Not entirely exaggerating when I say this may be the toughest challenge of the season for Texas A&M thus far.
Now sitting at #10 in the nation, the Fightin’ Texas Aggies head to Columbia to take on the HATED South Carolina Gamecocks in the BIGGEST RIVALRY in all of sports.
Red River Rivalry? Iron Bowl? Lone Star Showdown? Nothing compares to the Battle for the Bonham Trophy. I hate South Carolina.
Slightly kidding. But the fact of the matter remains - this is a rivalry game, against a South Carolina team better than their 4-3 record indicates, in front of a sold-out and probably the most raucous environment A&M will have traveled to thus far, looking to get an upset win in their Homecoming game and spoil the Aggies’ magical season. Texas A&M is coming off of an emotional, physical, hard-fought victory against LSU, while the Gamecocks are coming off of their bye week.
No doubt about it - this has all the makings of a trap game. And how the Aggies handle this game will tell me a lot about Mike Elko and this football team. They can’t be still riding that high from last week’s game - it’s a new week, new opponent, and new environment. Just have to lock in and take care of business, playing that A&M and Elko brand of football we’ve seen over the course of this season.
Shall we preview?
What to Expect
Get ready for a defensive battle. These two teams have two of the best defenses in the SEC and country, headlined by stellar playmakers at all three levels. It’ll be a dogfight for both of these offenses to crack their opponents - both Texas A&M and South Carolina allow under 19 points per game. Two great pass rushes are the hallmarks of these units.
Texas A&M’s pass rush to really get after the quarterback in this game. The Gamecocks do not have a good offensive line - they allow a little above 4.5 sacks per game, and that is the second-worst mark in the country. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers also had the third-slowest release speed in the conference, and that mix allows for a lot of opportunities for opposing defensive lines to get after it. Prepare for a lot of pressures.
On that note, two teams kind of with similar profiles this season. Deep defenses that can get after the quarterback and create turnovers, and offenses that rely on the run game mainly but can hit the big play through the air every now and then. Should be interesting to see how these coaching staffs gameplan against each other with these similarities.
Mentioned how both teams love to run the ball, and I’d really expect that trend to continue for Texas A&M especially in this game. Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels make up a potent one-two punch in the backfield and the Gamecocks are more vulnerable in the running game than in the passing attack. Combine that with the potential athleticism of Marcel Reed, and I expect yet another game where they run the damn ball.
It’s going to be repeated until football dies as a sport, but the battle in the trenches is going to be a critical factor in this game. I mentioned above how South Carolina has been terrible in pass protection, but their run blocking hasn’t been too inspired either - Texas A&M’s defensive line has to take advantage and shut down this Gamecock offense up front. In addition, how the Aggies’ o-line holds up against a really good South Carolina defensive line will be something to watch as well. The Maroon Goons have been much better this season, but the Gamecocks’ d-line may be the best they’ll have faced up to this point.
I feel like Texas A&M may play a lot of deep coverage Saturday night against South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, who has a pretty strong arm and can make defenses pay if they don’t respect the deep ball. He does better in that regard than in the short and medium games, but his receiving corps can be a bit inconsistent and may not be there at times for him. Regardless, I expect the Aggies to respect the deep ball, especially with the way they’ve given up big plays this year, and make them really work for points on their drives.
Much was made of the QB run game with Marcel Reed for Texas A&M, and for good reason - he’s a dynamite athlete. I think that can serve as good practice for the Aggies on defense when facing this South Carolina offense as well, because they try to incorporate the QB run a good portion of their offense due to the mobility of Sellers. Big question is if they’re able to get a push, but I’m confident the Aggie d-line is up to the challenge.
Who to Watch - Texas A&M
QB Marcel Reed - The hero of last week’s game against LSU, it’s been assumed by many that he’ll get the nod to start this contest. Given his athleticism, composure in hostile conditions and big moments, and him delivering against some solid competition already, I wouldn’t be shocked to see #10 out there on the first series. Ready to see how he can deliver in this buzzsaw of an environment.
The 12th Man is hoping that Marcel Reed (10) continues his good form after his incredible relief appearance against LSU. (NCAA) RB Amari Daniels - One of the unsung heroes of this season thus far, Daniels had his crowning performance against LSU where he put up 91 yards on 12 carries, finishing as the leading rusher for the Aggies. The Miami native has been invaluable as a change-of-pace back and a blocker, and given how A&M is likely to try and run the ball a lot in this game, he’ll be critical in relief for Le’Veon Moss.
OL TJ Shanahan - The redshirt freshman had what I believe was his first career start against LSU and had a pretty good performance, all things considered. While he had some struggles in pass protection, he was an absolute mauler in the running game, something that I believe can be a really big asset in this one. As the youngest member of that starting o-line, he can’t let this environment get to him as well.
DL DJ Hicks - I think the young defensive tackle had his best game as an Aggie against LSU, and he’s emerged as a real run-stopping force in the middle to complement Albert Regis. His pass rush skills are also emerging as well, having recorded half a sack from the inside; as he grows, he’ll have a bigger and bigger role in the interior of that defense, and he’ll be an important piece of the puzzle again.
LB Scooby Williams - Coming off of the first bye week, Scooby Williams has put together some tremendous performances, following up a career day against Mississippi State with a pretty solid showing against LSU. The linebacker unit as a whole has been flying around recently, and he’s a big piece of the puzzle - him and the rest of that position group will be active tomorrow.
DB BJ Mayes - How do you possibly follow up a two-interception game against one of the best passing attacks in the SEC and nation? The UAB transfer established himself as a cult hero for his performance last week, and it feels like he’s locked in that starting nickel spot heading forward; against a QB that has a rocket of an arm at times, Mayes and this secondary will have to be ready for the deep ball.
