Texas A&M’s first loss of the season exposed a problem Mike Elko can’t ignore: the offense still doesn’t have a clear identity.
The Aggies were stunned at home by Kentucky in a game that wasn’t close for long, and now they head to Baton Rouge for their first road test of the year against LSU. The Tigers also took a loss in Week 3, but Texas A&M’s bigger concern is what happens if the offense keeps drifting the way it did against the Wildcats.
Quarterback Marcel Reed came out of that game with more questions than answers. He’s got help, too - return top target Mario Craver is back, and Isaiah Horton gives the Aggies a dangerous red-zone option - but the pieces haven’t quite clicked yet.
The biggest issue has been balance. Texas A&M has leaned more heavily on the pass this season, averaging 37.3 attempts per game through three games, up from 30.9 a year ago.
But the extra volume hasn’t translated into better production. The Aggies are averaging 222.7 passing yards per game, down from 262.5 last season.
The explosive plays have also dried up. Texas A&M is averaging 10.1 yards per completion, which ranks 106th in college football. Last year, that number was 13.8, good for 11th nationally.
That’s why the run game matters so much in this spot. If Texas A&M can establish it, defenses can’t just sit back and make Reed beat them over the top.
That’s a difficult ask anyway. Reed isn’t known as a lethal passer, and during last year’s historic run, he threw for 300 yards three times and topped 250 yards only two other times.
For the Aggies, the formula is pretty clear: find a complementary rushing attack, keep defenses honest, and give Reed a chance to operate instead of asking him to carry everything himself. That’s the path back to order before the season starts to slip further away.
In Other News...
Texas Just Gave SEC Fans A Debate Texas A&M Knows Well
Texas walked out of Knoxville with a 20-17 win over Tennessee, and the headline for SEC fans was easy to spot: pass rusher Colin Simmons was everywhere against freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon. The Longhorns also got steady help from Raleek Brown, who ran for 67 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, while Texas handled the second half well enough to keep control after taking the lead.
For Texas A&M fans, the result lands as the kind of familiar conversation starter the SEC always seems to produce. Tennessee made things interesting late with a touchdown and an onside kick recovery, but could not find the final answer, and Texas' ability to close out a tough road game will only sharpen the talk around how the SEC race looks when the pressure rises. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Gets A Huge Recruiting Sign With One Big Question Left
Donald Tabron IIs next step is suddenly a lot clearer for Texas A&M. The five-star quarterback commit from Cass Technical High School has canceled his planned visit to LSU for an upcoming game, a move that, according to reports, reads as a strong sign for the Aggies as they work to hold onto one of the top passers in the class. With multiple major programs having chased him, any shift in plans from a prospect of this caliber gets attention fast.
For Texas A&M, the development is encouraging because it suggests the Aggies still have momentum with a high-profile commitment who could have easily kept his options open. Even so, recruiting never really goes quiet this early, and Tabrons status could still change down the road. For now, though, the canceled visit gives A&M a useful update in a race where every decision matters. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Heads To LSU With Two Huge Questions Still Looming
Nick Saban is already looking ahead to Texas A&Ms trip to LSU, and he likes the Tigers chances at home after their recent loss to Ole Miss. The game is set for ABC and brings together two 2-1 teams, with the stage set for another test in a rivalry that tends to carry extra weight no matter where either team sits in the standings.
For the Aggies, the bigger issue is less about the name on the other sideline than the concerns surrounding their own play. Saban pointed to Texas A&Ms recent defensive performance and the uncertainty at quarterback as the reasons he sees trouble ahead, and those two areas will shape everything about how competitive this one looks when the lights come on in Baton Rouge. [Read more 🡒]