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Texas A&M overtakes LSU to lead SEC race as Garrett Nussmeier collapses

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Mike Elko jumped from the sinking ship and boarded a speedboat to a decisive victory at Texas A&M.

With backup quarterback Marcel Reed at the helm of Texas A&M's offense, the Aggies were able to get out of trouble and storm to the top of the SEC standings.

Texas A&M to the SEC Championship Game? Then to the College Football Playoff? SEC Coach of the Year for Elko?

Anything is possible after the No. 14 Aggies cruised past No. 7 LSU 38-23 in front of 108,852 screaming fans at Kyle Field on Saturday night.

The Aggies are 5-0 in the SEC for the first time ever.

We thank Texas A&M's first-year coach for a bold third-quarter move and his backup quarterback for getting around a bewildered LSU defense that played like it had spent exactly zero seconds this week to prepare for Reed.

LSU's pass rush harassed Aggies starting quarterback Conner Weigman for two and a half quarters. The bags assembled. Weigman's incompletions piled up. LSU led by 10 points but should have had a bigger lead.

With the Aggies' season on the line, Elko ripped Weigman, a pocket passer, in favor of Reed.

Reed led three touchdown drives and threw just one pass.

There's no need to throw the ball in the air considering how confused the Tigers were by the reed option.

The quarterback, who runs like a wide receiver, ran the ball across the goal line three times, handed it off again to Le'Veon Moss, and brought LSU to the brink of playoff elimination.

“We needed a running threat back there the way they played against us,” Elko told ABC during an in-game interview.

Yes, I would say this strategy worked perfectly, and Reed's execution after Elko's big decision puts the Aggies in an enviable position for the playoffs.

The Aggies (7-1) only have one ranked opponent (Texas) left on the schedule.

Two months into the season, it's obvious the Aggies got their money's worth by firing Jimbo Fisher.

Elko continues to solve problems that would have Fisher looking to his playsheet for answers that he rarely received.

Marcel Reed rallies Texas A&M after Conner Weigman struggles

Would Reed keep the ball on the option or pass it to Moss? The Tigers guessed wrong game after game.

The quarterback change in the game marked a coaching career for Elko. He stuck with Weigman during the season-opening loss to Notre Dame, in which the Aggies scored just a single touchdown.

A quarterback change would have been a wise decision that evening. At least Elko didn't repeat his mistake.

Reed showed in September that he can lead the Aggies to success. He went 3-0 as a starter against inferior opponents while Weigman recovered from his injury, but once Weigman recovered, Elko put the offense back in his hands. And that paid off. Weigman looked as good as ever in a romp against Missouri.

Juggling two quarterbacks can be one of the most difficult balancing acts for even the most experienced coaches, but the Aggies' new boss has masterfully handled Weigman and Reed over the past few months while serving a winning product to a ravenous fan base.

The Aggies were hungry for offense in the first half as LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier showed off a big arm that has NFL scouts' mouths watering.

LSU's Garrett Nussmeier lavishes brief enthusiasm on the Heisman Trophy

At halftime, when LSU appeared to be in control, the idea that Nussmeier might throw himself into the middle of the Heisman Trophy race began to emerge in the press box.

Three second-half interceptions later, and we should hold off on booking Nussmeier a trip to New York City.

Nussmeier's first pick turned out to be particularly brutal. LSU had a two-point lead and the momentum it needed when Nussmeier threw over his body in a daring attempt on third down. Aggies defensive lineman BJ Mayes intercepted the pass. One play later, Reed celebrated in the end zone.

The Aggies had stolen the momentum and it wouldn't be long before they took the lead.

LSU's one-dimensional offense looks generous when Nussmeier's passes find their way to Kyren Lacy, Aaron Anderson or Mason Taylor, but when he loses contact, the Tigers are helpless to find their way because there is no ground game.

And Nussmeier was overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of the second half.

Aggies' loyal supporters, dressed all in black and waving white towels, shook and shook the college football cathedral all night, and Nussmeier and his Tigers were lost in the halftime blackout.

In the final minutes, the stadium's speakers played Garth Brooks' song “Calling Baton Rouge” to mock LSU.

Are we sure Austin is home to the best ball in Texas?

Ninety minutes of second-half football at Kyle Field clearly suggested otherwise.

With the Aggies keeping Nussmeier at bay and Reed providing a touch of offense, every Aggies fan in the building was probably looking forward to Thanksgiving weekend.

And then we'll decide whether Texas or Texas A&M rules the Longhorn State, but until then, there's no arguing about the Aggies' No. 1 spot in the SEC standings.

Blake Toppmeyer is the national college football columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer.

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