Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2 SEC) enters the final week of the 2024 regular season with the “win and your in” scenario on the mind of head coach Mike Elko and his team, as the Aggies’ quadruple overtime loss to Auburn didn’t end the program’s postseason dreams.
While Elko and his team left Alabama feeling as low as possible, Alabama’s shocking loss to Oklahoma opened the door for Texas A&M to still make it to the SEC Championship game if the Aggies can defeat the Texas Longhorns in the season finale in the first game between both rivals since the 2011 season.
With everything on the line, starting quarterback Marcel Reed was asked on Monday about the significance of the Lone Star Showdown, especially with the added postseason implications on the line.
“We know it’s a big game. It’s a game that hasn’t happened in a long time. Night game. In Kyle Field. I’ve seen some of the ticket prices and how they started around $600-$800. That’s kind of crazy to me.”
While ticket prices certainly reflect the anticipation and national importance of the game, Reed knows that blocking out the noice, especially any social media based interactions or general media noise is the key to focusing on the task at hand, and protection home field.
“You try your best to block it out. Obviously, you’re going to see a little bit of it. … You know the task at hand and what it’s going to take because this is not going to be a walk-in-the-park easy type of game.”
Lastly, Reed and the Aggies’ mindset doesn’t look like any distractions are getting in the way of what’s at stake on Saurday night.
“The mindset for me and the team is that we’re in the playoffs now. A lot of people are waiting for this 12-team playoff bracket to drop. We’re in it now. … It’s win or go home.”
No. 19 Texas A&M will host No. 3 Texas on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 6:30 pm. CT. The game will air on ABC.
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