Young LSU Football Team Shows Future Is Bright vs. Texas A&M

LSU head coach Les Miles can finally smile. 

Miles' young talent came of age in a 23-17 victory over Texas A&M. The Aggies might have been on the wrong end of a controversial no-call late, but they should not have been in the game in the first place. 

LSU bludgeoned Texas A&M in the box score.

The Tigers rushed for 384 yards, which is the most ever for Miles against SEC opposition, per LSU's Todd Politz (h/t The Advocate's Ross Dellenger). They won the time of possession battle by over 22 minutes in the process, as Miles' offensive line took over the pace of the game. 

The high-powered Aggies offense only accumulated 228 total yards. Quarterback Kyle Allen threw for only 144 yards and could never get into rhythm.  

True freshman sensation Leonard Fournette was the biggest beneficiary of LSU's dominance at the line of scrimmage, as he rushed for a career-high 146 yards and a highlight-reel touchdown.

The Tigers' biggest star on defense was true freshman safety Jamal Adams. Adams co-led the team in tackles with eight and made an open field tackle to force an Aggies punt deep in their own territory. Fournette's bulldozing touchdown run would come four plays later.

Fournette and Adams might be teenagers, but they were men among boys against the Aggies. They also had help.  

Quarterback Anthony Jennings atoned for an early interception with 226 yards of total offense. Freshmen receivers Malachi Dupre and John Diarse combined for 70 yards receiving and a touchdown. 

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Adams was helped in the LSU secondary by another strong performance from cornerbacks Tre'Davious White and Jalen Collins. Middle linebacker Kendell Beckwith wreaked havoc up the middle.

The Tigers' win on Thursday assures them a non-last place finish in the SEC West, which is a major sigh of relief for Miles. A winless November would not have been a good look. He now gets a nice boost on the recruiting trail and in the bowl selection process.

Yet the win represented something even more in the long term. The Tigers have the talent to make another run at an SEC Championship.  

Expectations were too high for LSU to begin with, a team heavily reliant on first-year starters. After a disastrous 0-2 start in SEC play, a final regular-season record of 8-4 is par for the course. 

Every player mentioned so far in this piece will be back next season, which is scary for the rest of the SEC. Sure, the Tigers will have to make major changes on the offensive line. But every other position should be better next season. 

Miles has been dealt pocket Aces. It is up to him if he can get maximum value out of his hand.

Unfortunately for LSU, Alabama's Nick Saban holds the other two Aces in the deck. Auburn's Gus Malzahn, Arkansas' Bret Bielema and Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin have plenty of chips they can shove into the middle next season as well.

It will be tough, but LSU can win the SEC in 2015.

The Tigers' young talent is as good as any. It is now up to Miles to get them ready. 

Stats, rankings and additional information provided by cfbstats.com, ESPN.com and LSU Sports Information. Recruiting information provided by 247Sports.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow me on Twitter @CarterthePower.