Texas A&M · SECTexas A&M players defend Reed as LSU tests offense
The Aggies rank 75th nationally after losing to Kentucky and take their Reed-Wiggins plan to 2–1 LSU on Sept. 26.
SEP 23, 2026
Texas A&M offensive ranking entering Week 4
Reed passing-game ranking entering Week 4
Texas A&M record entering the LSU game
01 · The NewsReed-Wiggins Plan Faces LSU Test
On Tuesday, Texas A&M players defended quarterback Marcel Reed and first-year offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins after the Aggies’ 31–21 loss to Kentucky, putting execution ahead of any call for an offensive change before Saturday’s trip to LSU.
Mario Craver said receivers were regularly open against Kentucky and that the running game worked early before breaking down in the second half. Texas A&M’s offense ranks 75th nationally entering Week 4, while Reed’s passing game ranks 74th.
Craver, who caught a career-high 11 passes against Arizona State on Sept. 12, backed Reed and Wiggins.
“Honestly, it's just a slow start. We know that this offense has the capability of doing what we did last year. I don't think it's the playcaller, I don't think it's anything we just have to execute better as a team,” Craver said.
The Aggies believe designed runs for Reed and a stronger running game can open passing lanes and create the explosive plays the offense has lacked. Reed threw for 163 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in Texas A&M’s 48–20 win over Arizona State, but the offense struggled to sustain that production against Kentucky.
Texas A&M plays at LSU on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Aggies’ players have defended the quarterback and coordinator; against LSU, the offense has to defend that plan on the field.
02 · The StakesThe LSU Test
At 2–1, Texas A&M now faces a road test that will show whether the Reed-Wiggins plan can keep the Aggies in the SEC race or increase pressure for changes on offense. LSU is also 2–1, and Josh Pate’s preseason bracket projected the Tigers as the No. 8 playoff team.
03 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineWhat Most People Are Missing
The hidden pressure is the calendar, not merely LSU’s preseason standing. From Sept. 26 through Oct. 24, Texas A&M plays five games, with three road trips: LSU, Missouri and Alabama. Arkansas and The Citadel fill the two home dates, leaving no open date before the Aggies reach Alabama.
Texas A&M went 11–2 and 7–1 in conference play in 2025, so the 2–1 opening has narrowed the margin for another uneven offensive night. LSU is the first checkpoint in a month that can build pressure for a season-level decision about Reed and Wiggins.
04 · The Open QuestionsQuestions to Be Answered
Would Texas A&M reconsider Marcel Reed’s starting job after another offensive struggle at LSU?
Texas A&M has not said whether Reed’s job would be reconsidered after Sept. 26. The first concrete answer would come from the starter and quarterback snap distribution against Arkansas on Oct. 3. Keeping Reed would extend Wiggins’ plan into the next schedule stage; a change would show LSU shifted the evaluation from execution to personnel.
05 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching
Can the offense sustain its production?
Texas A&M struggled to sustain its output against Kentucky after Reed threw for 163 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Arizona State.
Do the designed runs open passing lanes?
The Aggies believe designed runs for Reed and a stronger running game can create the explosive plays the offense has lacked.