Any direct path to Atlanta for Texas A&M goes through South Carolina
Rand McNally disagrees, but for the 10th-ranked Aggies to reach Atlanta, they must first get past South Carolina.
That’s A&M’s SEC GPS route.
Texas A&M (7-1, 5-0) heads to South Carolina, aiming to maintain a direct path to Atlanta for the Southeastern Conference football championship game.
A&M coach Mike Elko expects the nationally-televised clash, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. CT, to be as strenuous as negotiating I-10 at rush hour.
“This will be the biggest challenge of the year to date,” Elko warned. “(South Carolina) certainly could be 6-1, easily.”
The Gamecocks (4-3, 3-2) held a 17-point lead over LSU before falling 36-33. They also held a fourth-quarter lead in a 27-25 loss to Alabama.
“I just think they’re a team that has grown every week,” Elko said. “They’re playing a lot of really talented young guys mixed in with a blend of talented veterans. This is going to be an enormous challenge for our program.”
South Carolina’s defense is particularly challenging. Georgia Tech transfer Kyle Kennard and true freshman Dylan Stewart spearhead a pass rush that has produced 28 sacks.
The Gamecocks have held four opponents to 19 points or less, are ranked fourth in the SEC in total defense and have forced 16 turnovers — 10 interceptions and six fumbles.
Two interceptions and a fumble have been returned for touchdowns. The Gamecocks have also scored on a safety.
“What they’ve done is successfully turn people over and create opportunities for their offense,” Elko said. “In the games they’ve been really successful, the defense has taken the game over in so many ways. I think it’s by far the best group we’ve played.”
Of course, the Aggies — the only unbeaten team in SEC play — can create stress, too.
They have a stingy defense that has not allowed any opponent more than 23 points. They have a running game that averages 221.5 yards per game. And they have a quarterback situation that figures to keep South Carolina guessing until game time.
Elko has not announced whether junior Conner Weigman or redshirt freshman Marcel Reed will start vs. South Carolina.
Both have started three victories for the Aggies. Both have starred in victories over top-10-rated opponents.
Weigman completed 18-of-22 passes for a season-high 276 yards in a 41-10 victory over then-No. 9 Missouri.
Reed came on in the third quarter of last week’s 38-23 victory over then-No. 8 LSU to pass for 70 yards, rush for 62 and lead the Aggies to four consecutive touchdowns.
Preparing for them figures to be a challenge for South Carolina coach Shane Beamer. Choosing one is a challenge for Elko.
“I think it’s a challenge because I think their strengths are kind of contrasting,” Elko said. “Conner’s strength is his ability to see things, his quick release, his ability to function and operate in the RPO game.
“Based on how you rotate, based on where you create access if you are trying to outnumber the box, Conner has the ability to beat you with his arm, and he’s certainly athletic enough that he can do some things with his feet and be a weapon in that regard as well.”
Reed isn’t any less of a weapon. In some ways, he’s more dangerous.
“Marcel is kind of the exact opposite,” Elko said. “He can do enough in the RPO game. He can throw the ball enough in the RPO game. And certainly has the arm talent to throw the drop-back and the play-action game.
“But he has a different dynamic in terms of his ability to run the zone-read game and different types of read plays that you can run.”
Regardless of the starter, Elko acknowledged the Aggies need to upgrade their passing to better complement the run game.
A&M is ranked just 113th in the nation in passing offense. The Aggies have managed just five touchdown passes vs. SEC opponents. Reed has thrown four of them.
“We’re still just looking for some consistency in the throw game,” Elko said. “It feels like we’re still working through a lot of the timing elements of it. It sounds like coach-speak, but it’s the reality.
“We have to get our passing game working in a rhythm so that it can be more productive and more efficient for us to go down the road the way we want to.”
That, of course, is the road that leads to Atlanta.
