⚡ CFB Dashboard

Texas A&M opens the season versus a G5 program in Missouri State that is essentially starting over given the departure of most of its contributors and coaching staff. There is not much sense in discussing what the Aggies need to do to actually win. Thus, here are five things I want to see from the Aggies in this one. 1. Improvement over the course of the game…..The first few possessions may not look smooth even if the Aggies are controlling the contest. However, it would be nice to see visible assignment errors, penalties, etc. dwindle as the game rolls on and people get used to playing with each other and the nervousness of facing a different jersey diminishes. The scoreboard may not tell the tale of this aspect of the game because A&M might just line up and do what it wants from the opening kickoff. 2. No major injuries…A&M is playing an inferior opponent and so it would be most unfortunate if they lost someone for a stretch of time (or even next week for their first peer opponent in Arizona State). If they emerge relatively injury free, they don't have to make any adjustments in that area for next week or the following weeks. They can game plan with more confidence and their preseason goals as a top ten team can remain totally intact. 3. Marcel Reed making a connection with Isaiah Horton….Mario Craver may be the most recognizable of the wideouts, but Horton gives Reed a chance to be more mistake free and better in the red zone. He is a big target who should be able to do what he wants versus the Bears. Reed should be able to find him in all scenarios which should mean more first downs and touchdowns, especially since he is working along the boundary (which means shorter and safer throws combined with a favorable matchup versus most defenses) as well as a fewer turnovers. 4. Run fits….A&M's front seven should be able to control a rebuilt offensive line and even physical dominate them. However, if they overrun plays or don't fit the run on cutbacks, then that will provide the Bears with some big play opportunities that should normally be above their pay grade versus a team like A&M. It won't allow them to score a lot of points, but it will serve as a reminder of the Aggies' 2024 and 2025 issues that kept them out of the SEC title game and resulted in post season struggles as well. 5. The offensive line as one unit….the Aggies will have an offensive line that haven't been working together very long and may be rotating people as well. It's going to be interesting to see how long it takes them to target the right people on zone blocks, stay on track on counter and power, get to the second level off of combo blocks, and pass off stunting/blitzing defenders to one another. The more they check these boxes in game one, the more likely they are to do so in subsequent contests early in the season.