Tag: South Carolina Football

New No. 1 in the latest SEC standings after Week 10

Texas A&M no longer holds sole possession of first place in the SEC standings after falling to South Carolina

Of course, Texas A&M’s 44-20 loss to South Carolina is a large blemish on what has been a very successful season. Poor defense, including 25 missed tackles against the Gamecocks, resulted in a drubbing inside a packed and loud Williams-Brice Stadium.

However, the season isn’t in jeopardy. The Aggies still have a firm grip on their postseason destination. They are tied atop the SEC standings at 5-1 and have three regular-season games remaining after this week’s bye. This control should reassure fans that the season is far from over.

Even so, offensive coordinator Collin Klein’s lack of imagination, seen on nearly every second-half drive, didn’t help Marcel Reed. The quarterback struggled in the pocket while the running game was shut down after Le’Veon Moss’s early knee injury. Texas A&M’s offense under Klein has become a talking point and will continue to be until improvement comes.

The championship game race became clearer around the rest of the SEC as Georgia, Tennessee and Ole Miss won. Here are the updated SEC standings ahead of the Week 11 slate:

2024 SEC Football Standings after Week 10

  1. No. 2 Georgia (7-1, 5-1 SEC)
  2. No. 15 Texas A&M (7-1, 5-1 SEC)
  3. No. 7 Tennessee (7-1, 4-1 SEC)
  4. No. 5 Texas (7-1, 3-1 SEC)
  5. No. 14 LSU (6-1, 3-1 SEC)
  6. No. 24 Vanderbilt (6-3, 3-2 SEC)
  7. No. 16 Ole Miss (7-2, 3-2 SEC)
  8. No. 11 Alabama (6-2, 3-2 SEC)
  9. South Carolina (5-3, 3-3 SEC)
  10. Arkansas (5-4, 3-3 SEC)
  11. Missouri (6-2, 2-2 SEC)
  12. Florida (4-4, 2-3 SEC)
  13. Oklahoma (5-4, 1-4)
  14. Auburn (3-6, 1-5 SEC)
  15. Kentucky (3-6, 1-6 SEC)
  16. Mississippi State (2-7, 0-5 SEC)

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How far did Texas A&M fall in the newest AP Top 25 Poll?

Texas A&M as dropped five spots in the newest AP Poll after losing to South Carolina

Texas A&M (7-2, 5-1 SEC) is no longer undefeated in SEC play. However, the Aggies still have plenty of goals to accomplish heading into the bye week after falling to South Carolina 44-20 on Saturday night.

Looking lifeless in the second half, Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed had his moments, but running back Le’Veon Moss’s first-half knee injury looked too much to overcome mid-game.

At the same time, the Aggie defense missed 25 tackles on the night, leading to nearly 300 yards on the ground for the Gamecocks. Entering the bye week, head coach Mike Elko and his staff must fix the issues that plagued the Aggies throughout the night, even though South Carolina is much more physical than the final three teams on Texas A&M schedule.

Around the rest of the country, Clemson’s CFB Playoff dreams may have been dashed after falling to Louisville while Georgia, Ole Miss, and Tennessee all took care of business in Week 10.

After falling to the Gamecocks, Texas A&M, who entered Week 10 at No. 10 in the AP Top 25 Poll, dropped five spots to No. 15. What’s confusing is that LSU, coming off a bye week, rose to No. 14 even though the Aggies defeated the Tigers 38-23 in Week 9.

Here is the newest AP Top 25 Poll after Week 10:

  1. Oregon (9-0)
  2. Georgia (7-1)
  3. Ohio State (7-1)
  4. Miami (FL) (9-0)
  5. Texas (7-1)
  6. Penn State (7-1)
  7. Tennessee (7-1)
  8. Indiana (9-0)
  9. BYU (8-0)
  10. Notre Dame (7-1)
  11. Alabama (6-2)
  12. Boise State (7-1)
  13. SMU (8-1)
  14. LSU (6-2)
  15. Texas A&M (7-2)
  16. Ole Miss (7-2)
  17. Iowa State (7-1)
  18. Army (8-0)
  19. Clemson (6-2)
  20. Washington State (7-1)
  21. Colorado (6-2)
  22. Kansas State (7-2)
  23. Pittsburgh (7-1)
  24. Vanderbilt (6-3)
  25. Louisville (6-3)

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How far did Texas A&M drop in the newest US LBM Coaches Poll?

Texas A&M unsurprisingly dropped in the newest US LBM Coaches Poll after losing to South Carolina

Texas A&M (7-2, 5-1 SEC) is no longer undefeated in SEC play. However, the Aggies still have plenty of goals to accomplish heading into the bye week after falling to South Carolina 44-20 on Saturday night.

