It is said the first step to solving a problem is recognizing there is one.
Texas A&M has a problem. The Aggies struggle in big football games at Kyle Field. Recognize it.
Not since defeating No. 4 Florida in 2020 have the Aggies won a truly big game at home.
Yes, A&M defeated Alabama in 2021. It was a big upset. Huge even.
But back-to-back losses to Arkansas and Mississippi State in the two previous games diminished the importance of the game.
What’s the other big win? Miami in 2022? The Hurricanes were 5-7 that year. LSU in 2022? The game meant A&M got five victories instead of four. Either way, the Aggies were not eligible for a bowl.
Last year, A&M’s three-game winning streak ended in a big game vs. Alabama at Kyle Field.
This year’s season opener vs. Notre Dame was another missed opportunity.
The Aggies get another chance on Saturday with No. 9 Missouri visiting.
It’s a big game with big ramifications. Huge even.
“We’re certainly aware of the magnitude of the game when you get a stage like this,” A&M coach Mike Elko said. “You’d be naive to say our kids weren’t aware of it.”
Beat Missouri and the No. 25 Aggies should soar in the national rankings. National perception changes. Inclusion in the 12-team College Football Playoff field becomes a realistic goal.
Of course, more work will have to be done. The season will only be at its midway point. Tough games will remain. There are no guarantees — except for a Nov. 16 clash with New Mexico State.
But a victory over Missouri will show A&M’s ability to win big games over strong opponents. It could propel the Aggies to an exceptional season — just as the win over Florida did in 2020.
Applaud Elko for acknowledging the magnitude.
Former A&M coaches seemed spooked by the idea of “big games.”
Kevin Sumlin scoffed at the suggestion of big games. His teams typically collapsed in November.
Jimbo Fisher took the approach that every game was the same. The opponent was faceless.
Now, he’s jobless.
Elko doesn’t necessarily take a dramatically different approach. He, too, aims to get the Aggies to play at a high level regardless of opponent.
“I think we take the approach that it’s about us and the focus is on us,” he said. “We try to put a lot of the focus internally on us playing our best brand of football and making sure that we bring that out of the field Saturday at 11 o’clock.”
More than 100,000 Aggies want the same. They want to see quarterback Marcel Reed (if he indeed is the starter again) find open receivers and scramble for yardage.
They want to see running back Le’Veon Moss blast through holes created by an improved offensive line.
They want to see Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart leading a fierce pass rush.
They want to see a secondary continue to reap interceptions.
But if the secondary has success, it won’t be against faceless opponents.
Elko knows he’s facing one of the best groups of receivers in the SEC. Missouri’s Luther Burden III has All-American credentials. Theo Wease Jr., a transfer from Oklahoma, has 138 career receptions and 16 touchdowns. Mookie Cooper is a more than capable third option.
“Hands down the best group we’ve seen to this point,” Elko said. “I’m not so sure that their top two guys (Burden and Wease) aren’t the top two guys we’ve seen all year.
Quarterback Brady Cook is adept at delivering the football to them.
“It’s really hard when they go sideline-to-sideline with three really talented kids,” Elko said. “They’re gifted. We’ll have to play our best game to have a chance to slow them down at all.”
They do indeed pose a problem.
But solve that problem and the Aggies likely will solve their bigger one.
