Texas A&M's 2026 schedule is going to be a bear to navigate in the upcoming season, as the Aggies have multiple high-level opponents on their docket in the first year of the SEC's nine-game conference slate. Showdowns at Alabama and Oklahoma as well as visits from Tennessee and Texas highlight the schedule, but the earliest big game on the schedule is Texas A&M's return to Baton Rouge.
The Aggies will be facing Kiffin's Tigers in only the fourth game of the former Ole Miss coach's tenure in Baton Rouge, and only a week after the Bayou Bengals venture up to Oxford to take on the Rebels. Aggie fans are hoping that getting LSU early will be a boon for them, as the Tigers have a ton of talent on the roster as always.
Marcel Reed is undefeated against LSU in his time in Aggieland— though he wasn't the starter in the 2024 game, he was undoubtedly the main reason the Aggies won the game, as putting him in early in the second half led the Aggies from down 13 to winning by 15. Reed clearly has the Tigers' number— but this year, he may have some extra special motivation thanks to the man on the opposite sideline.
Marcel Reed adds fuel to matchup with Lane Kiffin and LSU with latest interview
In an interview with D1 Training, Reed was asked about his flip from Ole Miss to Texas A&M in the 2023 cycle. Fans recall that the Aggies pivoted to Reed following Eli Holstein's flip to Alabama, and they were able to wrest him away from Lane Kiffin and the Rebels— a move, according to this interview with Reed, that apparently was not all that difficult to make.
Marcel Reed opens up about the biggest decision of his football career: "It was a respect thing." 👀
— D1 Training (@D1Sports) June 24, 2026
On @theturf_D1, the Texas A&M QB shares why he decommitted from @Lane_Kiffin + Ole Miss and the moment that changed everything.
📺 FULL EPISODE: https://t.co/2UrPLaQIoO pic.twitter.com/rhKkjHFpq4
Reed references how, in the final stretch of that recruiting cycle, as he was wavering in his commitment to the Rebels, Lane Kiffin didn't even go in-home with him, despite other coaches doing so. That's what Reed clearly felt demonstrated a lack of respect, and part of why he eventually chose the Aggies over the Rebels.
That disrespect continued even after that incident, too. In his signing day press conference after Reed's flip, a clearly still-stung Kiffin said that he "wouldn't say we lost a quarterback," dismissing Reed's passing abilities out of hand. This is confusing, given that he had pushed for Reed's commitment quite some time ago, but Kiffin has never been the most consistent man.
Reed is now one of the best quarterbacks in the conference and an unquestioned leader on Texas A&M's football team. He's never faced off with Kiffin in his collegiate career, but he has flummoxed Kiffin's DC, Blake Baker, two years running. The disrespect that Kiffin has shown Reed only adds fuel to this fire.
Winning this early game is pivotal for the Aggies, so having this personal edge— especially when LSU will be coming after Texas A&M with an edge themselves— is helpful. Hopefully, Texas A&M can leverage this for a win down in Baton Rouge early on in the season.
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