Looking lifeless in the second half, Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed had his moments, but running back Le’Veon Moss’s first-half knee injury looked too much to overcome mid-game. At the same time, the Aggie defense missed 25 tackles on the night, leading to nearly 300 yards on the ground for the Gamecocks.

While the loss was certainly disheartening, the Aggies go into their second bye week of the season with their postseason goals intact. Still, they will likely need to win their final three games against New Mexico State, Auburn (on the road), and the Texas Longhorns to earn a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoffs.

Around the rest of the country, upsets took a break this week while the SEC race saw Ole Miss, Tennesse, and Georgia take care of business. The Bulldogs are now tied with Texas A&M at 5-1 in conference play.

How far did the Aggies drop? Here are the latest US LBM Coaches Poll Top 12 rankings:

Rank Team Record Points
1 Oregon Ducks 9-0 1,349 (53)
2 Georgia Bulldogs 7-1 1,267 (1)
3 Ohio State Buckeyes 7-1 1,245
4 Miami Hurricanes 9-0 1,194
5 Texas Longhorns 7-1 1,138
6 Tennessee Volunteers 7-1 1,039
7 Penn State Nittany Lions 7-1 982
8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 7-1 961
9 BYU Cougars 8-0 918
10 Indiana Hoosiers 9-0 916
11 Alabama Crimson Tide 6-2 772
12 Ole Miss Rebels 7-2 657
13 LSU Tigers 6-2 653
14 Boise State Broncos 7-1 615
15 SMU Mustangs 8-1 603
16 Texas A&M Aggies 7-2 518
17 Clemson Tigers 6-2 513
18 Iowa State Cyclones 7-1 511
19 Army Black Knights 8-0 404
20 Washington State Cougars 7-1 284
21 Kansas State Wildcats 7-2 201
22 Missouri Tigers 6-2 192
23 Pittsburgh Panthers 7-1 178
24 Colorado Buffaloes 6-2 124
25 Vanderbilt Commodores 6-3 85

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Texas A&M star RB carted off with injury vs. South Carolina

With a reported knee injury, Texas A&M star RB Le’Veon Moss was carted off the field in the first half against South Carolina

Texas A&M’s Week 10 road test vs. South Carolina has been all Gamecocks thus far, as the Aggies quickly fell behind 14-0 before two Randy Bond Field goals cut the lead to 17-6 with just over eight minutes remaining in the first half.

However, the Aggies are now dealing with a possibly serious injury to star junior running back Le’Veon Moss, who, after catching a pass from quarterback Marcel Reed, was hit low out of bounds and stayed on the ground for a sustained period of time.

After being helped off the field without putting any pressure on what looked to be his right knee, Moss stayed in the injury tent for the rest of the first quarter while the training staff requested a cart. While any speculation is inappropriate now, it does not look good for the star back.

Through eight games this season, Moss has run for 757 yards and ten touchdowns, averaging 6.4 yards per rush.

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Nick Saban breaks down Texas A&M’s offense with QB Marcel Reed under center

Should Marcel Reed be the starter for the rest of the season?

Ahead of Texas A&M’s Week 10 road test against South Carolina on Saturday night, it’s become clear throughout the week that this game will come down to the play in the trenches, specifically the play of Texas A&M’s offensive line against the Gamecocks’ stout defensive line.

This should also be flipped, as the Aggies’ deep D-line should be able to generate a ton of pressure against South Carolina’s O-line, which has allowed nearly five sacks per game this season. However, Texas A&M’s impending quarterback decision between Conner Wegiman and Marcel Reed will drastically affect A&M’s offensive game plan.

On Saturday morning, during one of the many pre-game segments on ESPN’s College GameDay, former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, alongside Kirk Herbstreit, broke down Texas A&M’s offense under Marcel Reed, head coach Mike Elko and OC Collin Klein, as Reed’s second-half insertion against LSU last Saturday resulted in a 31-6 run, including three rushing touchdowns from the redshirt freshman.

As Herbstreit noted, South Carolina has had a week to prepare for Reed’s dual-threat running ability. It’s all about playcalling, timing, and execution. Utilizing zone-read looks while Reed manipulates defenders’ eyes was the key to four of A&M’s five consecutive scoring drives, as A&M’s red zone offense is still one of the best in the country.

Now, I wouldn’t be surprised if South Carolina’s defense is ready for any counter-run looks that led to several open looks for Reed against the Tigers. However, this is all premature before knowing when he’ll see the field against the Gamecocks.

