With their victory over Arkansas on Saturday night, the Texas A&M Aggies proved that they’re a top 10 team.
That’s not to say that the Aggies were perfect. They weren’t. The passing game got off to a slow start, completing just four of 11 attempts in the first half. The defense also struggled for most of the game, giving up a season-high 491 yards, while allowing the Razorbacks to hold the ball for almost 40 minutes.
Despite these issues, Texas A&M managed to win this game convincingly. Even though the Aggie D had trouble getting off the field, it came up with big plays in the red zone. A&M did an excellent job of holding Arkansas to a field goal early in the second quarter, after the Hogs had first and goal at the Aggie two-yard line. The defense would rise to the occasion again later in the period, forcing a Rawleigh Williams fumble at the one-yard line to prevent Arkansas from taking a two-score lead. This clutch turnover resulted in a 10-point swing, as A&M would drive 69 yards for a field goal to knot the score at 10.
However, the biggest stand of the night for the Texas A&M defense was the one that would change the complexion of the contest. After an Aggie fumble killed a scoring drive deep in Arkansas territory, the Razorbacks methodically moved the ball down the field, marching 87 yards in 15 plays to set up first and goal from the A&M two-yard line. All the Hogs had to do was punch it in from six feet away to take control of the contest.
They couldn’t. The Aggie D came up with its biggest stop of the season, keeping Arkansas out of the end zone on three straight plays from inside the one-yard line. The Texas A&M front seven played so well in that series that the Razorback coaching staff opted to run a jet sweep on fourth and goal from inside the one, rather than a quarterback sneak.
This goal line stand not only fired up the Aggie sideline; it gave them the confidence that they could win. Two plays after the stop, Trevor Knight connected on a 92-yard scoring strike to give A&M a 24-17 lead. After getting pushed around on the previous drive, the defense started to win the battle with the Arkansas offense, limiting them to just 17 yards in the next two series. The Aggie offense would score on its next two possessions, turning what was a close game into a laugher.
The way that Texas A&M won this game shows that it has what it takes to win the SEC this season. Much like Tennessee earlier in the day, the Aggies were able to overcome adversity, and turn a tight contest into a convincing victory. That is something that only a championship-caliber squad would be able to do.
Does this mean that A&M will win the West?
That’s tough to say. However, with victories over UCLA, Auburn, and Arkansas, the Aggies’ total body of work is as impressive as anyone else in the country at this point in the season. While it might not be the favorite to win the West, there’s no reason to think that Texas A&M couldn’t end up winning the division. Besides, we all know what happened the last time Trevor Knight faced the Alabama defense.
