Marching into Week 9 of the college football season with a 5-2 overall record, No. 20 LSU had something to prove in its humbling battle against No. 3 Texas A&M.

The Aggies traveled from College Station to Baton Rouge with an unfortunate history tied to them, given that they hadn’t won a game in Death Valley since 1994.

That 30-year-long losing streak changed Saturday night, as they accosted the Tigers in a 49-25 win.

Here are three takeaways from LSU’s loss to Texas A&M.

LSU’s offense still struggling to keep up

The words “Nussmeier, sacked!” were called out in Death Valley over and over again.

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier was sacked seven times, four of which were in the fourth quarter alone. It tops the highest number of sacks taken in a game this season, which was three during LSU’s 23-7 victory over Louisiana Tech.

While the O-line failed to protect its quarterback, there were still some opportune moments on its side during the first half of the game. Redshirt junior linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. secured an interception just before the end of the first half, later prompting a 28-yard drive from sophomore running back Caden Durham.

The sea of maroon and white drowned out LSU’s offense as the Aggies managed six touchdowns and 426 yards by the end of the game, compared to LSU’s three touchdowns and 278 yards.

The D-line has its moments, but is inconsistent

Whether it was failing to close pockets of space, which prompted Texas A&M’s quarterback Marcel Reed to rush the first goal of the game, a 41-yard touchdown, or a lack of reaction time, LSU’s defense has certainly seen better nights.

Following Reed’s 41-yard touchdown, Texas A&M continued to bring the heat in the second half. Wide receiver KC Concepcion paved his way down the field, rushing for a 79-yard touchdown in the team’s favor.

The defensive highlights of the night were in the second quarter, with senior safety A.J. Haulcy’s interception of Texas A&M’s close touchdown and freshman safety Jhase Thomas’ impressive securing of a safety after blocking a punt.

While those bursts of energy were certainly something for Tiger fans to celebrate, they weren’t enough to bring the ball to LSU’s advantage as the Aggies drove past the defense, staining the field with a purple and gold loss.

If LSU wants to improve its defense, it’s going to have to maintain energy throughout its gameplay. Otherwise, it’ll be known as a defense with ‘good moments,’ rather than a solid defense overall.

A.J. Haulcy stepped up for the defense

With star linebacker Whit Weeks out of the picture for now, someone on the defense had to step up against Texas A&M, and that someone was safety A.J. Haulcy.

Storming into Tiger Stadium with 52 total tackles this season, Haulcy, who wears No. 13 on the field, brought the heat as he secured a momentous interception in the second quarter. This drove the ball in the Tigers’ favor as the Aggies rocked back and forth at third down on LSU’s third-yard line.

Following that interception, Haulcy secured 12 total tackles tonight, leading LSU’s defense.

Had there been more coordination on the defensive side of the ball, viewers would have likely seen bigger and better things from Haulcy beyond what he managed to bring to the field.