Mississippi State (1-5, 0-3 Southeastern Conference) is back at Davis Wade Stadium this week for the first of three straight home games when the Bulldogs host No. 14 Texas A&M for a 3:15 p.m. kickoff Saturday on SEC Network.

  The Aggies (5-1, 3-0) lost their season opener at home to Notre Dame but are undefeated since then, and prior to their bye last week, they routed previously-unbeaten Missouri by 31 points. Under first-year head coach Mike Elko, who took over for Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M is excellent up front defensively and has the SEC’s second-best rushing offense.

To learn more about this Aggies team, The Commercial Dispatch chatted with Alex Miller, who covers Texas A&M for The Bryan-College Station Eagle.

Editor’s note: This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.

 

The Commercial Dispatch: It feels like Texas A&M is exceeding expectations by quite a bit in Year 1 under Mike Elko. What do you make of this Aggies team halfway through the season?

Alex Miller: The best way to describe Texas A&M is a work in progress that is trending in the right direction. The Aggies have found an identity running the ball on offense and their defense has settled into Elko’s scheme that is known for causing havoc. Texas A&M is a much different team than the one many around the country watched lose to Notre Dame in Week 1, and the Aggies have a chance to run the table because of their progress.

The Dispatch: Where do things stand regarding the quarterback situation between Conner Weigman and Marcel Reed?

Miller: Unless he suffered any kind of setback, Weigman is the guy. His shoulder showed no problems or signs of slowing him down in Texas A&M’s win over Missouri. The bye week came at a great time to rest up for the season half of the season. That said, Starkville is a place the Aggies have lost quarterbacks to injury in the past (Trevor Knight in 2016 and Max Johnson in 2022). If for some reason Texas A&M has to turn to Marcel Reed, he’s shown he’s capable of leading the offense and winning on the road in the SEC.

The Dispatch: Quarterbacks aside, what will be the biggest challenges Texas A&M’s offense will pose?

Miller: Texas A&M has the SEC’s third-leading rusher in Le’Veon Moss (609 yards). The emergence of a strong offensive line has been the surprise of the season and a key reason the Aggies have had offensive success. Mississippi State will have to fill gaps and slow down Moss to win.

The Dispatch: What are your thoughts on this Aggies defense, and what does it need to do to slow down Mississippi State’s offense?

Miller: The Texas A&M pass rush has cranked it up the last two games. Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green and Missouri quarterback Brady Cook were pressured all game long. Michael Van Buren’s performance at Georgia this past weekend was impressive and a shot in the arm to the Bulldogs’ offense. They’re going to have to protect him for a full 60 minutes this Saturday.

The Dispatch: Texas A&M will win if…

Miller: The Aggies stay the course. This is a game Texas A&M should win, but one Aggie teams in years past have lost. Texas A&M’s 2016 College Football Playoff hopes died in Starkville. The Aggies have only won twice in six trips to Davis Wade Stadium since they joined the SEC. The first one was Johnny Manziel’s coming-out party to the nation. The other was a methodical win in 2020. Texas A&M can’t look past Mississippi State, even though a likely top-15 matchup vs. LSU awaits.

The Dispatch: Texas A&M will lose if… 

Miller: The Aggies make silly mistakes and give up big plays. Texas A&M has cleaned up allowing chunk plays on defense, but if State can strike a big one early — like Nick Fitzgerald’s 75-yard touchdown run on the first play of the 2016 matchup — they can get the crowd into it, and we know Starkville is a unique setting. The Bulldogs must slow down Moss and protect Van Buren, and hope that odd-shaped ball bounces in their favor a few times.