Who to Watch - South Carolina
QB LaNorris Sellers - Dual-threat quarterback that has a strong arm, but has shown his warts at times this year. Loves to throw the deep ball and make a play with his legs, but can struggle with shorter/medium passes.
RB Raheim Sanders - Transfer running back from Arkansas that will likely be the main running threat for the Gamecocks - has 490 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2024. Has big-play ability, but bad o-line play has prohibited that.
OG Torricelli Simpkins III - Aside from having a hell of a name, South Carolina’s best pass protector when the unit as a whole has really struggled with it. Has only given up 1 sack and 5 pressures in 462 pass-blocking snaps.
EDGE Kyle Kennard - One half of a lethal pass rush duo, the former Georgia Tech standout looks to be on his way to All-SEC honors after an incredible season where he is fifth in the nation with 8.5 sacks - big test for Trey Zuhn.
EDGE Dylan Stewart - A former five-star prospect, the freshman has set the SEC ablaze with his athleticism and bend off the edge. Second on the Gamecocks with 4.5 sacks.
DB Nick Emmanwori - Multi-year starter that was been extremely impressive in a variety of different positions for South Carolina’s secondary, along with being extremely athletic. Getting NFL Draft buzz.
What to Watch For
The million-dollar question surrounding this program right now is who is going to start at quarterback for Texas A&M? However, I feel like the question people should be asking is how much are both quarterbacks going to play? I genuinely feel like both quarterbacks will play a large role in finishing out this year, and whether it’s Weigman or Reed that takes the field first on Saturday night, I believe both signal-callers can get on the field.
A&M has got to start fast tomorrow night. Letting that crowd get into it and play an impact early is going to make the task of taking care of business that much harder, so the only way for the Aggies to neutralize that part of the game is putting together some good scoring drives on offense and keeping up that stellar level of play from the LSU second half. Starting fast is going to be critical, especially on the road. That way, the Ags can settle in easier and instill their brand of football on the game.
Can the Texas A&M receivers get some separation against a talented Gamecock secondary? South Carolina has forced quarterbacks to throw 10 interceptions against them with their physical style of play, and there’s been a trend for the Aggies that someone - whether it’s Noah Thomas against LSU and Arkansas, Jabre Barber against Mississippi State, Terry Bussey against Missouri, or anyone else, there’s gotta be someone that can step up against this unit.
How well will this Texas A&M offensive line hold up in pass protection? They had some struggles with giving up a couple of sacks against LSU in the first half, and the Gamecocks possess a better pass rush than the Tigers did, as well as home-field advantage. While the Maroon Goons have been really good as a unit in preventing sacks, I’m intrigued to see if the Aggies call a lot of quick and easy passes early to settle into a rhythm and try to take that defensive line out of the game. Also something I’m keeping an eye on is how TJ Shanahan plays with no Chase Bisontis once again.
Can the Aggies run the ball with effectiveness? If there’s one “weakness” that the Maroon and White can somewhat exploit on this defense, it’s the running game. Despite their tackle duo on the inside being very, very good, I’d rather test them with A&M’s strength on offense - the duo of Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels - rather than with whoever starts at quarterback against a ferocious pass rush. Ready to see how they attack that South Carolina run defense.
A Texas A&M secondary that has given up some big plays this year will be looking to avoid that and potentially bait a young QB into some mistakes tomorrow night. (Sam Craft/AP)
Can the Aggies keep the big plays off the field? It’s been the weakness of this defense for the entire season, and it damaged A&M badly in the first half against LSU. On an offense predicated on big plays setting up the rest of the offense, primarily in the passing game, the Aggies just have to play disciplined in a hostile environment. Staying back in coverage and making them dink and dunk their way down the field, which Sellers has struggled with at times this season, and fitting gaps effectively in the run game will be critical. They’ve just gotta focus on the fundamentals.
How will this Texas A&M team respond to this environment unlike any they’ve walked into this year? These are going to be by far the most unfriendly confines that the Aggies will face - a night game facing one of the better crowds in the SEC, against a team better than their record indicates, and ready to make a statement against a top-ten team. The Ags just have to stay locked in and try to not let the noise get to them. Will the Maroon and White feed off of that energy and play to a higher level? Here’s hoping.
Final Prediction
I think this may be Texas A&M’s toughest game of the season thus far. I mentioned that and my reasons why above, but this game, despite the Gamecocks being 4-3, is absolutely no pushover.
Road games in the SEC are always tough, and this is one of the tougher environments in the conference. South Carolina also pushed LSU and Alabama to the brink, so for the struggles their offense has had, they’re not completely lifeless there. It’ll be a dogfight for four quarters.
But I think this Texas A&M team is up to the challenge. I believe these Aggies are a better team than the Tigers and Crimson Tide up to this point in the season, and the Ags match up pretty well with South Carolina.
The Ags’ strengths in pass rush, the running game, and the defensive line as a whole match up really nicely with South Carolina’s weaknesses. I believe their trench play has been better as a whole compared to the Gamecocks’, despite South Carolina having one of the best pass rushes in the nation, and I think that physicality and effort will travel to Columbia.
Keys to the game are to win the turnover battle - the Gamecocks have struggled when they turn the ball over multiple times (i.e. against LSU) and have had their best performances when they get short fields consistently (i.e. when they splattered Kentucky) - and winning the line of scrimmage.
It’ll be tough, physical, and a rock fight, but that’s what Mike Elko and his crew like. I feel A&M will escape with a win.
Just gotta handle our business on the field, though.
That’ll do it for this preview. Happy Ring Day, enjoy the rest of y’all’s evenings, and be prepared for a battle tomorrow.
Time to keep what’s ours and to beat those BASTARDS.
BTHO south carolina.
-Sourav