No. 19 Texas A&M will look to enhance to 2-0 on the season when it welcomes Utah State in to School Station for an all-Aggie battle in Week 2.
Quarterback Marcel Reed and the Aggies offense bought off to a robust begin, piling up 42 factors in a gap win over UTSA, whereas Utah State is coming off a win over UTEP in its opener to start Bronco Mendenhall’s teaching tenure.
This week is the ultimate tune-up recreation on the schedule for Texas A&M, which can journey to South Bend to face No. 9 Notre Dame in Week 3 for its final nonconference recreation earlier than the SEC slate arrives. Which means the Aggies might be seeking to clear up a few of their errors from the opener, construct some extra confidence and continuity and get by this week with a snug win whereas preserving their key gamers wholesome earlier than a high 25 showdown.
Utah State, in the meantime, is seeking to construct some confidence with hopes of getting again to bowl eligibility this 12 months after a 4-8 season in 2024. Mendenhall was introduced in from New Mexico to boost the Aggies’ flooring again to being a a perennial bowl group; they’ve made it to faculty soccer’s postseason in 11 of the final 14 years. This week, they’d love to drag off a surprising upset, however they are going to be targeted largely on staying within the struggle for all 4 quarters towards a gifted high 25 opponent.
The place to observe Texas A&M vs. Utah State dwell
Date: Saturday, September 6 | Time: 12:45 p.m. ET
Location: Kyle Area — School Station, Texas
TV: SEC Community | Stream: Fubo (Attempt totally free)
Texas A&M vs. Utah State: Have to know
Can Texas A&M’s run protection shake off a poor begin? The Aggies gave up 203 yards on the bottom within the opener to UTSA, which was a decent recreation up till the mid-third quarter after they lastly created some cushion on the Roadrunners. Now, whereas 75 yards of that got here on one lengthy landing run, the Aggies protection had extra bother with UTSA than most felt they need to have. They will be seeking to clear up their run matches and tackling heading into Week 2, as a result of they actually cannot play like that after they get into the SEC schedule and count on to succeed.
Marcel Reed, Heisman sleeper? Reed is 35-1 presently at FanDuel for the Heisman, however after a 289-yard, four-touchdown day passing within the opener, he might add one other huge stat line this week and pad the numbers a bit earlier than Texas A&M hits the meat of the schedule. Reed may have an opportunity to announce his presence on a nationwide stage at Notre Dame in two weeks, and a robust displaying in a win in South Bend would thrust him firmly into the dialog. Reed’s candidacy will actually come down as to if Texas A&M turns into a playoff group or not, however that is not out of the query and he may have alternatives to construct a formidable résumé this 12 months.
Bronco’s Massive Dangerous Boys: Mendenhall is seeking to pull off one other fast turnaround after doing so at New Mexico final 12 months. He is off to a robust begin with the Aggies after beating UTEP handily within the opener, and his groups are likely to play with an edge and toughness that makes them a problem for any opponent. I do not count on them to win this recreation, and even threaten to, however this can be a probability for the Aggies to indicate simply how a lot they’re prepared to struggle and battle with a number of the huge boys from the SEC. The protection will attempt to restrict huge performs and see if it could’t steal a possession with a turnover, whereas the offense will take a look at what UTSA was in a position to do final week and really feel there are alternatives to place factors on the board. Quarterback Bryson Barnes had a pleasant opener, and operating again Miles Davis might be seeking to create some easy jazz within the floor recreation, hoping to seek out related holes within the Aggies protection that UTSA did.
Texas A&M vs. Utah State prediction, choose
The Aggies from Logan might be overmatched by the Aggies from School Station on this one, however I do count on Utah State to struggle for all 60 minutes. Texas A&M, in the meantime, might be seeking to get off to a a lot better begin and put this one to mattress early so it could pull starters and switch its consideration to an enormous matchup on the highway with No. 9 Notre Dame subsequent week. For that motive, I believe Utah State will have the ability to kick down the backdoor late Saturday afternoon and get this one contained in the quantity (like UTSA did) whereas Texas A&M is considering South Bend. Decide: Utah State +31.5