Texas A&M will travel to Columbia to face South Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 2nd, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on either ABC.

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College GameDay Crew picks Texas A&M vs. South Carolina

ESPN’s College GameDay crew has predicted the winner of Texas A&M vs. South Carolina

Texas A&M’s 7-1 start and 5-0 SEC-leading conference record are on the line on Saturday night. The Aggies will enter a packed and very loud Williams-Brice Stadium against a South Carolina team that’s much better than the Gamecocks’ record shows.

Just a week after the Aggies’ 38-23 comeback win over then-8th-ranked LSU, first-year head coach Mike Elko deserves the bulk of the credit for establishing a team culture built on physicality and relentless effort. At the same time, his insertion of redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed into the lineup against the Tigers practically saved the season.

However, after Reed entered the game for starting quarterback Conner Weigman, who struggled throughout the first half, Elko stated throughout the week that both players would receive equal starting snaps to earn the job, as a decision will likely be revealed hours before the 6:30 p.m. kickoff.

On Saturday, ESPN’s College Gameday crew picked the winner of Texas A&M vs. South Carolina. It was almost a clean sweep for the Aggies, as Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, Pat McAfee, Lee Corso, and Kirk Herbstreit all picked Texas A&M, mainly due to Reed’s versatility and the Aggies’ recent momentum after beating LSU.

Guest picker actor/comedian Keegan Michael Key was the only one to pick South Carolina. On SEC Nation, every picker outside of Paul Finebaum also selected the Aggies.

Texas A&M will travel to Columbia to face South Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 2nd, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on either ABC.

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Texas A&M vs. South Carolina injury report: Friday Availability report before Week 10 matchup

Here is the updated availability report for Texas A&M and South Carolina, showing little change ahead of Saturday

10th-ranked Texas A&M will head to Columbia (SC) to face one of the toughest SEC defenses in the country, as South Carolina brings constant pressure in the trenches due to the play of defensive ends Dylan Stewart and Kyle Kennard. However, it’s fair to say that the Gamecock’s four wins aren’t that impressive.

One of the primary reasons this game presents a big challenge on paper for the Aggies is A&M’s recent performance in pass protection in Saturday’s win against LSU, as starting quarterback Conner Weigman faced an overload of pressure before being benched in favor of backup Marcel Reed.

This week, head coach Mike Elko stated that he would continue to evaluate the quarterback position ahead of the matchup, giving both Reed and Weigman equal practice reps to determine the final choice. As Saturday nears, a decision has yet to be made.

Injury-wise, the third SEC Availability Report was released on Friday night. Texas A&M’s roster looks to be in great shape outside of starting left guard Chase Bisontis, who will miss at least the next two weeks due to a lower-body injury.

As of Friday, here is the latest SEC Availability report ahead of Saturday night:

Texas A&M injury report

  • Rueben Owens – RB (Out for the season)
  • Mark Nabou – OL (Out for the season)
  • Tyreek Chappell – DB (Out)
  • Chase Bisontis – OL (Out)
  • Jahdae Walker — WR (Out for first half)
  • Jaylen Henderson — QB (Questionable)

South Carolina injury report

  • Jakai Moore — OL (Out)
  • DeAndre Jules — DL (Out)
  • Jared Brown — WR (Probable)

OL Chase Bisontis injury update

After sustaining a lower-body injury against Mississippi State, Mike Elko stated on Monday that Bisontis will miss “a couple of weeks,” which is very good news for the Aggies, who will be on their second bye week after facing South Carolina on Saturday. Bisontis is expected to be ready to return against New Mexico State or at Auburn.

WR Jahdae Walker’s update

Jahdae Walker shouldn’t have been suspended for the first half of Saturday’s game after what was flagged as a blindside block and targeting against an LSU wide receiver during the Aggies’ 31-6 second-half run against the Tigers. Walker will come out of halftime with a chip on his shoulder, that’s for sure.

Texas A&M will travel to Columbia to face South Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 2nd, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on either ABC.

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‘We just have to worry about us’ Texas A&M HC Mike Elko speaks to Paul Finebaum

Mike Elko discussed the Aggies’ mindset this season after the season opening loss to Notre Dame

Texas A&M’s 7-1 record and 5-0 start in SEC play, currently atop the conference, surprises many, mainly since head coach Mike Elko is in the midst of his first season with the program.

Elko and his staff deserve much credit for developing a culture that rivals nearly every Power 5 program. However, the Aggies have mainly thrived due to the transfer additions led by defensive end Nic Scourton and cornerbacks BJ Mayes and Will Lee, while a handful of others have made a weekly impact.

