Texas A&M’s afternoon against Missouri left plenty of wreckage behind, but a few individual performances still stood out amid the mess. On a day when the Aggies struggled to get much of anything going, defensive lineman Brandon Davis-Swain and linebacker Noah Mikhail were among the few bright spots.
Davis-Swain, wearing No. 11, looked like a player hitting another gear. The broadcast noted that the Colorado transfer was only now getting healthy, and that showed in how disruptive he was, especially in the first half.
Even as Texas A&M’s defense wore down late because the offense couldn’t stay on the field, Davis-Swain gave the unit real juice. For a second-year defensive tackle, that kind of showing gives Aggie fans something to hang onto.
Mikhail delivered a similar kind of impact. He was working into the backfield and finishing plays cleanly all afternoon, even after the game had started to tilt badly. His rise from backup to what looks like a starting-caliber linebacker has been one of the more encouraging developments for Texas A&M this season, and he figures to be a major piece in the middle of that defense moving forward.
On the other side of the ball, the offensive line was a disaster zone, especially inside. True freshman Sam Roseborough found his way into the game, but not in a way that suggested the coaches had unearthed a breakthrough.
It felt more like the staff was scrambling for answers and cycling through combinations in search of anything that might hold up. Opponents have figured out where to attack, and they are making the Aggies pay for it.
Marcel Reed also lands in the loss column after captaining what was one of the ugliest Texas A&M offensive showings since the program joined the conference. He was clearly under constant duress, so not all of the blame sits on his shoulders, but the result is the same: he has gotten so deep in his own head that he’s no longer effective.
With Citadel next, the idea of a soft quarterback change starts to make sense, and Brady Hart could get some live snaps before Texas A&M heads to Alabama. It’s hard to imagine Reed being any more effective against the Tide defense than he was against Missouri.
The receivers didn’t escape criticism either. For a group that entered the season with plenty of hype, they have been just as disappointing as anyone on offense.
Bussey’s injury matters, but even with that caveat, there has not been enough from Craver or Horton. It’s not only the drops.
The blocking has been lacking too, which keeps wiping out the gains Texas A&M needs. The whole unit looks stuck, and the offense badly needs something to jolt it loose.
There was at least one small silver lining late: the youth movement. Bryce Perry-Wright got meaningful snaps at defensive end, while Tamarion Watkins, Aaron Gregory and Jayden Warren all saw time at receiver.
If this season keeps sliding the way it has, then building for what comes next becomes the most useful path available. At that point, getting talented young players reps may be the smartest move, especially now that redshirts are no longer a concern.
Mike Elko, meanwhile, will keep hearing about how he handled the postgame press conference. Fair or not, the reaction online was harsh, and his frustration only made one joke land badly in the eyes of a disgruntled fanbase.
It’s too early to call that the start of anything dramatic, but he’s going to absorb the criticism that comes with the job. The only real answer now is for him to keep his head down and find something that works.
In Other News...
Collin Klein Just Became Part Of Texas A&M's Growing Problem
Texas A&Ms slide took another hit in Columbia, where the Aggies fell 27-6 to Missouri and suffered their third double-digit conference loss of the season. It is a jarring turn for a program that reached the 2025 College Football Playoff and seemed poised to build on that momentum, but instead has watched the season unravel in frustrating fashion as the offense has stalled and the margin for error has vanished.
Mike Elko, brought in late in 2023 to replace Jimbo Fisher, now has an even bigger spotlight on him after the recent contract extension and salary bump, and the questions around the roster are getting louder by the week. Marcel Reeds regression has become part of the larger offensive problem, and while Collin Klein is no longer on the staff, his success at Kansas State only sharpens the contrast for an A&M attack still searching for answers. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Elkos Tone Just Changed In Texas A&Ms QB Debate
Mike Elkos tone around the quarterback situation has started to sound a little different as Texas A&M heads into its matchup with The Citadel. Conner Reed remains the starter for now, but the coach has signaled a subtle shift in how he views the discussion, with Brady Hart looming as the most obvious alternative if the Aggies decide to use a lighter opponent to take a longer look at the position.
With playoff hopes diminished, the question is less about chasing a dramatic fix and more about whether A&M wants to lean into future development. A game like this could give the staff a chance to evaluate Hart in live action without fully committing to a change, and the next move may say as much about where the Aggies think they are going as it does about who takes the first snap. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&Ms Offense Just Exposed A Bigger Problem For The Aggies
Missouris 27-6 win over Texas A&M was a rough one for the Aggies in more ways than one. Jamal Roberts shredded the defense for a career-best 222 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Missouri got enough from Austin Simmons through the air and Cayden Lee as a receiver to keep control of the game. For Texas A&M, the loss was defined by an offense that never found a rhythm and finished without a touchdown.
Marcel Reeds two interceptions only deepened the frustration for an Aggies team that needed a steadier showing on that side of the ball. The result did more than hand Texas A&M a lopsided defeat, it put the spotlight on how much pressure the offense is putting on the rest of the team when it cannot produce points, or even much sustained momentum, against a quality opponent. [Read more 🡒]