No. 10 Texas A&M got its first real test of the 2026 season on Saturday morning at Kyle Field, and the Aggies had to work for it against Arizona State.
Texas A&M and Kenny Dillingham’s Sun Devils both arrived with shutout wins in hand. The Aggies opened by blanking Missouri State 50-0, while Arizona State rolled past Morgan State 70-0. But the start in College Station was much less clean for both sides, and the first half turned into a grind before the offenses finally started finding some rhythm.
Texas A&M won the opening coin toss and deferred, sending Arizona State out first. The Sun Devils picked up a 16-yard run from Kyson Brown on the opening snap sequence, but the Aggies tightened up after that and forced a punt.
The Texas A&M offense opened quietly. Rueben Owens had a four-yard run, Ashton Bethel-Roman dropped a pass, and Marcel Reed picked up a small scramble before the Aggies punted it back.
Arizona State’s next drive looked more promising when Cutter Boley hit a 19-yard completion on third down, but an illegal substitution penalty wiped it out. The Sun Devils then failed to convert on 3rd & 13 and punted again.
Texas A&M’s next possession also ended without points, but the game flipped in a hurry. Cory Butler Jr. muffed the punt return, TK Norman recovered it, and the Aggies took over at the Arizona State eight-yard line. Rueben Owens finished the short field with an easy score to put Texas A&M ahead.
Arizona State answered with a touchdown drive of its own after a pair of penalties helped extend the series. A conversion was erased by illegal formation, then Marco Jones lined up in the neutral zone on the next play to give the Sun Devils a fresh set in the red zone. Boley then lofted a pass to Reed Harris for the touchdown.
After a quiet first quarter, Texas A&M’s offense finally woke up. Marcel Reed ripped off a 19-yard run, Terry Bussey converted a 4th & 2 on the ground, and the drive ended with Reed throwing a four-yard touchdown to Isaiah Horton.
Arizona State kept swinging back. Boley connected with Harris for 35 yards, then the Sun Devils finished the possession with a 30-yard field goal to trim the margin to four.
The Aggies had a rough stretch late in the half as Mario Craver was thrown for a five-yard loss on a catch in the backfield, and Reed’s throw to Jamarion Morrow fell well short of the sticks. Texas A&M punted again, but David Olano connected on a field goal before halftime to push the lead to seven.
Reed’s day took a turn to start the second half when he threw his first interception of the season. Arizona State cashed in with a field goal to cut the Texas A&M lead to four.
The Aggies answered right back. Reed found Isaiah Horton again for a score, pushing Texas A&M’s advantage to 11.
Arizona State responded once more, and this time Boley hit Reed Harris over the top of Dalton Brooks for a 58-yard touchdown, their second scoring connection of the day.
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