A Look Back at the History Between LSU and Texas A&M

As quirky as LSU and other SEC fanbases find Texas A&M’s traditions, one has been cycling through my brain since LSU’s loss in Tiger Stadium on October 25, 2025. The Fish Pond tradition: after home wins at Kyle Field, freshmen in the Corps of Cadets, known as “fish,” chase down the Yell Leaders, carry them across campus, and dunk them in the Fish Pond, a fountain in front of a dining hall about a 10- to 15-minute walk away. It’s a tradition that loosely resembles baptism. It was symbolic that after LSU’s brutal loss that night, you would have thought it was a home game for the Aggies. Brian Kelly was fired the next day, and after a six-week coaching search that ended with Lane Kiffin leaving Ole Miss, a new era of LSU football was born. As painful as it sounds for Tiger fans, A&M baptized LSU into the Lane Kiffin era.

Saturday will mark the 65th meeting between the two programs, with the stakes matching the vibes it always has since the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012. Two ranked teams coming off a loss in what feels like a playoff game in week four, considering the schedule both programs have the rest of the way.

The rivalry, although having taken on a new element since 2012, has been played sporadically since 1899. That first meeting was a resounding blowout in A&M’s favor, 52-0, the first of a three-game win streak in the series for the Aggies. LSU broke through with its first win in 1908, a 26-0 victory. Despite both programs having historic stadiums, this game has been played in nine different cities over the years: Baton Rouge, College Station, New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, Arlington, Galveston, San Antonio, and Miami. Removing four vacated LSU wins from 2012 to 2015, the Tigers hold the series record at 32-25-3. LSU also holds the longest win streak of the series at six, from 1960 to 1965, while A&M holds the active streak, having won the last two.

Since joining the SEC, the series has had its fair share of drama, from LSU nearly derailing Johnny Manziel’s Heisman-winning season in 2012, when he threw three interceptions in a 24-19 Tiger win, to A&M breaking LSU’s six-game win streak in 2018 with the controversial and historic seven-overtime game the Aggies won 74-72, to senior night in 2019 when Joe Burrow changed his name to Burreaux, leading the Tigers to a 50-7 revenge win en route to a national championship. LSU won again in 2020 before A&M reeled off three straight wins from 2021 to 2023; Marcel Reed has since led the Aggies to consecutive wins over the last two seasons.

In their most recent meeting referenced at the start, LSU led 18-14 at half, but the offense went quiet until late in the fourth quarter, allowing A&M to storm back for a 49-25 victory. For the Tigers, Garrett Nussmeier completed 22 of 35 passes for 168 yards and one touchdown to Trey’Dez Green. Barion Brown led Tiger receivers with four catches for 60 yards, while Harlem Berry led the team in rushing with 59 yards on nine carries and one score. A.J. Haulcy led the team in tackles with 12, adding an interception, along with one from Harold Perkins. For the Aggies, Marcel Reed completed 12 of 21 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns, along with the two aforementioned interceptions. Ashton Bethel-Roman led the team in receiving yards with 47 on one catch, while Mario Craver had the most receptions with four for 42 yards. Reed led the way in rushing with 108 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Jamarion Morrow added a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown as well. Dalton Brooks led the Aggies in tackles with six, while A&M’s defense recorded seven sacks on the day, including five on Nussmeier before he left the game and two from Cashius Howell.

Both teams come into the game with 2-1 records and are ranked. Number 10 LSU fell on the road to Ole Miss despite a second-half comeback, while number 23 Texas A&M was stunned at home by Kentucky. LSU and Texas A&M will meet for the second year in a row in Tiger Stadium, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. CT, broadcast on ABC.