Category: Texas A&M Aggies

Instant reaction to No. 13 Texas A&M’s 75-68 win over Oklahoma on Tuesday night

Texas A&M’s elite rebounding and free throw shooting led to Tuesday night’s big win over Oklahoma

No. 13 Texas A&M (16-5, 5-3 SEC) returned to Reed Arena after a two-game road trip last week, facing an Oklahoma team (15-5, 2-4 SEC) that entered on a two-game winning streak, looking to seek some revenge of the Aggies defeated the Sooners 80-78 earlier this month.

Entering the game, it was revealed that starting forward Solomon Washington would miss the matchup due to an ankle injury suffered in Saturday’s loss to Texas. Coach Buzz Williams opted to start forward Pharrel Payne in his place.

While depth was an issue, Payne’s size and efficiency in the paint led to the Aggies finding him down low early and often to establish what many Aggie fans call “Buzz ball” due to A&M’s tough defense and rebounding amid poor shooting performances.

Well, it was that kind of night, as the Aggies finished 37.5% from the field and 16% from 3-point range, but thanks to a collective effort from the guard trio of Wade Taylor IV (12 points), Manny Obaseki (10 points) and Zhuric Phelps (15 points), Texas A&M’s offense relied on getting fouled and heading to the free throw line.

While the team currently sits in last place in the SEC with a 67% average from the stripe, Texas A&M finished an impressive 29-35 free throw line, which ultimately won the game amid Oklahoma’s ten three-pointers, led by Bryce Goodine’s game-high 24 points, after scoring a career-high 34 points and nine 3-pointers against the Aggies in their first meeting.

Texas A&M out-rebounded Oklahoma 47-19, including 21 offensive rebounds in one of the more one-sided rebounding performances in SEC play.

With the win, Texas A&M has moved to fifth place in the SEC standings.

GAME NOTES:

  • Forward Pharrel Payne finished with a double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds)
  • Texas A&M outrebounded Oklahoma 47-19
  • Wade Taylor IV amassed 200 steals in his Texas A&M career
  • 37.5% FG / 16.7% 3PT / 82.9% FT

Texas A&M will face South Carolina on the road on Feb. 4th at 7:30 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on the SEC Network.

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CFB Select picks Texas A&M as 1-of-12 teams that could achieve its first CFP berth in 2025

Among the dozen, the Aggies have been the closest to reaching the College Football Playoff, finishing right on the outside in 2020 at No. 5.

The Texas A&M football team has been on the outside looking in at the College Football Playoff since its inception.

However, in the second season with head coach Mike Elko at the helm, the Aggies may be bound for a breakthrough season in 2025.

CFB Select recently chose Texas A&M as 1-of-12 teams that could make its first CFP appearance next season. The Aggies were joined by: Auburn, BYU, Colorado, Florida, Louisville, Miami, Marshall, South Carolina, Texas State, UNLV and Utah.

Among the dozen, Texas A&M has been the closest to reaching the postseason. Led by former coach Jimbo Fisher, the Aggies finished right on the outside looking in at No. 5 in 2020.

Florida and Utah have each finished in the top 12 three times. The Gators were No. 10 in 2018, No. 9 in 2019 and No. 7 in 2020. The Utes were No. 11 in 2019, No. 11 in 2021 and No. 8 in 2022.

Auburn ranked No. 7 in 2017 and No. 12 in 2019. Colorado and Miami were ranked No. 10 in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

Texas A&M kicks off a new campaign Aug. 30 versus UTSA at Kyle Field.

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Texas A&M will have two players vying for their first Super Bowl ring

Ainias Smith and Braden Mann will have the opportunity to bring home a championship game ring from Super Bowl LIX

The Philadelphia Eagles punched their ticket to Super Bowl LIX after a 55-23 beating of the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship game.

That win means two Texas A&M Aggies will play for their first NFL title of their careers. Starting punter Braden Mann and reserve wide receiver Ainias Smith are going to New Orleans with the Eagles to take on the Kansas City Chiefs.

Mann took over the starting punting job in 2023 and has averaged close to 50 yards a punt, with 35 landing inside the 20-yard line.

During the playoffs, he punted 11 times for a 46.6 average, with four punts inside the 20. Although Smith was inactive during the playoffs, he did score his first NFL touchdown in the final game of the regular season.

https://x.com/AggieFootball/status/1883912799002546497

The Super Bowl will take place on February 9 in New Orleans, LA at 5:30 p.m. CST. It can be watched on FOX.

