Around CFB: College Station serves as site of Week 9's biggest ballgame

It’s a big weekend of college football with several historical encounters.

Notre Dame and Navy vie as ranked opponents. So do Texas and Vanderbilt. Illinois hopes its upcoming game against the nation’s top-ranked team goes as well as the last time the Illini faced No. 1.

Yet, the biggest game of the weekend is the clash of Southeastern Conference leaders Texas A&M and LSU.

Never has so much been at stake when the Aggies and Tigers have squared off.

Seven times they’ve met as ranked opponents. Four were non-conference games in September. Another was a meaningless bowl game in January.

As SEC rivals in 2012, they both had losses to Florida. The next year, they were both eliminated from the SEC Championship race when they met.

This time, the No. 8 Tigers (6-1, 3-0) and No. 14 Aggies (6-1, 4-0) are both on six-game winning streaks and unbeaten in conference play. The winner has an inside track to the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta and the College Football Playoff.

“Obviously, looking ahead to LSU, it’s going to be a huge challenge,” Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said. “It’s going to be a great environment. It’s going to be an opportunity for us to go out there and show we belong on this stage … That we’ve taken this program where we all thought we wanted it to go.

“They’re a great team. We’re a talented team. It’s going to be fun.”

Fun could be one description. Games vs. LSU at Kyle Field have certainly been fun of late.

The Aggies have prevailed the last three times LSU visited. They won a seven-overtime marathon, 74-72, in 2018. They triumphed 20-7 in the rain in 2020. As former receiver Jalen Preston suggested, they pissed in LSU’s cornflakes, 38-23, in 2022.

LSU coach Brian Kelly also anticipates a fun night at Kyle Field.

“This is going to be a great matchup,” Kelly said. “Two undefeated teams in the SEC. You’re playing at Kyle Field, one of the great stadiums. It’s going to be a great matchup. This is what you signed up for. This is going to be fun.”

Figuring out who has an edge isn’t fun.

LSU has a better offense. The Tigers average 450.7 yards and 34.1 points. But A&M has a superior defense. The Aggies allow an average an average of 325 yards and 17.7 points.

LSU’s passing game is ranked second in the SEC. A&M is eighth in pass defense, but A&M is second in rushing offense. LSU is ninth against the run.

The Tigers are vulnerable in pass defense. They’re 15th in the SEC, but A&M is 13th in pass offense.

LSU’s pass rush has produced the third-most sacks in the SEC. A&M’s offensive line has allowed the second-fewest.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The 74-72 triumph in 2018 was Texas A&M’s first victory over the Bayou Bengals since joining the Southeastern Conference.

Following a 34-10 victory over Arkansas last week, Kelly called A&M the best team in the SEC. He also said his team was emerging as a championship contender.

Elko acknowledged A&M didn’t play particularly well in a 34-24 victory over Mississippi State last week, but he found reason to be encouraged.

“Sometimes you don’t have your best stuff, and you’ve got to find a way to win. We did,” he said. “We lost the turnover battle, which is not a good recipe on the road. We didn’t win the fourth quarter, which is not a good recipe for success.

“We had a bad two-minute drive at the end of the half on defense. We had a bad four-minute at the end of the game on offense and still found a way.

“That’s a testament to the grit and toughness of the group.”

That’s a great point. But both teams will need to play their best to expect to prevail in the biggest game of the weekend.

Heisman Watch (If my ballot was due today)

1. Cam Ward, Miami, QB: The nation’s leading passer had another big game last week. Ward passed for 319 yards and four touchdowns in a 52-45 victory over Louisville. Ward is completing 68.7 percent of his passes. He has thrown for 2,538 yards and 24 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 190 yards and three touchdowns. Ward leads the nation in total offense with 2,728 yards.

2. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State, RB: Boise State was open last week, so the nation’s leading rusher did not add to his totals. He has still rushed for over 200 yards more than anyone else and has done so in fewer games. In just six games, Jeanty has rushed for 1,248 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has 10 runs of 30 yards or more, nine of 50 yards or more, seven of 60 yards or more and four of at least 70 yards. Jeanty faces a serious challenge this week against UNLV, which is 20th in the nation in run defense.

Chris Pietsch / USA TODAY NETWORK

With Dillon Gabriel leading the way, the Oregon Ducks are ranked No. 1 in the nation for the first time since 2012.

3. Dillion Gabriel, Oregon, QB: He has passed for at least 257 yards and two touchdowns in every game for the No. 1 ranked Ducks. Last week, he completed 84 percent of his attempts for 290 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-0 thrashing of Purdue. That was after he threw for 341 yards and two scores in a win over Ohio State. Gabriel has also rushed for four touchdowns.

4. Kyle McCord, Syracuse, QB: Even though Syracuse was idle last week, McCord is still ranked second in the nation in passing. He has thrown for 2,160 yards in six games for a 360-yard average. He’s thrown for at least 339 yards and two touchdowns in every game for the 5-1 Orange.

5. Kaleb Johnson, Iowa, RB: The nation’s second-leading rusher last week was held to fewer than 100 yards for only the second time. He gained 98 yards on 14 carries and scored a touchdown in a 32-20 loss to Michigan State. Overall, Johnson has rushed for 1,035 yards on 132 carries for a 7.84 average per attempt. He also has 16 receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown.

Games to Watch

No. 8 LSU at No. 14 Texas A&M: As previously mentioned, both teams are riding six-game winning streaks. Both are unbeaten in the SEC. The winner will have an inside track at the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff.

No. 12 Notre Dame vs. No. 24 Navy: It’s a rare matchup when both are ranked. It will be the first time they’ve met as ranked opponents since 2019, when No. 16 Notre Dame beat No. 21 Navy, 52-20. However, unranked Navy defeated No. 19 Notre Dame 23-21 in 2009.

No. 20 Illinois at No. 1 Oregon: The Illini haven’t faced the No. 1 ranked team since 2007. That year, they upset No.  1 Ohio State in Columbus. Deja vu in Eugene?

No. 21 Missouri at No. 15 Alabama: The Tide have not had three losses before Halloween since 2006. Coach Mike Shula was promptly fired. Kalen DeBoer won’t have to worry about that. Right?

No. 5 Texas at No. 25 Vanderbilt: A month ago, who would’ve guessed this would be a matchup of ranked teams? Liar. The last time Vandy was ranked was Oct. 18, 2008. The Commodores lost to Georgia. Texas knows all about losing to Georgia. But will the Longhorns let Georgia beat them twice?