The Tigers (8-3, 5-3 Southeastern Conference) were eliminated from contention for an SEC crown with two games left in the regular season and endured the first three-game skid of Miles' 11 seasons at LSU. Most of his completions came on check downs to running backs, including a critical third-down swing pass to Leonard Fournette for a 17-yard gain that sustained the Tigers' final scoring drive. LSU's frustrations on offense were encapsulated by the opening possession of the second half, which began on the A&M 25 after Derrius Guice's long kickoff return in which he broke more than a half-dozen tackles before finally getting pushed out of bounds. Hindered by a false start and a sack, the Tigers had to settle for a 46-yard field goal try, which Trent Domingue pushed wide right for the kicker's third miss of the game. Fournette, whose 1,741 yards rushing in his sophomore season has set a single-season school record, added his 18th TD of the season on a late 4-yard run. Miles asserted that LSU's offense is in pretty good shape because of its running game, which accounted for 244 yards against an A&M defense coached by former LSU coordinator John Chavis. Under Miles, LSU has lost five straight to Alabama and coach Nick Saban, starting with the Crimson Tide's lopsided triumph in the 2011-12 national title game.