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Texas A&M EDGE has impressed scouts during Senior Bowl practices

Shemar Stewart is turning heads this week as the junior pass rusher continues to look like a first round draft pick

Texas A&M’s 2024 defensive line was supposed to be well-represented during this week’s senior bowl practices. Still, after defensive end Nic Scourton and defensive tackle Shemar Turner opted out of practices and this weekend’s game, former five-star edge Shemar Stewart is the last man standing.

Stewart came out of the elite 2022 recruiting class as the No. 1-ranked prospect out of Florida, choosing the Aggies over nearly every blue-blood program in the country.

While his three-year career in College Station wasn’t statistically prosperous, the versatile pass rusher is turning heads this week as scouts are enamored by his size, speed, and impressive athleticism.

During a pass rush drill, Stewart bull-rushed his way through a blocker, and in a brief interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Devin Jackson, Stewart is very confident in his skillset:

“I told No. 52 I was going to run through his face and then I ran through his face.”

Stewart entered this week’s event with elite measurement, standing at 6-5 281 pounds with 9-inch hands, 34-inch arms, and an elite 6’11 1/2 wing span.

During his Texas A&M career, Stewart recorded 65 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and four pass deflections in three seasons.

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Texas A&M star OL has officially announced his return for the 2025 season

Texas A&M left tackle Trey Zuhn III is officially headed back to College Station for a final season

On Tuesday afternoon, Texas A&M starting offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III announced his official return for the 2025 season during an interview with TexAgs’ Ali Russell, as the senior left tackle could have declared for the 2025 NFL Draft but opted to improve his future stock.

On paper, Texas A&M OL coach Adam Cushing has managed to keep the entire 2024 offensive line intact, and outside of losing several reserve players, led by sophomore center TJ Shanahan, who transferred to Penn State earlier this month.

Still, Zuhn re-joins left guard Chase Bisontis, center Mark Nabou, right guard Ar’maj Reed-Adams, and right tackles Dametreious Crowover and Reuben Fatheree. Zuhn’s importance is undeniable, as the veteran pass protector possesses the size, strength, and athleticism to become a first-round draft pick.

During the 2024 season, Zuhn was rated as one of the top-performing tackles by Pro Football Focus, earning a 75.1 overall grade, 81.1 pass-blocking grade, and 67.9 run-blocking grade.

Offensively, Texas A&M’s passing game under quarterback Marcel Reed will be dictated by the protection up front, as Zuhn’s return should only boost his confidence under center.

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Is No. 13 Texas A&M a lock to make the NCAA Tournament?

According to ESPN’s Joe Lunari, Texas A&M is nearly a lock to make the 2025 NCAA Tournament

No. 13 Texas A&M (15-5, 4-3 SEC) will host Oklahoma (15-4, 2-3 SEC) on Tuesday night as the Aggies look to rebound after losing to rival Texas in one of the biggest comebacks of the season after leading the Longhorns by 22-points in the second half.

Despite the loss, Texas A&M has one of the best resumes in college basketball, aided by an impressive nonconference performance with wins over Purdue, Ohio State, and Texas Tech, while four wins in SEC play have built a notable six Quad 1 record and a 10-5 Quad 1 & 2 combined standing.

Still, with eleven games remaining in the regular season, coach Buzz Williams is confident in his veteran team, led by star point guard Wade Taylor IV, to find offensive consistency for the rest of the year while the Aggies’ elite defense continues to keep opponents below their average shooting percentage.

On Tuesday, ESPN bracketology expert Joe Lunardi provided his latest update regarding the teams that are “locks” for the NCAA Tournament while listing the programs that have at least an 80% chance of landing an at-large bid.

While the Aggies look like a team poised to earn a top-five seed in the tourney, Lunardi lists them in the 80% category after losing to Texas. However, I can safely say that at least two more Quad 1 wins would seal the deal and take some pressure off before the SEC Tournament begins.

Texas A&M will return to Reed Arena to host Oklahoma on Jan. 28 at 8:00 p.m. CST. The game can be watched on the SEC Network.

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Texas A&M senior DL will not participate in the Senior Bowl

Texas A&M DL Shemar Turner’s previous injury from the 2024 season has led to the senior opting out of of this weekend’s Senior Bowl

Texas A&M’s 2024 defensive line included three starters who will likely be selected in the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. The line was led by former five-star prospect Shemar Stewart, who has been mocked by several teams in the bottom half of the first round.

