LSU football stumbles at Texas A&M. How we graded Brian Kelly, Tigers after 1st SEC loss
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — LSU football was rolling in the first half at Texas A&M on Saturday night.
The Tigers led led by 10 points at halftime and things were looking up. But Aggies coach Mike Elko switched quarterbacks in the third quarter and freshman Marcel Reed had his way with No. 7 LSU en route to leading No. 14 A&M to 38-23 comeback inside Kyle Field.
Texas A&M (7-1, 5-0 SEC) is now the lone unbeaten in SEC team as the game featured the last two undefeated programs in conference play. For LSU (6-2, 3-1), the loss is its first since the season opener to USC in Las Vegas.
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Offense: D+
Turnovers will always doom you. It was surprising that Garrett Nussmeier made the mistakes he made by throwing the three interceptions.
Defense: B
LSU feasted on Conner Weigman and Texas A&M's inability to effectively throw the football. Le'Veon Moss was able to cause some damage but it was backup and zone-read quarterback Marcel Reed coming into the game that completely altered its trajectory.
Special teams: C-
One week after earning a game ball, place kicker Damian Ramos missed two field goals, a 48- and 49-yarder, in the first half.
Coaching: C-
Not much went right for LSU's coaching staff after halftime. Adjustments on the defensive side of the ball were nonexistent and the offense completely imploded once the momentum shifted in the game.
Overall: C-
Any way you slice it, this was an ugly loss for LSU. It controlled the game in the first half then had no answer for what Texas A&M was doing in the second half.
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Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Grading LSU football's tough loss at Texas A&M in game for SEC lead
