What DeBoer took from Texas A&M’s second-half beatdown on LSU

Sep 13, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer surveys the field during the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images

As the Tide had just finished up its late-game comeback against South Carolina on Oct. 25, Texas A&M was kicking off to the LSU Tigers in Death Valley. It was LSU’s chance for a statement win before heading into its bye week before facing the Tide.

When the first half ended, the Tigers held an 18-14 lead over the No. 3-ranked Aggies. Going into halftime, it looked like LSU had control of the game. However, Texas A&M emerged from the tunnel and laid the hammer on the Tigers.

The Aggies, led by Heisman contender quarterback Marcell Reed, scored 35 unanswered points. In the blink of an eye, the Tigers were down 49-18 before they scored a last-second touchdown, making it a 49-25 loss for LSU.

It ultimately led the Tigers to fire their head coach, Brian Kelly, the next day, leaving them to promote running backs coach Frank Wilson to interim head coach with a matchup against the Crimson Tide looming on the horizon.

For the Tide, this matchup means a lot; it’s a historic rivalry, and a win keeps postseason hopes alive.

But on a closer look, there’s more. Although Alabama no longer plays the Aggies in the regular season, with the way the College Football Playoff rankings sit right now, an Alabama-Texas A&M championship game is entirely possible. However, it may be more likely that the two end up meeting in the SEC Championship game before then.

As the Tide is taking its time to prepare for the Tigers, head coach Kalen DeBoer spoke about what his takeaways were from Texas A&M’s second-half beatdown on LSU almost two weeks ago.

“Well, they had a touchdown drive there,” DeBoer said. Obviously, the punt return [touchdown] really broke the game open there in the second half. I mean, I just think Reed does a lot with his feet; he had a big game running the football, that’s a weapon right there, on top of the other skill players they have that make people miss. Those receivers that A&M has are guys that get the ball in their hands, and they can go do some things. So, I thought it was a balanced attack that A&M had, and they just continued to attack it. Once they got it to a two-score lead, then the pressure is really on LSU at that time. It was a good game, very good game. LSU had them at halftime. So, going back to LSU, they’re just extremely talented. You know, preseason, one of the top teams picked, and there’s a reason for that; it’s because all of the skill and all of the guys that they have on that team that can play a high level of football.”

LSU is the focus for the Tide right now, but DeBoer and the staff know that A&M is a dangerous team. The odds that Alabama and the Aggies face each other this season are high, and Alabama will need to ensure that it’s ready when the time comes.

That first starts with LSU on Saturday. This is a chance for the Crimson Tide to emerge from its bye week and earn a statement win, proving that it has not lost its edge and that it controls its own postseason destiny.

Many may try to compare the point differentials between Alabama-LSU and Texas A&M-LSU, but it’s not about that. It’s about winning and taking this time to clean up and improve to ensure that there will be a postseason for the Tide.