guys lose four games knowing all the talent on the roster. And before anyone blames Calzada, he played well. 20/35 for 242 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions is a fine game, especially on the road in the SEC. Jimbo’s play calling was questionable at times, but at the end of the day the LSU defense had only allowed 20 to Alabama and 16 to Arkansas in recent weeks. They were playing well. We scored 24 but couldn’t get the stop at the end to win. It comes down to inches and LSU was able to make plays when needed. The story of this season in a lot of ways.
Going 8-4 is disappointing. I hate seeing these players lose tough games because I know the effort and buy in is there. Things just didn't break their way this year, and plenty of that was self inflicted. Time to move forward though and get ready for the bowl game against Wake Forest. Let’s get to nine wins and bring in a hell of a signing class.
