Momentum Shifts: Aggies finally end the 10-game road drought

Entering Week 3, the Aggies were coming off a solid win against McNeese State and preparing for their first SEC road test of the season against the Florida Gators in “The Swamp.”

For those who don’t know, the Aggies hadn’t won an away game in over 1,000 days, but that streak finally ended on Saturday.

Not only did the Aggies win, but they dominated from start to finish. Despite the loss of starting QB Conner Weigman being announced just minutes before the game, redshirt freshman Marcel Reed stepped in and delivered a stellar performance.

Here are my thoughts on the game in Gainesville.

The Good

Marcel Reed: I was incredibly impressed with Marcel Reed’s performance. Having had the opportunity to play with Reed last year against Oklahoma State, I have firsthand experience with this young, talented quarterback. For a redshirt freshman, he showed tremendous poise and pocket awareness, going 11-of-17 for 178 yards and two touchdowns. Early on, it was clear that Florida’s game plan was to rattle him with blitzes and pressure, but Reed handled it as though he were a seasoned veteran. When the Gators brought pressure, he made smart decisions — hitting his check-downs and hot routes, showing maturity beyond his experience level.

A standout play to me was Reed’s 29-yard touchdown pass to tight end Theo Melin Öhrström, marking his first collegiate score. As a former tight end and roommate of Öhrström, this moment carried special significance for me. Another highlight came when Reed connected with Cyrus Allen for a 73-yard touchdown. Reed rolled left on a play-action, hit Allen in stride down the left sideline, and Allen did the rest. Throwing that ball on the run was an eye-opener to his arm ability.

Reed wasn’t just effective in the air — he was also the team’s second-leading rusher, with 83 yards on the ground. His elusive running style and ability to make defenders miss, like on his 31-yard scramble during the opening drive, adds an extra dimension to this offense. Reed’s dual-threat ability makes him a dangerous weapon for this Aggie team, and he proved his ability throughout the game on Saturday.

Le’Veon Moss & Amari Daniels: The one-two punch of Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels was pivotal against Florida. Both backs were explosive and played with more physicality than the Gators’ defense could handle. Time and time again, Moss and Daniels were able to hit holes downhill with speed and power, consistently driving through Florida defenders for additional yardage. Le’Veon averaged over 6.0 yards per carry on 18 rushes for 110 yards and is blossoming into a premier back for this team. His vision and decision-making allowed him to cut through Florida’s defense on multiple occasions. Alongside Moss, Daniels added 68 yards on 13 carries and continues to show his value. Daniels also showcased his skill in the receiving game with 22 yards. These two backs, combined with the offensive line’s improvement, have the potential to carry the offense in SEC play.

Offensive Line: This group continues to improve each week, and they delivered a strong performance in Gainesville. The offensive line unit was put down as PFF’s best offensive line unit for the week, and Trey Zuhn III won SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week. The Aggies amassed 488 total yards of offense, with 310 of those coming on the ground. The offensive line dominated the trenches against a big defensive front for the Gators. They gave Reed time to progress through his reads and opened massive running lanes for the backs. Last week, I talked about how whichever team wins the run game would win this game, and our O-line stepped up big time. I want to recognize TJ Shanahan — he stepped in at center and filled the role vacated by Mark Nabou Jr. impressively. It was also good to see our depth at work with Reuben Fatheree getting some action at right tackle. This unit’s continued growth and depth will be critical for success in future SEC matchups.

Zoe Kelton, TexAgs

Theo Melin Öhrström’s touchdown catch in the first quarter was his first scoring grab of his career.

Tight Ends: The tight ends also made significant strides this week, particularly in the blocking game. I love how Collin Klein is utilizing tight ends to lead blocks in space and how he used the group to create eye violations for Florida’s defense. As this offense continues to evolve, the tight end group will be a crucial part of its success.

Defensive Front: The Aggies’ defensive front set the tone for the game, controlling the trenches and holding Florida to just 52 rushing yards. With five tackles for loss and two sacks, the front seven stifled Florida’s offense. After concerns about the ability to defend the run in previous weeks, the Aggies’ defense rose to the challenge, shutting down the Gators' rushing attack. When you can control the line of scrimmage like this, it limits the opposing team’s options and forces them into difficult situations. This unit will be the centerpiece of this defense all season, and they are only getting better every week. Nic Scourton, Albert Regis, Shemar Stewart and Shemar Turner are all the real deal, and the depth that they have backing them up makes this group even more dangerous.

Defensive Backs: Facing a talented receiving corps led by Elijhah Badger, the Aggies’ defensive backs were outstanding. They came away with three interceptions, one of which was a game-changing pick-six by Bryce Anderson, set up by a Will Lee III deflection. Anderson’s return gave the Aggies a commanding lead and put the momentum squarely in A&M’s favor. The secondary played disciplined football, showing they can compete with top-tier SEC talent.

The Bad

Offense: While the offense was generally sharp, there were missed opportunities, mainly due to self-inflicted penalties. Several promising drives were killed by avoidable mistakes like false starts and alignment issues. These penalties cost the Aggies points, and in closer games, that could be the difference between a win and a loss. Cleaning up these details will be crucial moving forward.

Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Through three weeks, graduate kicker Randy Bond is 5-for-7 with a long of 49.

Special Teams: Randy Bond has been reliable so far this season, and I know he will be fantastic for the rest of the year. His two missed field goals during Saturday's contests were not characteristic of the growth he has made as a kicker. He drilled two field goals in the first half, one of which was a 48-yarder. After the rain delay, the ball conditions were not favorable in the second half for a kicker, and that's why I don't expect him to be anything to worry about moving forward.

Defense: There’s not much to critique for the defense, as they controlled the game for the most part. However, I would’ve liked to see them limit the passing yards in the second half. While the game was already in hand, tightening up the pass defense will be important as the competition gets tougher.

Looking Ahead

A road win in the SEC is always a big deal, especially when we haven’t had one in so long. This victory should give this team plenty of confidence going forward. The team’s potential is becoming clearer, but the consistency to perform at a high level each week will determine how far this team goes. Both the offense and defense are finding their rhythm, and this performance builds a strong foundation for the rest of SEC play and the season.

As for the quarterback situation, Reed’s impressive debut start has certainly made things interesting. Weigman is a great QB, and I trust him and his ability to command this team. But Reed’s versatility as a true dual-threat weapon cannot be ignored. I am interested to see how Mike Elko and Klein deal with two talented quarterbacks moving forward. Either way, I’m excited to see who commands the offense next week against Bowling Green. It’s another opportunity for the Aggies to make a statement and keep building momentum moving forward into SEC play.

Gig ’Em and BTHO Bowling Green!