Texas A&M is set to host No. 8 Louisiana State University in the regular season finale at Kyle Field on Saturday night.
What the Aggies lack in defense could be made up for by the offense. The Aggies rank fifth in total offense in the SEC, while the Tigers rank 11th.
Both teams will enter Kyle Field coming off convincing wins against non-conference opponents. A&M running back Trayveon Williams, who ran for 167 yards and two touchdowns against the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said A&M is in position to beat LSU for the first time since entering the SEC.
“I feel like we are matched up schematically great with them,” Williams said. “We are in a great position to go out there and play for four quarters and really get the win.”
Williams is the SEC’s leading rusher, totaling 1,326 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. The junior sits fifth all-time in single-season rushing yards entering the final game of the season. A&M quarterback Kellen Mond said he is impressed with what he has seen from Williams.
“It’s probably one of the biggest things for our offense,” Mond said. “How [Williams] has played lately, I see his growth. He’s still continuing to learn and work even harder, not only in the run game, but in the pass game. He’s been phenomenal.”
LSU boasts a pair of running backs capable of making plays. Senior Nick Brossette totals 861 yards and 13 touchdowns this year, while sophomore Clyde Edwards-Helaire has 623 yards and seven touchdowns to his name
For LSU, it’s a one-man show at wide receiver. Justin Jefferson leads the team with 725 yards and three touchdowns.
The next closest players are Stephen Sullivan with 278 yards, Dee Anderson with 241 and Derrick Dillon with 205.
Under center, both teams bring in quarterbacks that are having steady seasons and are doing enough to help their teams win. Mond has 2,680 yards, 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions this season, while LSU junior Joe Burrow has totaled 2,230 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions for the Tigers.
After Mond’s 192-yard two-touchdown game against UAB and the first time in four games without a turnover, tight end Jace Sternberger said he’s impressed with how the quarterback has developed under head coach Jimbo Fisher.
“That’s what’s really scary about Kellen and Coach Fisher,” Sternberger said. “They’re a tag team. … It’s really going to be scary to see how Kellen keeps progressing. Every game I feel like he is getting better.”
Sternberger continued his stellar season against UAB, catching four balls for 85 yards and two touchdowns. The junior now has 729 yards and eight touchdowns on the year, both all-time bests for an A&M tight end. Despite the individual numbers, Sternberger said he is focused on winning.
“It’s cool and all,” Sternberger said. “At the end of the day, all you really care about is winning. If you’re playing hard and competing, all the accolades come with it. It’s really just a plus.”
There is confidence within the Aggies’ locker room that this could be the year A&M takes down LSU, but Fisher knows his team will need to be sharp.
“[It will take] a great game,” Fisher said. “We’ll have to look at the film, but we’ll have to play better in all three phases.”