Texas A&M continues to defy its history of poor finishes, achieving a remarkable 38-17 victory over Missouri on Saturday night. This win elevates the Aggies to a 9-0 record, marking their best start since 1992 and only the fifth time in the program”s history.
Coach Mike Elko remains focused on the present, steering clear of discussions about past seasons. Unlike last year”s team that stumbled to four consecutive losses against Power 4 opponents after starting the season strong, this year”s squad is ranked No. 3 in the nation. The Aggies have demonstrated resilience, becoming the only team in the nation with three road victories against teams currently ranked in the Associated Press poll, including a notable win against now-No. 10 Notre Dame in South Bend.
After their recent struggles, Elko emphasized the importance of learning how to win on the road. He remarked, “Is this our weekly last year question? I don”t know about the past. I know that that”s four road games that this team has gone on the road and won.” He pointed out that the Aggies are 4-0 on the road this season and have only one game left, ensuring a winning record by his calculations.
Historically, Texas A&M enjoyed a successful inaugural season in the SEC, finishing 11-2 and boasting a Heisman Trophy winner in Johnny Manziel. However, since then, the Aggies have predominantly struggled, with nine or fewer wins in each subsequent season. The number eight has become synonymous with disappointment for fans, as the team has recorded five 8-5 seasons and one at 8-4. Despite appearing in the AP top 10 nine times over their 13 seasons in the league, the Aggies have only concluded four seasons ranked, with just two in the top 15.
The victory over Missouri capped off a challenging three-game road trip, which included a 45-42 shootout against Arkansas and a tough matchup against LSU. The Aggies” defense effectively contained Missouri”s freshman quarterback Matt Zollers, who ended the game with a disappointing 7-of-22 passing for 77 yards and a fumble that contributed to an A&M touchdown. The Aggies” offensive strategy involved a steady attack against the Missouri defense, with Marcel Reed throwing for 221 yards and two touchdowns, relying on short passes to maintain control.
Elko challenged his team at halftime, expressing dissatisfaction with the defense”s performance that allowed 207 rushing yards. “I challenged both sides of the ball — only one side of the ball responded — that we had to go out and control the line of scrimmage better,” he stated. In the second half, the Aggies rushed for 220 yards, averaging 9.6 yards per carry, while Missouri never threatened their 14-0 halftime advantage.
The Aggies” 6-0 start in SEC play represents their best conference performance since they began 7-0 in the Big 12 during their last title-winning season in 1998. Elko expressed his belief in the program”s potential, stating, “From a CEO perspective, obviously I believe this is what this program is capable of. I think that”s why we”re here. We”re here because we believe the ceiling of this program is really high.”
Looking ahead, Texas A&M will return to home turf next Saturday to face 3-6 South Carolina, followed by a matchup against 1-9 Samford. The Aggies will then travel to Austin to take on Texas the Friday after Thanksgiving. Running back Rueben Owens, who rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns against Missouri, emphasized the team”s focus moving forward, stating, “Finish. That was the word for spring. For fall camp. Finish. Last year we didn”t finish, so all week it was finish, finish, finish.”
