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Texas A&M returns quarterback Marcel Reed and slot receiver Mario Craver, but its passing game is expected to seek more vertical explosives while protection from a rebuilt offensive line remains the primary uncertainty.

Missouri State defensive coordinator Jack Curtis is installing an attacking 4-2-5 that is likely to feature man coverage, giving the Bears a new scheme with limited shared experience entering the opener.

Missouri State generated little pressure last season and enters 2026 with an inexperienced front led by undersized three-technique Tim Brantley, who recorded 13 pressures, and effort-based edge Caden Wiest.

Texas A&M's larger and more experienced line should control Missouri State's front, although the Aggies' first game together could leave short-term vulnerability to stunts and blitzes while Reed's mobility reduces the sack risk.

Craver can stress Missouri State horizontally, Ashton Bethel-Roman can attack vertically and Isaiah Horton can win at the boundary against an inexperienced secondary whose tackling and coverage matchups are vulnerable in both man and zone.