Game 10 Preview: Scouting the Texas A&M Aggies

After encountering the grueling endeavor that is SEC play, South Carolina has finally entered the stretch run of its 2025 campaign. The Gamecocks still have a very clear goal in mind: reaching a bowl game. To achieve that goal, they must win their final three games of the season.

South Carolina isn’t completely done with in-conference competition, though. Its schedule will finish with Palmetto State matchups against Coastal Carolina and Clemson, but next on the docket is Texas A&M, a team it will face on the road in College Station this weekend.

Before the game kicks off at noon on ESPN, here’s what the Aggies bring to the table.

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How they got here

Mike Elko, whose tenure as Texas A&M’s head coach began with much fanfare, saw his first campaign end with a whimper. After losing their 2024 season opener to Notre Dame, the Aggies went on a seven-game winning streak. Five of those victories came against conference opponents, helping them to their best start to SEC play in program history. But they finished the year 1-4, with their Las Vegas Bowl loss to Southern Cal dropping their record to 8-5.

This year, Elko has Texas A&M on track to reach the College Football Playoff for the first time.

The Aggies started the season ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press’ preseason college football poll. Since then, they have rattled off nine straight victories without a loss, making them the lone undefeated SEC team remaining — and just one of three perfect squads nationwide, with the others being Ohio State and Indiana.

All of Texas A&M’s conference wins have come against teams currently positioned in the bottom half of the SEC standings. Two of them, LSU (No. 20 in Week 9) and Missouri (No. 22 in Week 11), were nationally ranked at the time. But the Aggies do boast a marquee upset victory on their résumé — a 41-40 road win over the Fighting Irish during the third week of the season.

Last time out

Texas A&M’s downward spiral towards the end of its 2024 campaign began with a game against the Gamecocks on Nov. 2.

At the time, the Aggies were riding high and ranked No. 10 in the nation. South Carolina, meanwhile, was coming off a bye week. The Gamecocks’ period of rest proved to be a big help, as they pulled off a 44-20 upset that resulted in fans storming the field at Williams-Brice Stadium.

South Carolina’s offense was relentless throughout the contest, generating 530 total yards. LaNorris Sellers led the way with 244 passing yards (plus two touchdowns) and 106 rushing yards (and another score) in one of the best individual performances of his young career. Rocket Sanders also had himself a day, finding pay dirt twice and gaining 144 rushing yards on 22 carries.

Texas A&M remained very much in the game at the halfway point, with the score tied 20-20 after 30 minutes of play. But Jabre Barber scored the Aggies’ final points of the night on a touchdown catch with 1:08 remaining in the second quarter, as the Gamecocks outscored them 24-0 in the second half.

Where they sit in the rankings

Texas A&M is ranked in both the AP and US LBM Coaches polls. The Aggies are currently No. 3 in the AP poll, the same spot they occupied last week, after receiving 1,518 points (and four first-place votes). The US LBM Coaches poll also pegged Texas A&M as the No. 3 team in the country with 1,518 points and another four first-place votes.

In ESPN’s College Football Power Index (FPI), the Aggies are ranked No. 7 with a 20.6 FPI. Their projected record is 11.5-1.0. This season, the team has a 21.0 percent chance of winning the SEC, a 95.1 percent chance of reaching the College Football Playoff and a 19.3 percent chance of playing in the National Championship game (along with an 8.1 percent change of winning it). It also has a 17.3 percent chance of winning out the regular season.

In ESPN’s SP+ rankings, Texas A&M checks in at No. 5 with a rating of 22.6. Bill Connelly gave the Aggies a 40.8 rating on offense (second in FBS), an 18.3 rating on defense (18th) and a 0.1 rating on special teams (63rd).

Texas A&M sits third in the Massey Ratings. It ranks seventh in offense and 23rd in defense.

ESPN gives the Aggies an 85.3 percent chance to win this weekend. Texas A&M heads into the contest as 18.5-point favorites, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

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Players to watch

Marcel Reed (Redshirt sophomore, quarterback) — One of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, Reed has vaulted to college football stardom in his second season as Texas A&M’s starter. This year, he has completed 62.3 percent of his passes (157-for-252) for 2,193 yards, 19 touchdowns and six interceptions. Reed has also registered six scores and 378 rushing yards on 69 carries. As of Nov. 11, he has the fourth-best odds of winning the Heisman Trophy (+700), according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

KC Concepcion (Junior, wide receiver) — Concepcion may not be the Aggies’ leading receiver, but he is widely expected to be among the top wideout prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. In addition to being tied for the SEC lead in receiving touchdowns (8), he has logged 629 receiving yards on 40 receptions. Concepcion joined Texas A&M via a transfer from NC State this past offseason.

Cashius Howell (Redshirt senior, defensive end) — Howell has proven this season that he is among the best defensive players in the country. Through nine games, he leads the SEC in sacks (10.5) and ranks third in tackles for loss (11.5). Howell has additionally registered 21 total tackles (15 solo), three passes defensed and one forced fumble.

Path to victory

ESPN’s and BetMGM Sportsbook’s projections show that the odds of South Carolina coming home with an upset victory are slim. But the Gamecocks have had the Aggies’ number in recent seasons, winning two of the teams’ last three meetings.

Granted, both of those wins came in the friendly confines of Williams-Brice Stadium. A raucous, hostile environment will await the Gamecocks as soon as they step foot on Kyle Field. There are some ways, though, that South Carolina can tame “The 12th Man” with their on-field play.

The first is being quick to the football on defense. Texas A&M has one of the top offenses in the conference, averaging 254.9 passing yards (sixth in the SEC) and 204.9 rushing yards (third) per game. Broken down further, the team is averaging 8.8 yards per pass play and 5.2 yards per run play. This means that, on average, the Aggies earn a first down on every other play. The Gamecocks’ defense must do what it can to limit explosive plays and lengthy drives to keep Texas A&M’s offense out of the end zone and South Carolina’s within striking distance.

Putting the Aggies on their toes with an early score won’t hurt, either. In 2022, specifically, South Carolina opened the game with a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown by Xavier Legette. The Gamecocks’ lead eventually grew to 17-0 before Texas A&M’s first score; that proved to be a large enough cushion for South Carolina to win 30-24. Making big plays early — whether it be on offense, defense, or special teams — could have a similar impact on Saturday.

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