SEC Round-Up: A&M's schedule a sign of the times as Aggies face a fourth freshman QB

Unless top-ranked LSU collapses and loses to either Ole Miss or Arkansas, Texas A&M will take on the historical burden of having faced three No. 1 ranked teams in the same college football season.

Some teams have faced two opponents that were ranked No. 1, but none have faced three.

Though no data is available to verify, the Aggies may reach another rare — though not nearly as daunting — mark this week.

When Texas A&M vies with South Carolina on Saturday at Kyle Field, it will mark the fourth time this season the Aggies play against a true freshman starting quarterback.

Auburn’s Bo Nix, Ole Miss’s John Rhys Plumlee and Mississippi State’s Garrett Shrader are all true freshman quarterbacks. All have played Texas A&M.

The Aggies are 2-1 against those freshman quarterbacks.

Lia Musgrave, TexAgs

Jimbo Fisher’s Aggies are 2-1 vs. freshman quarterbacks in 2019.

Once, freshmen weren’t even eligible to play. Even when they were allowed, coaches were hesitant to play freshmen, especially at quarterback.

Therefore, facing four true freshmen in a single season is a rarity. However, A&M coach Jimbo Fisher thinks that might soon become commonplace.

“You’ll see more and more of it,” Fisher said. “I think kids are getting pushed to play. Highly-recruited guys are getting into that mix more. I don’t think it’s anything that’s out of the ordinary anymore.

“We said (Florida’s Tim) Tebow was the first sophomore to ever win the Heisman. Then Johnny (Manziel) won it as a redshirt freshman. Then Jameis (Winston) won it as a redshirt freshman. Those things are all going to become normal now.”

Trends seem to support Fisher’s opinion. Eleven of the nation’s Top 100 passers are true freshmen. Seven-on-seven programs, camps and personal coaches have produced quarterbacks more equipped to play immediately at the major college level.

Heck, last year true freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence led Clemson to a national championship. The year before Tua Tagovailoa helped Alabama win a national title as a true freshman.

The tendency for backup quarterbacks to transfer, the rule allowing college players to enter the NFL after three seasons and old fashioned injuries can result in a freshman quarterback playing right away.

For example, last year, Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham opted to enter the NFL draft. He had no experienced backup, so that left a quarterback competition between Nix and redshirt freshman Joey Gatewood. Nix won the job.

Meanwhile, Hilinski took over as South Carolina’s starter after starter Jake Bentley suffered a foot injury in the season-opening loss to North Carolina.

Hilinski has played well for the Gamecocks. He’s thrown for 2,077 yards and 11 touchdowns to rank fourth in the Southeastern Conference in passing.

He’s the best passer of the freshmen quarterbacks A&M will have faced. The other three passed for 337 combined yards and four touchdowns against the Aggies.

Also, the three of the four freshman quarterbacks A&M faces are on teams with losing records.

That’s one reason why facing four in a season may remain a rarity.

Around the SEC

This week’s games: South Carolina at Texas A&M; Alabama at Mississippi State; Georgia at Auburn; Florida at Missouri; Kentucky at Vanderbilt; LSU at Ole Miss

Who’s hot: The once-floundering Tennessee Volunteers have won three-in-a-row and four of their last five. After getting off to a moribund 1-4 start, the Volunteers are now on the verge of qualifying for a bowl game. They just need to defeat either Missouri on Nov. 23 or Vanderbilt on Nov. 30. There’s a good chance they could win both.

Who’s not: Mississippi State’s pass defense has fallen on hard times. In two of the last three games, the Bulldogs have allowed 327 passing yards and four touchdowns to LSU’s Joe Burrow and 234 passing yards and three touchdowns to Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond. In the other game, they allowed just 101 total passing yards. But that was against Arkansas, so it doesn’t really count. Next, the Bulldogs face Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, so their recent trend of futility likely will continue.

Keep an eye on: Georgia’s D’Andre Swift is a dangerous running back. Yet, he’s been limited to fewer than 90 rushing yards in each of the last two games against Florida and Missouri. Next, he faces the Auburn defense, which is even stingier against the run. Georgia figures to prevail if Swift has a strong showing. But can he accomplish that against Auburn?

The pressure is on: Rutgers, Florida State and Arkansas have already fired coaches. Missouri coach Barry Odom could be next. The Tigers (5-4) will avoid a losing season because — for no other reason — Arkansas remains on the schedule. Still, they’re mired in a three-game losing streak, which includes stunning losses to Vanderbilt and Kentucky. The next two opponents are Florida and an improving Tennessee. That’s a potential five-game losing streak. Combined with an opening loss to Wyoming, that doesn’t bode well for Odom, who entered this season with a 19-19 record in Columbia.

Best matchup: Georgia’s offensive line is considered by some to be the best in the nation. The Bulldogs have allowed only five sacks all season. That’s the second-lowest total in the country. Also, Georgia is ranked 24th in the nation in rushing offense. Those stats illustrate how good the line play is. But they’re facing Auburn’s defensive front, which is one of the best in the country, too. Auburn is ranked 21st against the run and is fifth in the SEC with 23 sacks.