This week, all three players, including defensive linemen Nic Scourton and Shemar Turner, were set to participate in the annual Reese’s Senior Bowl, but as of Tuesday, only Shemar Stewart is set to play in Saturday’s game, as Scourton and Turner have opted out.

While Scourton is preparing for the combine, it has been reported that Shemar Turner is dealing with the lingering effects of a stress fracture he sustained during the early parts of fall camp. The senior played with injury throughout the year.

According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, doctors advised Turner not to put any added pressure on his lege for 3-4 weeks to let the bone heal, leading to his opt-out from the event.

Shemar Turner finished his four-year Texas A&M career with 115 tackles, 10 sacks, and three forced fumbles.

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Texas A&M men’s basketball coach Buzz Williams is ‘talking less than’ he ‘ever’ has before

“I’m talking less than I ever have in my career. I’m trying to give them more ownership. I ask more questions so it engages them to answer.”

Texas A&M head coach Buzz Williams spoke about his new methods of leadership this week on the latest episode of the Aggie Basketball Hour.

“This year you only play three teams twice, so that’s different than five. With Oklahoma, there is our game study from before. They’re a different team than before the bye with how they use their pieces, but there is some familiarity,” Williams explained Monday. “Because they grew up in an era of looking at screens, our guys learn best by watching. Every day we work, we watch film. Tomorrow at 11:31 a.m., we’ll have film. The kids know what I’m going to talk about tomorrow.

“I’m talking less than I ever have in my career. I’m trying to give them more ownership. I ask more questions so it engages them to answer and let them talk about it. Our players are using more words. It creates continuity and belief.”

The No. 15 Aggies (15-5, 4-3 SEC) host Oklahoma (15-4, 2-4) at Reed Arena tonight at 8 p.m. on SEC Network.

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‘On to the next,’ Texas A&M men’s basketball coach Buzz Williams reflects on close games

“From a statistical standpoint, this is the best league in the country. We’re +1 after 7 games. You want to keep it going,” Williams said.

While the Texas A&M men’s basketball team is attempting to bounce back from a buzzer beat loss at Texas this past weekend, head coach Buzz Williams is remaining positive.

Williams discussed the Aggies‘ nine close games on the latest episode of the Aggie Basketball Hour.

“We’ve played 15 games in Quad 1 and Quad 2, and nine of them have been decided by one or two possessions. We’re 6-3 so far in those close games. We need to handle the results the same way and move on to the next one,” Williams said Monday. “From a statistical standpoint, this is the best league in the country. We’re plus one after seven games. You want to keep it going, but how can you respond to the next thing? No matter who we play, it’s one or two possessions.

“We address things in real-time. I think our staff has done a phenomenal job. If 60% of your games have been decided by one or two possessions and you’re 6-3, that means you could easily have been 3-6.”

No. 15 Texas A&M (15-5, 4-3 SEC) hosts Oklahoma (15-4, 2-4) at Reed Arena tonight at 8 p.m. on SEC Network.

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All signs point to Texas A&M DC Jay Bateman returning for the 2025 season

Amid rumors of leaving for another DC position, Jay Bateman will stay on staff in 2025

The latter half of Texas A&M’s 2024 season revolved around defensive coordinator Jay Bateman’s questionable play-calling and lack of second-half adjustments that led to multiple losses this season, including the Las Vegas Bowl loss to USC.

However, outside the Texas A&M fan base, Bateman was not seen as a problem, even earning a Broyles Award nomination for the top assistant in college football. Texas A&M’s defense finished 63rd overall but 90th in passing yards allowed, which is a significant weakness down the stretch.

Still, A&M’s rush defense improved but fell off before ending 43rd. It was the only defense area that improved under Bateman, so it’s safe to say the list of positives is small.

Going into the offseason, it was assumed that Bateman would return, as most assistant coaches don’t get fired after one season. However, coach Mike Elko hired former James Madison DC Lyle Hemphill to the 2025 staff last week, leading to rumors of Bateman leaving for another DC position.

Over the last few days, rumors regarding Bateman being directly connected to Virginia Tech’s defensive coordinator job opening nearly came to fruition until ESPN CFB insider Pete Thamel reported that the Hokies are targeting Arizona Cardinals linebacker coach Sam Siefkes for the job.

While Jay Bateman’s popularity among the fan base is divided, the news that Mike Elko will likely call defensive plays next season places him in an odd spot. However, given his recruiting prowess and vast coaching experience, Bateman is still a valuable coaching staff member.

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