LSU

Under the command of 3rd-year head coach Ed Orgeron, the LSU Tigers entered their final regular season game 9–2, 5–2 in SEC play. The Tigers were ranked No. 25 in the AP preseason poll, but were up to No. 5 for their fifth game after wins over No. 8 Miami and No. 7 Auburn. They fell to No. 22 Florida on the road to open October, but rebounded with a 20-point home win against No. 2 Georgia and a 16-point home win against No. 22 Mississippi State. This set up the most anticipated SEC game of the year - then No. 4 Tigers hosted No. 1 Alabama, falling 0–29. They picked up two more wins (at Arkansas and vs Rice), putting them at 9–2 going into their final game.^[10] LSU was ranked No. 8 by both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll, and No. 7 by the College Football Playoff selection committee.

Texas A&M

With first-year head coach Jimbo Fisher, the Aggies came into their last regular season game with a record of 7–4, 4–3 in SEC play. Two of their first four games were against ranked teams - they lost against No. 2 Clemson and No. 1 Alabama. They gained their first conference win the next week against Arkansas, and their second the week after with an upset over No. 13 Kentucky. They peaked in the rankings at No. 16, but lost two straight games to Mississippi State and Auburn and dropped out. They rebounded with wins over Ole Miss, making them bowl eligible, and UAB; this put them at 7–4 going into their last game of the season.^[11] Texas A&M received votes in the AP Poll and Coaches Poll, but was ranked No. 22 by the College Football Playoff committee.

Game information

Scoring summary

Game statistics

Post-game altercation

After the game, LSU analyst Steve Kragthorpe reported to media that an unknown student with sideline credentials had punched him in the pacemaker.^[13] The student was later identified to be Texas A&M staffer Cole Fisher, the nephew of Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher. According to Kragthorpe, he was punched in response to telling Texas A&M's receiving coach, Dameyune Craig, to "move on" after Craig yelled profanities at LSU's coaching staff. In defense of Kragthrope, the LSU director of player development, Kevin Faulk, attacked Fisher and a fist-fight began.^[14] According to a release by Texas A&M University Police, Kragthorpe retracted his statements regarding being struck and that he required medical attention, although LSU disputed that a retraction was made.^[15] Video evidence later disputed Kragthrope's story and showed that he was not punched by Fisher. Instead, Kragthrope was seen yelling and confronting the Texas A&M receiving corps and was shoved away by Fisher. No reported injuries were sustained by Kragthrope, Faulk, or Fisher and no charges were issued.^[16]

Rule changes

Due at least in part to this game, the NCAA adopted rule changes prior to the 2019 season that required teams to go for 2 if they get a touchdown in the second overtime (previously this wasn't required until the 3rd overtime), and required teams to rotate two point conversion tries starting in the fifth overtime. ^[17] Prior to the 2021 season, the rules were further changed, so now teams rotate two point conversion tries starting in the third overtime. ^[18]

Although the 2021 Illinois vs. Penn State football game involved 9 overtimes, this 2021 game involved significantly fewer plays than the 2018 LSU-Texas A&M game, because now the third overtime and later involves just one play from each team.