Maybe it’s the curse of a Voodoo queen.
That theory is as good as any to explain why Texas A&M (or is it “Hex-us” A&M?) is jinxed in Baton Rouge.
The Aggies haven’t beaten LSU in the football stadium known as Death Valley in three decades. They’re winless there since joining the Southeastern Conference in 2012.
For the record, that’s six consecutive road losses to LSU. Les Miles saved his job by beating A&M in 2015. A blown call by officials doomed the Aggies in 2021. A fourth-quarter collapse thwarted them in 2023.
The third-ranked Aggies (7-0, 4-0) hope to avoid another Déjà vu-doo when they again venture to Baton Rouge on Saturday to face No. 20 LSU (5-2, 2-2).
A&M coach Mike Elko suggested that the Aggies are more talented and more physically capable of squaring off against the Tigers than in previous years.
“I think that’s the gap that we’ve tried to close as a program,” he said. “You know, someone’s going to crack through at some point on the road. Saturday is an opportunity for us to be the team that does it.”
Should A&M prevail, it would be the latest of many dubious streaks that have come to an end in less than two seasons under Elko.
Last season, the Aggies ended a 10-game losing streak in road games. Earlier this season, they defeated a top-10 opponent (Notre Dame) on the road for the first time since 2014. By doing so, they also posted their first victory over a top-10 non-conference opponent since 1979.
Also, the Aggies are 7-0 for the first time since 1994. Incidentally, that’s the last season the Aggies won in Baton Rouge.
“You know, we came here with a vision of what this program could be,” Elko said. "You know, the vision of this program has not been this program’s reality. We’ve talked about it since I got here.
“We can’t keep saying we want to be something. We’re actually at some point going to have to go out and do it.”
It won’t be easy. LSU is unbeaten at home. Its two losses were by five points to No. 8 Ole Miss and seven points to No. 10 Vanderbilt.
But A&M’s offense is one of the best LSU will have faced. Quarterback Marcel Reed, who came off the bench to lead the Aggies over LSU last year, has developed into one of the best passers in the SEC. Receivers Mario Craver and KC Concepcion are the most productive duo in the SEC.
A&M’s run defense is typically sound, while LSU’s running game has sputtered.
A&M’s pass rush is among the fiercest in the country. LSU’s offensive line is without injured starting left tackle Tyree Adams.
It's a great opportunity for the Aggies to break whatever Voodoo curse may have been placed on them.
1. Ty Simpson, Alabama, QB: Last week, Simpson passed for 253 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-20 victory over Tennessee. He has thrown for at least 200 yards in every game. Simpson is completing 70.2 percent of his passes. He has thrown for 1,931 yards and 18 touchdowns with one interception.
2. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana, QB: The transfer from Cal had his most productive game of the season last week in a 38-13 win over Michigan State. Mendoza passed for 332 yards and four touchdowns. He has thrown for at least 215 yards in each of the last six games. He has passed for 1,755 yards and 21 touchdowns with two interceptions while completing 73.5 percent of his attempts.
3. Haynes King, Georgia Tech, QB: Arguably, no individual has had more impact on his team’s success than King. Last week, he passed for 205 yards and rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown as the Yellow Jackets remained unbeaten with a 27-18 victory over Duke. That was the third game in which King passed for more than 200 yards and rushed for more than 100. Overall, he has passed for 1,176 yards and four touchdowns. He has rushed for 560 yards and 10 touchdowns.
4. Taylen Green, Arkansas, QB: Don’t hold him responsible for the Razorbacks’ moribund 2-5 record. Green is primarily responsible for Arkansas being at least competitive in most of its games. Green leads the nation with 2,499 yards of total offense. He has passed for 1,910 yards and rushed for 589. Last week, he passed for 256 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-42 loss to Texas A&M. He has accounted for 22 touchdowns (17 passing, five rushing).
5. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M, QB: Reed is back among the rankings after a stellar performance in the Aggies’ 45-42 victory over Arkansas. He passed for 280 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for 55 yards and another score. Reed is 22nd in the nation in total offense. He has passed for 1,770 yards and 15 touchdowns with four interceptions. He has rushed for 241 yards and four touchdowns.
Alabama: The Tide is on a roll with four consecutive victories over ranked teams.
Georgia: A season-closing clash with rival Georgia Tech could be dicey, but the Bulldogs will be favored in every remaining game…
Georgia Tech: …well, except maybe the regular-season finale against the possibly unbeaten Yellow Jackets.
Indiana: The Hoosiers won’t face a ranked opponent until — presumably — the Big Ten Championship Game vs. Ohio State.
Miami: The Hurricanes still control their destiny despite an upset loss to Louisville.
Notre Dame: Pitt would argue, but Navy — yes, Navy — might be the Irish’s best remaining opponent.
Ohio State: The Buckeyes have allowed just four touchdowns all season.
Ole Miss: A favorable remaining schedule gives the Rebels a great chance to finish 10-2. Maybe 11-1.
Oregon: The Ducks will have to earn it. Four upcoming opponents (Iowa, Minnesota, USC and Washington) are all 5-2.
South Florida: Only a loss to Miami mars the Bulls’ resume. Wins over upcoming opponents Memphis and Navy — and three losing teams — would clinch a playoff berth.
Texas A&M: Defense is a concern after a 45-42 win at Arkansas, but three of the Aggies’ remaining SEC games are against teams that rank among the league’s bottom six in scoring.
Texas Tech: Even with the loss suffered last week, the Red Raiders are in a good position to reach the Big 12 Championship Game. The only two winning teams remaining on the schedule (7-0 BYU and 4-3 UCF) both come to Lubbock.
No. 8 Ole Miss at No. 13 Oklahoma: Both teams have playoff aspirations. Ole Miss is fourth in the SEC in scoring. Oklahoma has the SEC’s best scoring defense.
No. 18 South Florida at Memphis: Face it, Navy, the winner of this game probably gets the “Group of Five” playoff bid.
No. 15 Missouri at No. 10 Vanderbilt: A lot of black-and-gold in the stands. A lot of scoring on the field.
No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 20 LSU: The unbeaten Aggies are looking to end a long losing streak in Baton Rouge.
No. 11 BYU at Iowa State: BYU is unbeaten. Iowa State is unbeaten in Ames.
