For all that’s been happening around the program in the offseason, I kinda forgot that A&M had a bowl game this week.
For the last time this season, it’s gameday for Texas A&M football.
And in bowl season, it won’t be too far from home as the Aggies make the short drive to Houston to take on the 20th-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys in a Texas Bowl rematch that doesn’t feel too long ago. In fact, these two programs last met in 2019, in the same bowl game that they’re set to square off against. Football is funny sometimes.
Now, though, with the last game of the season upon us, this Aggie squad is ready to face off with the Pokes amid a ton of roster attrition and turnover on both sides, looking to conclude a disappointing 2023 season with a win before this program changes in a big way next year.
For one last time in 2023, let’s break this down.
GAME 13: vs. #20 OKLAHOMA STATE (9-4) - 8:00 P.M. CST (ESPN)
If I had a nickel for every time Texas A&M played an old Big 12 foe in Oklahoma State since leaving the conference, I’d soon have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s still weird that it happened twice.
Regardless, these two opponents will do battle once again in Houston, looking for a little bit of momentum heading into the offseason and prepping for a 2024 season that will be very different for both programs. For A&M, everyone knows about the new coaching regime, which is enough of a transition by itself. As for Oklahoma State, they’ll need to get acclimated to life in the new Big 12 as Texas and Oklahoma depart for the SEC.
Just one more game to go in what has been a topsy-turvy 2023. Time to finish strong. (pause?)
NOTABLE STATS AND INFORMATION
At the time of writing, Texas A&M are 2-point favorites with an over/under of 53.5 points.
This is Texas A&M’s fourth time in the Texas Bowl in their history. I don’t know if that’s a cool or bad thing.
Both teams are coming off of losses - Texas A&M fell 42-30 to LSU, while Oklahoma State dropped the Big 12 Championship to Texas (booooo) 49-21.
Texas A&M has recorded 21 rushing touchdowns in 2023. Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon has 20 scores on the ground this season by himself.
With Evan Stewart and Walter Nolen seemingly on their way out via the transfer portal, this marks the departure of the Aggies’ two highest-rated signings in the historically-great 2022 recruiting class. (It’s okay it’s Jahdae Walker and GBD/DJ Hicks szn now)
Oklahoma State QB Alan Bowman has thrown more interceptions (12 - hey, branding!) than the four Texas A&M QBs that have taken a snap combined (9).
Oklahoma State’s leading receiver, Brennan Presley, has more receptions this year (85) than Texas A&M’s projected starting WR trio for 2024 - Jahdae Walker, Noah Thomas, and Moose Muhammad - combined (80). It’s still up for this group, though - still a firm believer that big things are ahead for them.
This is the last game that we’ll see a lot of coaches on the sideline, namely Elijah Robinson, who’s off to Syracuse to be their defensive coordinator, and James Coley (probably).
This is the first bowl game that Texas A&M will play in since the 2020 Orange Bowl, which was the Devon Achane breakout game. Damn.
This is also the last game for guys like Max Wright, Chris Russell, Sam Mathews, and a bunch of other dudes that have given it their all for the Maroon and White. Thanks to the seniors - Ags forever.
KEY MATCHUPS
Oklahoma State OL vs. Texas A&M DL
Be prepared for a very different A&M defensive front when they take the field Wednesday night.
With Walter Nolen, McKinnley Jackson, and Fadil Diggs all having concluded their stints in the Maroon and White, it is a new age for this front four as DJ Durkin and Elijah Robinson are set to leave, replaced by new DL coach Sean Spencer. And it starts against a tough running back in Ollie Gordon and a pretty good offensive line, especially since they rank among one of the better ones in terms of pass protection; they’ve only allowed 13 sacks all season. Now, it’s up to the likes of defensive ends Shemars Turner and Stewart, alongside Malick Sylla and rapidly-developing freshman Rylan Kennedy, and interior guys Albert Regis, DJ Hicks, Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, and Samu Taumanupepe to get the job done.
Texas A&M WRs vs. Oklahoma State DBs
The Aggies are going to be down five wideouts heading into this one. It will be a thin group for Jaylen Henderson to have on the outside, with no Evan Stewart, Ainias Smith, Raymond Cottrell, Noah Thomas, and Jordan Anthony in this game. Instead, the production will mainly rely on Jahdae Walker, Moose Muhammad, and Micah Tease that will get the heavy majority of snaps, with potentially walk-on Andrew Maleski seeing some run as well. Don’t expect much rotation from the pass-catchers in this one. Thankfully, the Ags will have tight ends Max Wright, Jaden Platt, and Theo Ohrstrom all available, so it’s not completely bare bones. But, the WR position is super thin heading into this one going against a young-but-solid Oklahoma State secondary boasting some good talent in safeties Kendal Daniels, Cameron Epps, and Trey Rucker, as well as cornerbacks D.J. McKinney and Dylan Smith.
