LSU rallied from an early deficit to dominate the Cotton Bowl, with Jordan Jefferson throwing three touchdown passes to Terrence Toliver en route to a 41-24 win.
Coryell Judie started the game on a high note for A&M with a long kickoff return that set up a 6-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Tannehill to Uzoma Nwachukwu. When Randy Bullock added a 39 yard field goal for the Aggies it was 10-0 early.
But LSU's Jordan Jefferson was about to have one of the best games of his career. He hit Terrence Toliver for a 42 yard touchdown late in the first quarter, then ran it in from a yard out early in the 2nd, and LSU had the lead, 14-10.
A&M responded with a great play when running back Cyrus Gray, seemingly caught in the backfield, threw to a wide open Nwachukwu in the end zone, and the Aggies were on top again 17-14.
But that would be their last lead of the game. LSU's Stevan Ridley, who was declared eligible for the game just days before, scored on a 17-yard run, then Toliver caught his 2nd TD pass from Jefferson late in the half to make it 28-17 LSU at halftime.
Toliver and Jefferson hooked up once again in the 3rd quarter, this time for 41 yards, to make it 35-17 LSU.
A&M's last chance came early in the fourth quarter after Tannehill found Kenric McNeal on a 4 yard touchdown strike to pull within two scores at 35-24. Then the Aggie defense stopped LSU on a 3rd and 10 on A&M's 33 yard line.
But LSU's Josh Jasper, one of the nation's best kickers, connected on a 50 yard attempt, making it 38-24. Worse for the Aggies, Tannehill was intercepted two plays later. The Tigers drove again inside the 10 and Jasper made another field goal, making the score 41-24 with 2:30 left. A&M fumbled on the next play from scrimmage.
Jefferson had 158 passing yards, most of those to Toliver who had 112 receiving yards. Ridley had 105 rushing yards and Spencer Ware 102 as the normally stout Aggie defense couldn't handle the Tigers on the ground. Tannehill had 204 passing yards but was intercepted three times; Cyrus Gray had an even 100 yards rushing to go with his TD toss.
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