SEC Round-Up: Too often has the cowbell tolled for A&M's season

Ask not for whom the cowbell tolls. It tolls for thee … Aggies.

Defeat comes to us all.

Unfortunately for Texas A&M, it comes too frequently at Mississippi State’s Davis Wade Stadium.

There, cowbells too often clanged out a death knell for promising A&M football seasons.

A&M has only won twice in six trips to Starkville. Now ranked No. 14, the Aggies (5-1, 3-0) hope to avoid another road loss to Mississippi State (1-5, 0-3).

They should. A&M running back Le’Veon Moss is among the SEC’s top rushers. Quarterback Conner Weigman was sharp in a recent 41-10 victory over Missouri. The A&M defense is playing at an elite level.

Meanwhile, Mississippi State has struggled to stop opponents from running and passing.

The Bulldogs’ offense has also struggled. True freshman Michael Van Buren Jr. has the ability to make big plays but has completed only 53.4 percent of his passes.

Yet, it matters not that A&M is the superior team.

A&M was the higher-ranked team in all four of its losses in Starkville. You know the history:

• 2014: The No. 6 Aggies endured a plague of dropped passes, three interceptions and Dak Prescott. Mississippi State 48, A&M 31.
• 2016: The No. 4 Aggies lose quarterback Trevor Knight to injury early, Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald runs 76 yards for a touchdown on the Bulldogs’ first play and never slows down. Mississippi State 35, A&M 28.
• 2018: No. 6 A&M gives up huge plays on third down, and Fitzgerald is involved in four touchdowns. Mississippi State 28, A&M 13.
• 2022: No. 17 A&M commits four turnovers and has a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown. Mississippi State 42, A&M 24.

Starkville is a problem for A&M. But it is said the first step in solving a problem is to admit there is one.

The Aggies have taken that step.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

Texas A&M is 8-8 all-time vs. Mississippi State since 1915. The Aggies are 2-4 in Starkville, last prevailing at Davis Wade Stadium in a 28-14 win on Oct. 17, 2020.

“This group of kids — the last time they went to Starkville — it wasn’t pretty,” Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said.

“What makes (Starkville) a hard place to play is they are very talented, they take a lot of pride in playing at home. Their fans, like everyone in the SEC, are very passionate on Saturday afternoon. They take a lot of pride in protecting their house.”

Elko delivered that message to his players. They’ve received it.

“Coach Elko has reminded us about our record in Starkville,” sophomore linebacker Tauren York said. “Obviously, it’s a tough place to play. The cowbells are crazy. We’re excited for it. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”

If the Aggies prove they’re up to the challenge a highly successful season should follow.

When they’ve won in Starkville they’ve finished the season ranked in the top five of the national polls.

A&M prevailed 38-13 in 2012. The Aggies finished No. 5 that season. A&M won 28-14 in 2020. They finished No. 4.

The Aggies lead the Southeastern Conference standings. A win in Starkville — and a little luck elsewhere — could increase their lead by Saturday night.

Should Texas fall to Georgia and LSU lose to Arkansas — both very possible outcomes — the Aggies would be the only team without a conference loss at the halfway point of the race.

But they can’t be too concerned with what happens in Austin, Fayetteville or anywhere else in the SEC.

Their full focus must be on Mississippi State to ensure another promising season isn’t derailed in Starkville.

Around the SEC

This week’s schedule: Texas A&M at Mississippi State; Auburn at Missouri; South Carolina at Oklahoma; Alabama at Tennessee; LSU at Arkansas; Ball State at Vanderbilt; Georgia at Texas; Kentucky at Florida

Who’s hot: Texas A&M’s run defense has allowed no more than 100 rushing yards in any of the past four games. The highest rushing total in that span is 100 yards posted by Arkansas. But 25 of those were gained by punter Devin Bale on a fake. Opponents are averaging just 2.8 yards per carry in that stretch. There seems a good chance the Aggies will extend that streak to five games. They next face Mississippi State, which is has been held under 80 rushing yards in three games.

Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman

Brent Venables and Oklahoma have stumbled to a 1-2 start in SEC play. OU currently ranks 96th in the country in scoring offense.

Who’s not: Oklahoma’s offense is bad. More specifically, it’s passing game is abysmal. The Sooners, who have started true freshman Michael Hawkins and Jackson Arnold at quarterback, haven’t passed for more than 186 yards in any game. In three games against SEC competition, OU has completed 47-of-79 passes (59.4 percent) for 495 yards and one touchdown. That’s barely more than Georgia quarterback Carson Beck had (459) in one game vs. Mississippi State.

Keep an eye on: Throughout the offseason, Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava was heralded nationally as an emerging star. He hasn’t emerged. Iamaleava has been underwhelming in SEC play. Indeed, he has passed for 200 yards against an SEC opponent. However, the Vols face Alabama, which is having severe defensive malfunctions. The Crimson Tide has allowed 1,311 yards and 94 points in the last three games vs. Georgia, Vanderbilt and South Carolina. That’s not a fluke. That’s a weak defense. If Iamaleave can’t gets the Vols offense moving against Alabama, it may be time to accept that it’s just not going to happen.

The pressure is on: The pressure is never off Florida coach Billy Napier. But the heat has been turned up after last week’s overtime loss to Tennessee in which Napier opted against trying to win in regulation with a two-point conversion. The Gators are now (3-3) and very much in danger of a third consecutive losing season. They next face Kentucky, which is offensively challenged but strong on defense. Florida has only lost twice in the last 22 games against Kentucky in “The Swamp.” The most recent one was in 2022 under Napier. Another home loss to the Wildcats might not be tolerated, especially with a bye next week.

Best matchup: Texas is ranked No. 2 in the nation in pass defense. The Longhorns have not allowed more than 204 passing yards in a game. They’ve given up just one touchdown pass. They face their greatest challenge of the season thus far against Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, who’s passed for 1,818 yards and 15 touchdowns. Georgia with Beck is ranked No. 9 in passing offense.