Texas A&M is heading into the hardest part of its schedule, and the numbers are starting to reflect it. After road losses to LSU, Missouri and Alabama - all three of them ranked in both the US LBM Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25 - the Aggies now turn to a South Carolina team that has climbed to No. 23 in the AP Top 25.
The Gamecocks are coming in hot. South Carolina has won three straight SEC games and just rolled past Oklahoma on the road, 45-25, with quarterback LaNorris Sellers accounting for four touchdowns. Since starting the year 2-3, the Gamecocks’ offense has found its rhythm, and Sellers has been a huge reason why.
Texas A&M, meanwhile, showed some fight in last week’s 31-20 loss at Alabama. The defense did enough to keep the Aggies in it for a while, holding the Crimson Tide to 17 points and helping Texas A&M carry a 20-17 lead late in the second half before Alabama ripped off two straight touchdowns to finish the job.
That said, the Aggies still have issues on that side of the ball. The pass rush has been quiet, the coverage has allowed too many big plays, and South Carolina will put both to the test again on Saturday.
Offensively, first-year coordinator Holmon Wiggins has not gotten much going, and the fit with starting quarterback Marcel Reed has been a problem. Reed has also slipped as a passer.
Even with South Carolina fresh off that blowout of Oklahoma, Texas A&M enters Week 10 as a seven-point underdog. ESPN FPI gives the Aggies a 45.9% chance to beat the Gamecocks, while South Carolina sits at 54.1%.
Texas A&M and South Carolina meet Saturday at 2:00 p.m. on ESPN.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Fans Got Robbed Of The Blackout Stage They Wanted
Texas A&Ms annual Operation Blackout was supposed to have the kind of stage that matches the buildup, but the Southeastern Conference has instead slotted the Nov. 14 game against Tennessee into an afternoon window. Depending on how earlier games shake out, kickoff will land at either 3 p.m. ET on ESPN or 4:15 p.m. ET on SEC Network, a setup that takes some of the drama out of what had been expected to be a later start.
For Aggies fans, it is a frustrating piece of scheduling because this is the sort of game that usually benefits from a night atmosphere and the full effect of the blackout look. The SECs decision also stands out because other matchups with less obvious appeal appear positioned for more favorable time slots, leaving Texas A&M with a marquee home game that wont quite get the stage many around College Station were hoping for. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&Ms 5-Star WR Commit Opens Up About His Road Back
Eric McFarlands road back has already become part of the story for Texas A&Ms 2027 recruiting class. The five-star wide receiver, who committed to the Aggies, suffered an ACL tear in September and recently had surgery, a setback that would test any high school prospect with this much attention on him. Even so, McFarland has stayed focused on getting healthy and on the chance to eventually bring his game to College Station.
For Texas A&M, the encouraging part is that McFarlands commitment has held through the injury, and he has the backing of offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins as he works through the recovery process. The next checkpoint comes next month, when McFarland is expected to sign with the Aggies, giving the program another reminder that the long game still matters in recruiting, especially with a talent this highly regarded. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Frontcourt Bet Now Rests On Cade Phillips
Texas A&M is already looking ahead to the 2026-27 season under Bucky McMillan, and the frontcourt picture has changed in a hurry. After finishing sixth in the SEC last year, the Aggies had to replace Rashaun Agee when his eligibility ran out, and they turned to Cade Phillips, the Tennessee transfer, as part of the answer. Phillips arrives with a reputation for bringing defense and toughness, the kind of profile that fits a team trying to stay in the upper half of a rugged league.
What makes Phillips such an important piece is not just what he does, but what he allows others to do around him. He is expected to complement players like Mackenzie Mgbako, even if his scoring load may not resemble the one Agee carried. For Texas A&M, the bet is that Phillips can steady the interior and help balance a roster that is still taking shape, which makes his role one of the more interesting subplots as McMillan builds toward next season. [Read more 🡒]