Texas A&M vs. Utah State: The Game Where Excuses Expire

Texas A&M plays Utah State tomorrow night at Kyle Field. And here’s the thing: this isn’t about the opponent. This is about us. This is about whether A&M can walk into a Week 2 game, fix the glaring problems from last week against UTSA, and actually look like a team that knows what it’s doing.

The Aggies have three major assignments in this game. Run the ball with authority. Do not come out sleepwalking through the first half. And unleash the defensive line like it is supposed to be unleashed. If those three things happen, this game is over before halftime. If they don’t, then Notre Dame is already licking their chops.

Let’s break it down.

Assignment One: The Run Game Cannot Be Fake News

Last week, A&M finished with 108 rushing yards against UTSA. That’s 108. Against UTSA. That is not an SEC rushing attack. That is not even a solid Sun Belt rushing attack. That is more like a “we’ll Uber Eats the passing game again” type of attack.

Here’s the deal. Rueben Owens and Le’Veon Moss are too good to be averaging three yards and a cloud of confusion. The offensive line is too big to be pushed around like they were. And if Marcel Reed is going to thrive as the Aggies’ QB1, he needs the run game to balance the offense. Right now, every defensive coordinator is watching film and saying, “Okay, let’s see if they can run. If not, pin the ears back and go after Reed.”

Utah State is the perfect tune-up for this problem. Their front seven is not built for war. Last year they gave up 194 rushing yards per game. If A&M cannot run on Utah State, then everyone should panic. Tomorrow, it has to be physical. Hand the ball off early, set the tone, and let the O-line remind people why they’re called the Big Uglies.

Assignment Two: No More Naps to Start Games

You know what drives fans insane? Watching their team roll into a game with the energy of a Sunday nap. That’s what happened last week. UTSA ran for 203 yards because the Aggies acted like kickoff was optional. By the time they woke up, Robert Henry Jr. had already made Kyle Field look like a track meet.

That cannot happen again. Not against Utah State. Not ever again this season. You can get away with it against UTSA because Craver and KC Concepcion bailed you out with fireworks. You cannot get away with it against Notre Dame, Alabama, or LSU.

The first quarter tomorrow has to be violent. Aggies should be stepping into gaps like they own them. Offensive linemen should be pulling like they’re dragging trucks. Marcel Reed should be throwing darts before anyone in the crowd has finished their first stadium beer. If there is any sign of sleepwalking, then we already know the ceiling for this season.

Assignment Three: The Defensive Line Must Become the Defensive Line

A&M’s defensive line has the names, the stars, the depth, and the size. What they do not have yet is the production. Against UTSA, the pass rush was average and the run defense was leaky. That’s supposed to be the strength of this team.

Utah State is the perfect stage. They gave up six sacks last week. Their offensive line is not going to hold up against this kind of talent. If the Aggies’ front four do not dominate tomorrow, then we’ve got bigger problems than we want to admit.

Interior guys need to close lanes and punish the run. It’s not enough to “be solid.” This unit should make Utah State scared to snap the ball. Tomorrow is not about being fine. Tomorrow is about announcing, “This defensive line is for real.”

Marcel Reed: The Optimism Anchor

Now, let’s not forget the good. Marcel Reed was sharp against UTSA. Four touchdowns. No turnovers. 289 yards. He played like the guy Aggies have been waiting for. He trusted his arm, he trusted his playmakers, and he looked comfortable.

KC Concepcion and Mario Craver are the perfect pair of new toys for him. They are fast. They are slippery. They are playmakers in space. Reed to KC already looks like a rhythm connection. Reed to Craver is a home-run swing waiting to happen.

If the defense is shaky, Reed has the tools to cover it up. That is the optimistic lens here. The Aggies have a quarterback who can win games with his arm. But here’s the pessimistic lens: he will not survive if the run game stays flat and the defensive line keeps giving up chunk plays. He cannot do everything.

The Stakes of Utah State

Nobody cares about the scoreboard tomorrow. It is going to be a comfortable win no matter what. The spread is wide, the talent gap is wider. This game is about performance. Do the Aggies fix the issues that showed up last week, or do they let them linger?

Fans will not forgive another 177-yard rusher running through this defense. They will not forgive another game where the first half looks like Ambien football. They will not forgive a run game that still cannot crack 150 yards against a smaller opponent.

Tomorrow is the chance to reset. Run the ball. Start hot. Dominate the line of scrimmage. Send Notre Dame a film package that makes them sweat. That is the real win.

Final Prediction

Texas A&M is too talented to let Utah State hang around. The offense will click. Reed, KC, and Craver will provide more highlight plays. The run game will finally look like it belongs. And the defensive line will at least flex some muscle.

Aggies 41, Utah State 14. But more importantly, Aggies look like a team that actually belongs in the Top 15 conversation.