Texas A&M enters the stretch run sitting at .500, and the next month is loaded with the kind of games that can either steady a season or drag it under. The Aggies have four left, all against opponents with plenty to play for, and the road to a bowl game looks anything but smooth. Still, there’s a path here if they can steal the right one.
The toughest trip may come first. Texas A&M heads to South Carolina on November 7, and Columbia has been a problem spot for the Aggies.
They haven’t won there since the COVID season in 2020, and this one comes against a Gamecocks team that has suddenly found its stride. South Carolina has beaten Florida and Tennessee in its last two games and will face Oklahoma in Norman today.
There’s also the matter of last year’s game, when the Aggies pulled off a miracle comeback that South Carolina surely hasn’t forgotten. The pick here doesn’t change: South Carolina gets it done.
Prediction: South Carolina 31, Texas A&M 23
A week later, though, the Aggies get a chance to bounce back at home against Tennessee on November 14 in the annual blackout game. Texas A&M would enter that matchup at 4-5, which makes the margin for error awfully thin.
Tennessee’s defense and run game are real, but the Volunteers have also been shaky away from home. They barely escaped Georgia Tech, nearly slipped at Arkansas, and then lost on the road at South Carolina.
That opens the door for A&M, especially with the Aggies’ run defense improving week by week. In a low-scoring game, Texas A&M can grind one out.
Prediction: Texas A&M 24, Tennessee 20
The trip to Oklahoma on November 21 might be the most difficult one to call. Both teams lean on their defenses, and that kind of matchup can turn on one or two busted plays in a hurry.
Texas A&M has had trouble giving up the big play, but Oklahoma has shown that weakness too. John Mateer is the only match for Marcel Reed this season in throwing the ball to the other team, so turnovers could decide everything in Norman.
Even so, the Aggies’ offensive weapons look a little better than Oklahoma’s, and that edge is enough to trust A&M on the road for what would be its first and only away win from Kyle Field this season.
Prediction: Texas A&M 17, Oklahoma 13
Then comes Texas on November 27, with the Lone Star Showdown back in Kyle Field. The stakes won’t be what they were in 2024, when the winner would have gone to the SEC Championship game.
Texas A&M is already too far back for that, and Texas will be out after dropping at least one of its next two road games against Missouri and LSU. Even so, there’s still plenty of juice in this one.
The Aggies were on the doorstep of an SEC title game last season before laying an egg in Austin, and that sting still lingers. This time, the setting favors A&M.
Texas has only played one true road game so far, and it came in a noon kick where Arch struggled badly. Kyle Field should be loud no matter what the record says, and the Aggies have already shown they can spring a surprise at home even with a rough mark.
In 2022, a 4-7 Aggie team knocked off the top-10 LSU Tigers bound for Atlanta, and that kind of script could show up again.
In Other News...
Mississippi State Is Forced Into A Texas QB Move That Matters To A&M
Mississippi States quarterback situation took another turn this week when Kamario Taylor was ruled out for the rest of the season with turf toe, leaving the Bulldogs to pivot again as they prepare for No. 11 Texas. Senior AJ Swann will get the start, stepping in after previously working as a backup and bringing a winding college path that has included stops at Vanderbilt, LSU and Appalachian State.
For Texas A&M, the move matters because Mississippi States offense now has a different look heading into a game that can ripple through the SEC race. Swann replaces freshman Parker Puckett at the top of the depth chart, and the Bulldogs will be asking a veteran reserve to steady things against a ranked opponent in a matchup that could have downstream implications for teams watching the standings closely. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Just Got A Big Recruiting Boost At Linebacker
Texas A&Ms 2027 recruiting class took a brief hit when four-star linebacker Aston Whiteside flipped to Miami, but the bigger picture in College Station still looks strong. The Aggies remain No. 1 in the national class rankings, and the linebacker haul continues to give the staff plenty to sell as the cycle moves forward.
Kaden Henderson is a big part of that momentum. The five-star linebacker turned in a standout performance in a recent high school game and is expected to push for a starting role once he gets to Texas A&M, which only adds to the anticipation around his arrival. He also confirmed he will be in town for the Aggies Nov. 14 game against Tennessee, a visit that should give him another close look at the program he may soon help anchor. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Bye Week Puts One Frustrating Question Front And Center
Texas A&M is using its Week 10 bye the way most good teams hope to use one, by getting healthier and taking a hard look at what has worked and what still needs cleaning up. Mike Elko said the Aggies are spending the week resting players and evaluating performance as they turn toward a Nov. 7 meeting with South Carolina, a stretch that should tell them a lot about where they stand heading into the final push.
Marcel Reed remains the starter, which at least settles one part of the conversation, even if his play has left some room for debate. For Texas A&M, the bye is less about a reset than a chance to sharpen the game plan and get the offense and the rest of the roster in better shape before the schedule tightens again. [Read more 🡒]