Texas A&M (8-2, 5-1 SEC) enters Week 13 with everything on the line, as the Aggies will take on the Auburn Tigers (4-6, 1-5 SEC) in a must-win road test before hosting the No. 3-ranked Texas Longhorns in the 2024 regular-season finale.
This week, the notion that this is a “trap game” has not been subtle, as head coach Mike Elko has been clear, outside of his slip of the tongue on Monday, that the Aggies are determined to right their wrongs that led to the 44-20 road loss to South Carolina in Week 10, while fully understanding the postseason implications.
For those unaware of the stark challenge of playing in Jordan-Hare, take it from college football great and former Alabama head coach Nick Saban, who faced Auburn for 17 consecutive seasons.
Saban’s 14-8 record against the Tigers is his worst among SEC opponents, including four losses inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. Now an ESPN’s College GameDay member, Saban warned Texas A&M before the Aggies take the field on Saturday night.
“I would be alerting Texas A&M because in my opinion, in 17 years, going to Auburn, playing in Jordan-Hare — that place is haunted. I guarantee it.”
Haunted? Maybe, but under first-year head coach Mike Elko, the Aggies are focused on dominating at the line of scrimmage and controlling the clock, which is key to preventing the Tigers from gaining momentum.
However, this means starting quarterback Marcel Reed will need to hit his open targets, while A&M’s pass rush must get home and finish sacks while tacking in space against Auburn star running back Jarquez Hunter.
Texas A&M will face Auburn on the road on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 6:30 pm. CT. The game will air on ESPN.
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