Louisiana @ Texas A&M preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 9, 2006 ) UL Lafayette 7, Texas A&M 51

Texas A&M will continue to play multiple quarterbacks when the Aggies host Louisiana in their non-conference finale Saturday. Freshman Kellen Mond and senior Jake Hubenak both played last week after redshirt freshman Nick Starkel was lost with a broken ankle in the opener.

"Our plan (of playing both Mond and Hubenak) is not going to change," coach Kevin Sumlin said at Tuesday's press conference "Both guys need to be developed and continue to develop, and the only way to do that is to practice them both and play them both." The Aggies' offense shouldn't find much resistance Saturday against the Ragin' Cajuns, who are ranked last nationally in scoring defense (57 points per game) and near the bottom in total defense (590.5). Both teams can score points in the return game, where Texas A&M junior Christian Kirk has the best career punt-return average among active NCAA players (23.1 yards). Louisiana's Raymond Calais has two kickoff return touchdowns and Ryheem Malone is ranked third nationally in punt returns (39 yards per return).

TV: Noon ET, SEC Network. LINE: Texas A&M -24.

ABOUT LOUISIANA (1-1): Freshmen Trey Ragas (191 rushing yards, two TDs) and Elijah Mitchell (140 yards, two TDs) lead the Ragin' Cajuns' ground game, while junior Jordan Davis has thrown for 471 yards and three scores. Louisiana has allowed 11 rushing touchdowns in two games and is ranked 128th in rushing defense (383.5 yards) and 128th in opponent's third-down conversions (56.3 percent). It is, however, the only FBS school nationally ranked in the top 10 in both punt returns (third at 26 yards per return) and kickoff returns (10th at 37.2 yards).

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (1-1): Mond (15-of-38 for 132 yards, one TD) and Hubenak (12-of-15, 93 yards) both played well against Nicholls State, Sumlin said. Sophomore Trayveon Williams (256 rushing yards, three TDs) is averaging 7.8 yards per carry for an Aggie offense that hasn't committed a turnover. Kirk (11 catches for 107 yards, TD) is third in school history in career receptions (174) and tied for sixth in career touchdown receptions (17).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Sumlin is 17-0 against non-conference opponents at home and the Aggies have won 26 straight non-conference home games.

2. The Aggies have allowed fewer than 75 rushing yards in back-to-back games for the first time since 2011.

3. Louisiana is 1-63 all-time against current members of the SEC, with the one win coming against Texas A&M in 1996.

PREDICTION: Texas A&M 48, Louisiana 13