By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
EA Sports College Football 27 expects LSU to flip the script and bounce back from an emotional loss to Ole Miss last week with a 24-13 win over Texas A&M behind the Tigers’ own dominant first half this time.
The real No. 10 Tigers (2-1, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) and Aggies (2-1, 0-1) kick off on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in Tiger Stadium on ABC. The 24-13 predicted score is a point off of Tiger Rag editor Glenn Guilbeau’s predicted 23-13 LSU win in print in the August 2026 Season Guide issue of Tiger Rag Magazine.
“Blake Baker’s defense recovers (from previously predicted and actual loss to Ole Miss) and dominates the Aggies as edge Princewill Umanmielen sacks Marcel Reed twice,” Guilbeau wrote. “Running back Dilin Jones gains 103 yards on 22 carries as the Tigers go Old School.”
LSU was outscored 24-7 in the first half against the Rebels last week but came back to tie it 24-24 before losing 32-24.
Baker’s defense struggled to contain A&M quarterback Marcel Reed in the simulated game as it allowed 71 yards on 13 carries, but it was their first meeting where Reed did not find the end zone. Reed shredded Baker’s defense last season in the real game for 108 rushing yards and two TDs on 13 carries, and he completed 12 of 21 passes for 202 yards and threw two TDs in a 49-25 win in which A&M outscored LSU in the second half, 35-7, and coach Brian Kelly was fired the next day. In 2024, Reed rushed nine times for 62 yards and three touchdowns off the bench and completed 2 of 2 passes for 70 yards in a 38-23 win.
Tigers quarterback Sam Leavitt had a quiet night on the ground for his standards with just 37 rushing yards in the simulated game, but completed 17 of 19 passes for 198 yards and two scores. LSU finished with 387 total yards of offense. On the ground, Jones led the way, taking 23 carries for 70 yards. But a committee of backs produced, which has not happened this season on the field. Harlem Berry put up 48 yards, Stacy Gage ran for 15 and Caden Durham had 19 yards as well and the Tigers’ only rushing touchdown.
LSU opened its dominant first half with an 8-yard TD pass from Leavitt to wide receiver Jayce Brown, who led the team with six catches for 68 yards. Kicker Scott Starzyk added on to make it a 10-0 game at the end of the first quarter with a 51-yard field goal.
Durham’s 14-yard touchdown run and a 17-yard TD pass from Leavitt to wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr. gave the Tigers’ 24 points at the half, the same amount Ole Miss put up against them last week.
The offense went quiet in the second half as Starzyk missed on a trio of field goal attempts from more than 50 yards out. The Aggies turned on their half of the scoreboard midway through the third quarter with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Reed to receiver Mario Craver. He finished as Texas A&M’s top receiver with 75 yards on five catches.
In the final minutes of the game, Reed connected with running back Rueben Owens II for his second TD pass of the night, this one for 8 yards. Reed finished 18-of-41 passing for 194 yards, while Owens ran for 51 yards in 14 attempts.
The LSU defense was back to form, even without starting nickel/star Dashawn Spears. Linebacker Whit Weeks helped pick up some of the slack in the passing defense, breaking up four passes to go with his team-leading eight tackles. True freshman defensive end Lamar Brown had a breakout performance with two sacks. Both came against former LSU tackle Tyree Adams.
Pittsburgh transfer tight end Malachi Thomas stood out in relief for an injured Trey’Dez Green. Thomas was second on the team with four catches for 52 yards. He was followed by receiver Jackson Harris’s four receptions for 51 yards.
The latest CFB 27 ratings update dropped Leavitt from a 90 to an 89 overall while Umanmielen at edge and linebacker TJ Dottery each went up one rating to a 91 and 86 respectively. Left tackle Jordan Seaton (93), Green (93) and Umanmielen are still the top-ranked Tigers.
Craver is Texas A&M’s top-rated player at a 91. He is followed by safeties Dalton Brooks and Marcus Ratcliffe, who each have an 89 overall. The Aggies have an 86 overall team rating compared to LSU’s 88.
LSU Record In Real And Simulated Games
Real Life: 2-1
Week 1: 51-10 W vs. Clemson
Week 2: 45-14 W vs. LA Tech
Week 3 32-24 L at Ole Miss
EA Sports CFB 27: 3-1
Week 1: 44-10 W vs. Clemson
Week 2: 17-6 W vs. LA Tech
Week 3: 38-36 L at Ole Miss
Week 4: 24-13 W vs. Texas A&M
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