2018 LSU vs. Texas A&M football game
The 2018 LSU vs. Texas A&M football game was the final regular-season college football game between the LSU Tigers and the Texas A&M Aggies played on November 24, 2018 at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. The game set multiple National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) records, including the most combined points scored (146) in a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) football game.[3] The record was previously held by a game played between Western Michigan and Buffalo on October 7, 2017, which had 139 combined points over seven overtimes.[4] The 2018 LSU–Texas A&M game went likewise to seven overtimes and lasted nearly five hours, tying the NCAA record for longest football game with four others.[5][6] The 146 combined points are currently the second most in college football history since the NCAA started keeping records in 1937, behind the 161 points scored in a 2008 NCAA Division II game between Abilene Christian and West Texas A&M of the Lone Star Conference.[7][8]
2018 LSU vs. Texas A&M football game | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conference game | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date | November 24, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Season | 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stadium | Kyle Field | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Location | College Station, Texas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Favorite | Texas A&M by 3[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
National anthem | Fightin' Texas Aggie Band | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Referee | Matt Austin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Halftime show | Fightin' Texas Aggie Band | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Attendance | 101,501[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
United States TV coverage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Network | SEC Network | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Announcers | Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play) Matt Stinchcomb (analyst) Kris Budden (sideline) |
After the game-winning touchdown, Texas A&M fans ran onto the field in violation of the SEC's competition area policy. As a result, Texas A&M was fined a total of $50,000 and warned by the SEC that subsequent actions by fans in future games will result in penalties over $100,000.[9]
Background
LSU
Under the command of 3rd-year head coach Ed Orgeron, the LSU Tigers entered their final regular season game 9–2, 5–2 in SEC play. The Tigers were ranked No. 25 in the AP preseason poll, but were up to No. 5 for their fifth game after wins over No. 8 Miami and No. 7 Auburn. They fell to No. 22 Florida on the road to open October, but rebounded with a 20-point home win against No. 2 Georgia and a 16-point home win against No. 22 Mississippi State. This set up the most anticipated SEC game of the year - then No. 4 Tigers hosted No. 1 Alabama, falling 0–29. They picked up two more wins (at Arkansas and vs Rice), putting them at 9–2 going into their final game.[10] LSU was ranked No. 8 by both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll, and No. 7 by the College Football Playoff selection committee.
Texas A&M
With first-year head coach Jimbo Fisher, the Aggies came into their last regular season game with a record of 7–4, 4–3 in SEC play. Two of their first four games were against ranked teams - they lost against No. 2 Clemson and No. 1 Alabama. They gained their first conference win the next week against Arkansas, and their second the week after with an upset over No. 13 Kentucky. They peaked in the rankings at No. 16, but lost two straight games to Mississippi State and Auburn and dropped out. They rebounded with wins over Ole Miss, making them bowl eligible, and UAB; this put them at 7–4 going into their last game of the season.[11] Texas A&M received votes in the AP Poll and Coaches Poll, but was ranked No. 22 by the College Football Playoff committee.
Rivalry series
The game was the 57th meeting between LSU and Texas A&M. Prior to their 2018 meeting, the rivalry series stood at 33–20–3 in favor of LSU. Previously, the highest scoring meeting between the two teams was two years prior; LSU defeated Texas A&M 54–39, combining for 93 points. Texas A&M had lost seven straight against LSU, starting with the 2011 Cotton Bowl. The win would be Texas A&M's first win against LSU as a member of the SEC - their last win against the Tigers came on September 2, 1995, the last year for the Southwest Conference before Texas A&M and three other SWC members joined with the Big 8 to form the new Big 12.
Game summary
Game information
Game Time | Weather |
---|---|
Kickoff: 6:39 p.m. CST |
Temperature: 65 °F (18 °C) |
Game officials | |
Matt Austin (referee), Rodney Lawary (umpire), Chad Green (linesman) | |
Source:[2][12] |
Scoring summary
Scoring summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Game statistics
Team statistics
|
Game leaders
|
Post-game altercation
After the game, LSU analyst Steve Kragthorpe reported to media that an unknown student with sideline credentials had punched him in the pacemaker.[13] The student was later identified to be Texas A&M staffer Cole Fisher, the nephew of Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher. According to Kragthorpe, he was punched in response to telling Texas A&M’s receiving coach, Dameyune Craig, to “Move on” after Craig yelled profanities at LSU’s coaching staff. In defense of Kragthrope, the LSU director of player development, Kevin Faulk, attacked Fisher and a fist-fight began.[14] According to a release by Texas A&M University Police, Kragthorpe retracted his statements regarding being struck and that he required medical attention, although LSU disputed that a retraction was made.[15] Video evidence later disputed Kragthrope’s story and showed that he was not punched by Fisher. Instead, Kragthrope was seen yelling and confronting the Texas A&M receiving corps and was shoved away by Fisher. No reported injuries were sustained by Kragthrope, Faulk, or Fisher and no charges were issued.[16]
See also
- 2016 Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh football game, the record-holder for highest-scoring regulation FBS football game (non-overtime)
- 2001 Arkansas vs. Ole Miss football game, the first FBS football game to reach seven overtimes
- 2003 Arkansas vs. Kentucky football game, the second FBS football game to reach seven overtimes
References
- "LSU vs. Texas A&M - Game Summary - November 24, 2018". espn.com. ESPN. November 25, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- "Team Statistics (Final)" (PDF). 12thman.com. Texas A&M University Athletics. November 25, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- Boren, Cindy (November 25, 2018). "It took seven overtimes for Texas A&M to beat LSU in the craziest college football game of the year". washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- Myerberg, Paul (November 25, 2018). "LSU, Texas A&M play seven-overtime game for the ages as Aggies hold on for 74-72 victory". usatoday.com. USA TODAY. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- Zwerneman, Brent (November 24, 2018). "Texas A&M outlasts LSU 74-72 in seven overtimes". www.houstonchronicle.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- West, Jenna (November 25, 2018). "Texas A&M Beats LSU 74–72 in Seven OTs, the Highest Scoring Game in FBS History". si.com. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- "Aggies top LSU in 7 OTs in highest-scoring game in FBS history". espn.com. ESPN News Services. November 25, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- Freer, Michael (October 6, 2017). "100 years ago: Georgia Tech's 222-0 victory". www.espn.com. ESPN Stats & Information. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- "SEC fines Texas A&M $50,000 after Aggies fans stormed field". espn.com. ESPN News Services. November 26, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- "Roundtable: LSU's dreams of a 10-win season goes through Texas A&M". www.lsunow.com. The Daily Reveille. November 23, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- Underwood, Hannah (November 18, 2018). "A&M ends regular season with SEC matchup against No. 8 LSU". thebatt.com. The Battalion. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- Kercheval, Ben (November 25, 2018). "LSU vs. Texas A&M score: How the Aggies won epic highest-scoring game in FBS history after 7OT". cbssports.com. CBS Sports. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- "LSU's Kragthorpe on being punched after A&M loss: 'Damn, he got me right in my pacemaker'". www.theadvocate.com. The Advocate. November 25, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- "Photos: Scene of scuffle between LSU's Kevin Faulk, Texas A&M's Cole Fisher after Tigers' loss". www.theadvocate.com. The Advocate. November 25, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- Zwerneman, Brent (November 27, 2018). "A&M-LSU Saturday scuffle turns into war of words". www.chron.com. The Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- Zwerneman, Brent (November 26, 2018). "Video appears to dispute LSU coach's version of postgame melee at Texas A&M". www.chron.com. The Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 1, 2020.