While Friday night’s matchup against USC in the Las Vegas Bowl is technically the last game of Mike Elko’s first season in College Station, the Texas A&M head coach is using the matchup as a fresh beginning for his squad.
“It’s kind of the start to the new season,” Elko said Thursday afternoon. “Really, it plays like an opener. You have a general idea, but you really don’t know how they will utilize the new faces.
“You go in with a plan around your team, but you have to be ready to adapt.”
Aggies redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed used the 2023 bowl game against Oklahoma State to make an impression on Elko.
“Last year, I was still running in circles when he was playing in the Texas Bowl. I knew him vaguely from recruiting. He was a young kid that flashed and popped,” Elko explained. “Win or lose, this lasts for six months. That is the nature of bowl games.
“For our entire team, this is a potential launching point.”
Texas A&M (8-4) plays the Trojans (6-6) at Allegiant Stadium on Friday evening at 9:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
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