By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
It will be the second straight Associated Press top 25 matchup for Lane Kiffin and LSU this weekend as the Tigers (2-1, 0-1 Southeastern Conference) return to Baton Rouge to host Texas A&M (2-1, 0-1), but it will not be the marquee top 10 matchup expected before games kicked off on Saturday.
The Tigers fell to No. 10 in the Week 3 AP Poll released on Sunday, and the Aggies dropped to No. 23, 14 spots from their Week 2 ranking. Kickoff between LSU and Texas A&M is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Tiger stadium.
LSU’s drop comes after a 32-24 loss at Ole Miss (3-0, 1-0) on Saturday. The Rebels dominated the first half and amassed a 24-7 entering the third quarter. The Tigers scored 17 points unanswered to tie the game in the second half, but a late touchdown by Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and a fourth-and-goal stop in the final minute sealed the Rebels’ second ranked win of the season. Ole Miss moved up to No. 4 after the win.
The previously ninth-ranked Aggies are also coming off a disappointing 31-21 loss to Kentucky (2-1, 1-1) in a game the odds makers deemed them 16.5-point favorites. The teams entered the half tied at 7-7 after a turnover on downs and an interception for the Aggies and a missed field goal and a punt for the Wildcats in the first two quarters. Kentucky scored 21 unanswered points in the third quarter, finding the end zone on all three of its possessions, and Texas A&M was unable to overcome the 28-7 fourth quarter deficit.
Kentucky remained unranked after the win but was the second team left off the poll receiving 98 votes.. The Tigers visit the Wildcats and first-year head coach Will Stein on Oct. 10.
No other teams in the previous top 10 lost on Saturday, and the top three spots in the poll remained the same. Texas leads the pack followed by Georgia and Notre Dame. Texas (3-0) goes on the road to Tennessee (3-0), who moved up one spot to No. 14 after a 42-9 win over Kennesaw State, this weekend.
LSU hosts Texas on Nov. 14 and visits Tennessee on Nov. 21.
Indiana (3-0), Miami (3-0) and Ohio State each shifted down one spot behind Ole Miss after beating unranked opponents. Alabama filled in to No. 8 after a 50-36 comeback win over Florida State and BYU (3-0) follows the Tide in the spot ahead of the Tigers.
Texas Tech (3-0) moved up just two spots to No. 11 after beating No. 21 Houston 28-26 at home. The Cougars dropped to No. 25. USC (3-0) remained at No. 12. The Trojans will have a matchup with No. 20 Oregon on Saturday. Penn State (3-0) shifted up one place behind them.
Utah (3-0) rose from No. 17 to No. 15 in the rankings thanks to the plummet from the Aggies and a six-spot drop from SMU (2-1). The Mustangs fell to No. 22 after a 41-31 road loss to Louisville (2-1), who is now ranked No. 16.
Iowa (3-0), Michigan (3-0), Missouri (3-0) and Oregon (2-1) remained in the same order from No. 17 to No. 20. Florida (3-0, 1-0) entered the rankings at No. 21 for the first time under new head coach Jon Sumrall after taking down Auburn (2-1, 0-1) 44-39 on the road. The Gators host Ole Miss on Saturday.
Mississippi State (3-0, 1-0) leapt into the No. 24 spot after a 41-34 win over South Carolina. The Bulldogs host Missouri on Saturday.
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