No. 8 LSU’s matchup against No. 14 Texas A&M this weekend sets up an unexpected battle for first place in the Southeastern Conference.
At the start of the season, LSU was predicted to finish fifth, while Texas A&M was ranked ninth. Both teams have bounced back, winning six games in a row since their opening losses, and they are the only SEC teams without a loss in conference play.
LSU’s rise has been fueled by freshman running back Caden Durham’s strong performances and first-year defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s defense improving after linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. and defensive lineman Jacobian Guillory suffered season-ending injuries.
Texas A&M missed quarterback Conner Weigman for three games due to a shoulder injury, but Marcel Reed stepped in well as his replacement. The Aggies have relied on running back Le’Veon Moss and a defense led by Nic Scourton, which has allowed 20 points or fewer in five games.
Another Top 25 game in the SEC features No. 5 Texas facing No. 25 Vanderbilt. Texas is dealing with quarterback issues after last week’s loss to Georgia. Vanderbilt is on a three-game winning streak and is ranked for the first time in over ten years, having already defeated Alabama and aiming for another big win.
No. 20 Illinois will play its first regular-season game west of the Rocky Mountains since 2014 when it visits No. 1 Oregon. The Illini have won against three Top 25 teams after struggling against ranked opponents in previous years.
Oregon is ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 2012 and is 7-0 for the first time since 2013.
No. 24 Navy, part of one of the season’s feel-good stories along with No. 23 Army, will put its perfect record on the line against No. 12 Notre Dame at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
