After Notre Dame, After the Bye — Auburn and The SEC loom large
If you told me back in summer that after 3-0—after just getting off the field from beating Notre Dame in South Bend—Texas A&M would be staring down Auburn at Kyle Field and then Florida down the road, I’d have nodded and tried to stay calm. But here we are. It’s real. And it demands more than post-victory chills and highlight reels.
Where We Are
Win over Utah State showed promise. Passing game is fun. KC Concepcion and Mario Craver making defenses pay. Marcel Reed maturing, growing. Offensive line has looked better than many expected. But after the bye, the calendar turns SEC play, and with Florida and Auburn, there’s no room for sloppy performances, especially in the trenches and in run defense.
Auburn opened strong. They beat Baylor, blew out Ball State, but lost a tight one at Oklahoma 17-24. They look dangerous. Florida returns 14 starters overall. Their QB DJ Lagway has some momentum. They want respect. They want wins. They want to show they’re rising after the chaos of last season. SI+4https://www.kbtx.com+4CBSSports.com+4
The Question We’re All Asking
Why hasn't A&M been able to hit on guys like Concepcion and Craver for a decade? Why did we roll wide receiver rooms in recent seasons that felt hollow? Why did Noah Thomas, now at Georgia, barely move the needle there? That tells the story of what was broken.
Now that we have these guys. Now that Reed has weapons. Now that the offense can threaten vertically, horizontally, and via scramble. The question is: can we leverage them when the lights are brightest, when defenses bring pressure, stack the box, force you into ugly downs?
Scouting Auburn: What They Bring
Auburn’s offense is dangerous if allowed to run. They have Jarquez Hunter in the backfield. Their receivers are inconsistent but they have speed and desire. Quarterback Jackson Arnold needs time and clean pockets. He has shown moments but is still prone to mistakes under pressure. Auburn’s secondary has losses. Their defensive front has some talent but is thin in the tackle spots. FOX Sports+2CBSSports.com+2
Gameplan vs Auburn has to include:
Attack early with the run. Let Moss and Owens gouge the edge. Make Auburn respect the inside runs.
Use play action off that run. Expose space behind linebackers. Let KC or Craver win in single coverage.
Pass rush has to force Arnold into quick decisions. Blitzes, disguised pressure. Cheat up the edge. Don’t let him settle in.
Where A&M Needs Improvement
From the Notre Dame up to now we’ve seen good things. But to beat Auburn and Florida, we need more:
Run Defense Must Improve
Against UTSA and Utah State we saw cracks. Auburn and Florida will punish those cracks. The defensive line must stuff runs at the line, gap discipline must be precise. No cutback lanes free for 6-7 yard gains.No Slow Starts
After the bye we are past the warmups. We need the Aggies to wake up with high energy. Quarter 1 matters. Put points on the board early. Avoid turnovers in early downs.Offensive Execution Under Pressure
Reed has looked great. But Auburn’s pass rush will show up. Florida will too. Reed must anticipate pressure. KC and Craver must win separation quickly. Throw-to-hands. Don’t let coverage get comfortable.Mental Strength, Ball Security
Big games get noisy. Momentum swings. Mistakes happen. But Aggies need to keep composure. Take what the defense gives. Don’t force hero plays. Protect the ball. Let offense fuel the defense with good field position and points.
Prediction, Because Fuck It
A&M takes care of business vs Auburn. The crowd lifts them. Reed is sharp. Craver breaks one deep. Moss controls clock. Defense pressures Arnold. Final: Texas A&M 35, Auburn 20
