Dilin Jones vs. Texas A&M: Why LSU Should Lean on the Run Game
LSU spent the week before Ole Miss wondering how much it could ask of Sam Leavitt. The answer Saturday may have been hiding in plain sight: ask more of Dilin Jones.
Jones has quietly become the most stable piece of LSU’s offense through three games. He has produced against Clemson, survived an ugly night against Louisiana Tech and then topped 100 yards in Oxford while the passing game struggled.
Quick Answer
Dilin Jones has rushed for 285 yards and three touchdowns on 64 carries through LSU’s first three games. He has two 100-yard performances, including 106 yards on 23 carries at Ole Miss. Against Texas A&M, LSU has a strong case for leaning on Jones early because Kentucky’s physical third-quarter surge helped turn a 7-7 game into a 31-21 Aggies loss.
Jones has been LSU’s most consistent offensive answer
Jones opened the season with 113 yards and two touchdowns against Clemson. He followed that with 66 yards against Louisiana Tech, then carried 23 times for 106 yards and a touchdown at Ole Miss.
Through three games, the production is simple: 64 carries, 285 yards, three touchdowns and a 4.5-yard average. He has also avoided losing a fumble.
The Ole Miss game showed LSU can trust him when the offense gets uncomfortable
LSU’s passing game never fully settled in Oxford. Jones still gave the Tigers a reliable way to stay on schedule, and his 2-yard touchdown run finally got LSU on the board after falling behind 17-0.
That matters entering Texas A&M week because LSU does not need to build the entire offense around hero-ball. A dependable early-down rushing attack can make Sam Leavitt’s job easier, keep Marcel Reed on the sideline and reduce the number of obvious passing situations.
Kentucky gave LSU a useful clue
Kentucky running back CJ Baxter carried 19 times for 87 yards and two touchdowns in the Wildcats’ upset of Texas A&M. Both of those scores came during the third-quarter avalanche that turned a tie game into a three-touchdown Kentucky lead.
The lesson is not that Texas A&M cannot stop the run. The lesson is that the Aggies can be worn down when an opponent stays committed, keeps the chains manageable and forces the front to defend every snap honestly.
Jones can also protect LSU’s quarterback
Every successful run changes the next call. Second-and-5 is different from second-and-10. Play action becomes credible. The pass rush cannot tee off. The linebackers have to honor the box.
That is especially important after Leavitt entered Ole Miss week dealing with an injury question. The healthiest version of LSU’s offense is one where the quarterback does not have to carry every difficult down.
The goal should be volume without predictability
Feeding Jones does not mean becoming one-dimensional. It means making Texas A&M prove it can stop LSU’s most reliable producer before abandoning him.
If Jones is averaging four or five yards per carry, LSU should force the Aggies to keep tackling him. If the box gets heavier, that is when Lane Kiffin can punish the response with play action and the perimeter game.
This feels like a 20-carry game
Jones has already reached 23 carries twice this season. Saturday’s matchup — ranked opponent, night game, both teams trying to avoid 0-2 in the SEC — looks like another game where LSU should be comfortable putting the ball in his hands 20-plus times if the efficiency is there.
The Tigers do not need to reinvent the offense after Oxford. They may just need to trust the part of it that has been working.
Current Jones statistics: Yahoo Sports 2026 game log.
Read the LSU–Ole Miss comeback breakdown.
See what Kentucky exposed in Texas A&M.
Main matchup hub: LSU vs. Texas A&M 2026 preview.
FAQ
How many rushing yards does Dilin Jones have in 2026?
Jones has 285 rushing yards on 64 carries through three games, an average of 95.0 yards per game.
How did Dilin Jones play against Ole Miss?
Jones rushed 23 times for 106 yards and one touchdown in LSU’s 32-24 loss at Ole Miss.
Why could the run game matter against Texas A&M?
Kentucky controlled the decisive third quarter against Texas A&M and running back CJ Baxter scored twice, showing that a physical, patient ground game can stress the Aggies.
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