Mike Elko finally pulled the plug.
Late in the fourth quarter of Texas A&M’s 22-7 loss to Tennessee on Saturday, the Aggies head coach benched Marcel Reed and turned to freshman Brady Hart after Reed’s roughest outing yet in a season full of them.
Reed’s day never got off the ground. He finished 9 of 22 for 71 yards, and his 10 air yards on those throws underscored just how little Texas A&M was able to generate through the passing game.
His last throw was an interception, and that was enough for Elko to make the change. Hart’s first drive ended the same way, with an interception of his own, so the quarterback switch didn’t spark an immediate lift.
Texas A&M managed only seven points against a Tennessee defense that has been excellent, though the Aggies did take a 7-6 lead into halftime. Even then, the offense had looked shaky enough that holding onto that edge always felt like a long shot.
For Reed, the issues have been building for weeks. His struggles to move the ball through the air have become one of the biggest problems on this Texas A&M team, and Saturday offered another ugly snapshot of the same issue. Elko had continued to back him publicly all week and beyond, but that support eventually gave way.
When Hart came on for the Aggies’ final possession at Kyle Field, the black-clad crowd for the program’s annual Operation Blackout game reacted loudly. Reed’s replacement completing his first pass drew a roar from the stands, a telling moment for a fan base that had clearly seen enough.
Texas A&M is now 4-6, a stunning fall for a team that opened the season in the top 10 and carried College Football Playoff hopes. Whether Hart changes anything from here is still unknown, but Elko’s move made one thing plain: the Aggies had reached a breaking point with Reed.
In Other News...
Texas A&Ms Biggest Home Game Briefly Had One Huge Concern
Fridays travel headache briefly put a wrinkle in one of Texas A&Ms biggest home dates, as Tennessee was delayed by a nationwide FAA ground stop that kept the Volunteers from leaving Knoxville on their planned schedule. Once the ground stop was lifted, Tennessee intended to head back to the airport and make the trip to College Station that same night, keeping the focus on getting in position for Saturdays matchup.
For the Aggies, the good news is that the game is still set for 2 p.m. CT as scheduled, so the disruption appears to be more of a logistical scare than a change to the actual kickoff. Still, any delay on the eve of a major SEC game adds a little extra uncertainty to the buildup, especially when a visiting team is trying to get settled and ready on a tight turnaround. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&Ms Blackout Game Just Got Even More Intriguing
Texas A&Ms blackout game against No. 8 Tennessee already had the feel of a big-stage SEC night, and now the logistics around it have added another layer of uncertainty. The kickoff time could be delayed because of an FAA communications outage that has led to widespread flight cancellations, a reminder that even a marquee home game can get caught up in everything happening around it.
On the field, the matchup still comes down to the pieces both teams do have available. Tennessee will be without backup running back Duane Morris because of suspension, while Texas A&M remains without wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman for unspecified reasons. For the Aggies, senior quarterback Marcel Reed and a defense that will be tested by Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop loom as the key factors if the night finally gets rolling on schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Faces New Receiver Uncertainty Before Tennessee Showdown
Texas A&Ms buildup to Saturdays meeting with No. 8 Tennessee has already included a little extra uncertainty, even before the teams take the field at Kyle Field. The game is still set for a 2:00 p.m. CT kickoff after Tennessees travel was briefly thrown off by FAA flight groundings, with flights resuming late Friday night and keeping the matchup on schedule.
The Aggies, though, have their own receiver situation to monitor. Junior Ashton Bethel-Roman is listed out because of personal issues, while junior Mario Craver is questionable, leaving Texas A&M with a little less clarity at a position group that can matter plenty in a game of this size. With a top-10 opponent coming in, every available target becomes more important, and the Aggies will be waiting to see how much of their passing game is intact when kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]