Alan Bowman (Oklahoma State) vs. Texas A&M DBs
Listen - Alan Bowman isn’t a great quarterback. He’s been in college for a long time and has plenty of experience, which is something I’ll never have, but he isn’t that good. That being said, this secondary will be without Demani Richardson, Tyreek Chappell, Deuce Harmon, Josh DeBerry (probably) and Tony Grimes. That’s four corners and a safety, and Jacoby Mathews is nursing an injury as well. It’s a super thin and young group that is at the back end for A&M, which will be some good experience as they move forward into next year and await some much-needed transfer help. Intrigued to see them against a veteran QB who is part of a top-25 team.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Texas A&M
Micah Tease, Freshman WR
No more Evan Stewart? No Raymond Cottrell? No Jordan Anthony? No Ainias Smith, who’s prepping for the NFL Draft?
No problem.
The freshman has been making waves in practice leading up to this one, looking to be a starter straight up against the Cowboys in this one alongside Jahdae Walker and Moose Muhammad, especially with Noah Thomas set to sit out this one due to injury. He hasn’t played a whole lot in 2023 considering the strong depth that the wide receiver spot has had, but his dynamic nature and athleticism could provide interim OC James Coley with some new material to work with to spring the (mild) upset while also giving A&M fans a chance to look ahead to the potential future of the position, as he will undoubtedly see some more run next year. Excited to see what he does.
DJ Hicks, Freshman DL
Walter Nolen’s likely out the door. Bummer.
Enter DJ Hicks, another five-star that has rapidly developed this year and should be in line for serious run in 2024. This game will be his first major test in how well he and redshirt freshman Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy can regularly hold up against a Power Five offensive line. As the projected starters next year on the interior with McKinnley Jackson off to the NFL and Isaiah Raikes set to transfer, this will be the introduction to Texas A&M fans for two key components of what should be a revamped defensive line for next year.
Oklahoma State
Ollie Gordon, Sophomore RB
Talk about a breakout star. After barely being used in the first four-or-so games of the 2023 season, Gordon started to completely break out and then some after starting to get regular carries. With a whopping 1,614 yards and 20 touchdowns on 6.3 yards per carry, he has been the heart and soul, the engine of the Oklahoma State offense that has bulldozed their way to a Big 12 championship berth. The Heisman Trophy semifinalist will pose a tall task for a defensive line that is set to lose three regular contributors from this season, along with Edgerrin Cooper opting out due to NFL Draft preparation.
Collin Oliver, Junior LB
The first time I heard of Collin Oliver was two years ago, when he terrorized Caleb Williams and Oklahoma en route to a Bedlam win over the Sooners. Now, he’s the best pass rusher for this Oklahoma State squad and is poised to go up against an A&M o-line that has struggled this year and is thankfully playing their last game with Steve Addazio as their position coach. Keeping Jaylen Henderson clean will be a tough task, but Trey Zuhn has been pretty good this year despite the unit as a whole being a massive weak link on this team. If Zuhn can hold up against one of the better pass-rushers in the Big 12, that would be a huge win for Texas A&M as they try to close their season strong.
PREDICTION
Predicting a bowl game is kind of a crapshoot, since there’s so much roster turnover in the weeks leading up to and after the game is done. I mean, Texas A&M is going into this one having a walk-on in Andrew Maleski as their WR4, so that kind of speaks to how stripped this roster currently is.
Regardless, this A&M squad has continued to fight through it all this year, even in the most dire of circumstances, and bowl games are important to players as they want to go into the offseason with some momentum behind them. That’s why I’ll pick Texas A&M to win this one, because why not? Vibes seem good after Jimbo got canned, so hopefully those keep rolling into Houston (plus we need revenge for the Rodeo Bowl loss).
That’ll be it for this one. Special happy 21st birthday to my friend Josh who doesn’t read these but is still a homie :)
Time to enjoy A&M football one last time until August, hopefully. See y’all in the offseason!
BTHO oklahoma state
-Sourav