After defeating LSU last Saturday night in one of the craziest comebacks in Texas A&M football history, backup quarterback Marcel Reed entered the game in the second half amid Conner Weigman’s struggles, leading the Aggies to five consecutive scoring drives while producing three rushing touchdowns.

Set to face South Carolina on the road for the second consecutive primetime game on ABC, Elko appeared on the Paul Finebaum show, reflecting on the impending matchup while reflecting on how the Aggies have stayed the course after losing the season opener to Notre Dame.

“I think we started attacking this thing early on, and I think for us, one of the things that we were able to take out of the Notre Dame loss was, I think that allowed us to really insulate our program” Mike Elko stated. “You started to realize we just have to worry about us and what we need to do to improve and get better every day, to become the football team capable of coming and drowning out all that outside noise.”

After defeating Missouri, Mississippi State, and LSU, Elko and his team have stayed the course and avoided thinking that any of this is all but a weekly accomplish, as their focus remains on defeating the next opponent:

“You beat Missouri and everyone wants to talk positvely about you, but, hold on, that isn’t kind of anything yet, then you beat LSU and it kind of turns into the same thing” Elko stated. “Our kids understand what a pendulum this really is, and I believe that’s helped us in keeping them focused on what we’ve got to do to go out and play football the way we can and the way for capable of.”

Texas A&M will travel to Columbia to face South Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 2nd, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on either ABC.

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2024 SEC Football Championship Odds ahead of Week 10

Here are the updated SEC Championship odds for all 16 conference teams ahead of the Week 10 slate

The 2024 SEC football season has been chaotic, to say the least. Sitting atop the conference like all of us predicted eight games through the season (I’m kidding), Texas A&M’s 7-1 start to the year with the only undefeated (5-0) SEC record feels like a fairy tale compared to the preseason predictions.

However, after defeating Georgia a month ago, Alabama looked like the best team in the country, earning the No. 1 ranking before losing to Vanderbilt and Tennessee on the road, so it’s clearly the Tide who have disappointed thus far.

More than halfway through the regular season, Georgia, Texas A&M, and the Texas Longhorns look like the favorites to reach the SEC Championship if things fall the way they have predicted, which includes A&M and Texas winning out before they meet on Nov. 30.

Suppose the Aggies defeat South Carolina and Auburn on the road to reach 7-0 in SEC play. If the Longhorns also stay undefeated, the season finale home matchup vs. Texas will determine their standing in the SEC Championship game.

According to BetMGM, here are the updated SEC Football Championship Odds.

  1. Georgia: +200
  2. Texas: +200
  3. Texas A&M: +400
  4. LSU: +700
  5. Tennessee: +900
  6. Alabama: +3000
  7. Ole Miss: +3500
  8. Missouri: +15000
  9. Arkansas: +20000
  10. Vanderbilt: +30000
  11. Florida: +35000
  12. Oklahoma: +50000
  13. South Carolina: +50000
  14. Kentucky: +50000
  15. Auburn: +75000
  16. Mississippi State: +75000

Texas A&M will travel to Columbia to face South Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 2nd, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on either ABC.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ]

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Texas A&M uniform vs. South Carolina has been revealed

Texas A&M will counter South Carolina’s all-black uniform look on Saturday night

Texas A&M’s 7-1 record and 5-0 first-round standing in the SEC are all on the line this weekend. The Aggies will travel to Columbia (SC) to face South Carolina in one of the more underrated rivalries in the country.

Since entering the SEC at the start of the 2012 season, Texas A&M has won every game in the series outside of the 2022 matchup, but this Gamecocks team is much different compared to years past. South Carolina possesses one of the best defenses in the country.

While any road game in the SEC comes with many challenges, the Aggies, under first-year head coach Mike Elko, are built differently. They play with added physicality in the trenches, are focused on rushing the passer, and run the ball efficiently.

Needing the right quarterback to run the show, the debate this week has been surrounded around Aggie Qbs, Marcel Reed, and Conner Weigman, whose different skill sets have created an advantage for an offense wanting to confuse every opponent.

However, someone has to start, and based on this week’s practice, that answer will likely come just hours before the game.

Now, how will the Aggies look uniform-wise against the Gamecocks?

In another entertaining video from Texas A&M’s talented media team, junior defensive end Shemar Stewart is seen wearing a white jersey, white pants, and the standard maroon helmet for the first time this season, which will counter South Carolina’s all-black uniform.

Texas A&M will travel to Columbia to face South Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 2nd, at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on either ABC.

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