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Phone: 281-971-3362
Email: paul@westhoustonsf.com
Looking at A&M's remaining opponents
Mississippi State (1-4)
Opponents:
Eastern Kentucky (W, 56-7)
Arizona State (L, 30-23)
Toledo (L, 41-17)
Florida (L, 45-28)
Texas (L, 35-13)
Rankings:
Total offense, 79th
Total defense, 121st
Scoring offense, 81st
Scoring defense, 110
Ouch stat:
Sacks allowed, 116th
What makes things worse for Mississippi State is that they've played worse at home than on the road. The Toledo and UF thumpings were both in Starkville. The worst thing is that QB Blake Shapen, who was off to a very good start (974 yards, 8 TD in 3 1/2 games), is gone for the year. New starter Michael Van Buren, a freshman and not Andrew Jackson's successor, is completing just a little over 50% of his passes and they have become run heavy. But Van Buren's not a runner. Things are just flat bad for the Bulldogs, and they have Georgia next.
LSU (4-1)
Opponents:
USC (L, 27-20)
Nicholls (W, 44-21)
South Carolina (W, 36-33)
UCLA (W, 34-17)
South Alabama (W, 42-10)
Rankings:
Total offense, 16th
Total defense, 66th
Scoring offense, 31st
Scoring defense, 48th
Ouch stat:
Rushing offense, 96th
LSU has a massive game against Ole Miss tomorrow night. To say it's season-altering is not an overstatement. You can also argue it's the first time LSU has played a good team, as their opponents are combined 11-15 (and that includes an FCS team with a losing record). Ole Miss has the nation's best rush defense so far, leads the nation in tackles for loss and is third in sacks. If the Rebels get after Garrett Nussmeier, that could be really bad. And if Ole Miss does, then the gameplan for A&M will probably be very similar.
South Carolina (3-2)
Opponents:
Old Dominion (W, 23-19)
Kentucky (W, 31-6)
LSU (L, 36-33)
Akron (W, 50-7)
Ole Miss (L, 27-3)
Rankings:
Total offense, 94th
Total defense, 22nd
Scoring offense, 75th
Scoring defense, 32nd
Ouch stat:
Sacks allowed, 133rd (Last in FBS)
South Carolina's opponents have combined for a 14-13 record so far and things are only getting tougher. They have, in their next three games, at Alabama, at Oklahoma and A&M. They're essentially one-dimensional, as LaNorris Sellers is a capable running quarterback but hasn't thrown for more than 166 yards in his four starts. They're 110th in passing yards, which is skewed upward by the 243 Robbie Ashford threw for against Akron, possibly the worst team in FBS. The only two capable offenses Carolina has played, LSU and Ole Miss, combined to put up 845 yards on the Gamecocks.
I know some of you are scared of this team and this game, but judging from how they've played, that may be unwarranted.
New Mexico State (1-5)
Opponents:
Southwest Missouri State (W, 23-16)
Liberty (L, 30-24)
Fresno State (L, 41-0)
Sam Houston (L, 31-11)
New Mexico (L, 50-40)
Jacksonville State (L, 54-13)
Rankings:
Total offense, 125th
Total defense, 126th
Scoring offense, 121st
Scoring defense, 127th
Ouch stat:
Rushing defense, 132nd
They're terrible.
Auburn (2-4)
Opponents:
Alabama A&M (W, 73-3)
California (L, 21-14)
New Mexico (W, 45-19)
Arkansas (L, 24-14)
Oklahoma (L, 27-21)
Georgia (L, 31-13)
Rankings:
Total offense, 35th
Total defense, 53rd
Scoring offense, 64th
Scoring defense, 45th
Ouch stat:
Turnovers lost, 131st
Auburn is not an easy place to play, but the Tigers are 2-3 at home so far this year. They have two more road games coming up after their first one, the trip to Athens which didn't go well. Auburn's opponents are 19-13, and they've lost to all four opponents who have winning records. But when you're 132 in turnover margin and have already given the ball away 15 times, that's more than just a glitch. That's a trend of bad play.
Texas (5-0)
Opponents:
Colorado State (W, 52-0)
Michigan (W, 31-12)
UTSA (W, 56-7)
ULM (W, 51-3)
Mississippi State (W, 35-13)
Rankings:
Total offense, 7th
Total defense, 3rd
Scoring offense, 7th
Scoring defense, 2nd
Ouch stat:
Tackles for loss allowed, 65th
Texas is very good, to be sure, but their opponents are a combined 13-13. They have not been tested yet, and I'm not sure a one-dimensional OU team is a test either. That may have to wait until Georgia. But, without question, these guys are the biggest remaining challenge for A&M on their schedule. It's not even close. Everyone else has serious flaws, and Texas has yet to show any.
And in case you were wondering about A&M:
Total offense: 58th
Total defense: 37th
Scoring offense: 56th
Scoring defense: 21st
Ouch stat:
118th in penalties
Opponents’ combined record: 21-10
No problems for Weigman this week
The Aggies had a little more relaxed schedule this week due to the bye, but in any event, there were no problems or setbacks for quarterback Conner Weigman. His arm hasn't given him any trouble since he started practicing again 12 days ago. Just in case there was any thought, there is no competition. He's the starter.
Barber, Bussey ready to add to offense
Something we saw really for the first time last Saturday was Jabre Barber and Terry Bussey both getting down the field on their pass routes. Both had been limited to plays around the line of scrimmage until recently, with Barber finally getting down the field some against Arkansas and Bussey having several deep routes against Missouri. Barber is now getting close to fully healthy, and that should mean more reps and deeper routes. Bussey, clearly, is starting to feel comfortable at receiver. He looked the part against Missouri. If those guys can continue to pick up their production, life gets much tougher for opponents and easier for Noah Thomas, Jahdae Walker and Cyrus Allen.
Coaches out in Cali
Coronoa (Calif.) Centennial won 63-0 last night and quarterback Husan Longstreet had some big names in attendance. Coach Mike Elko and offensive coordinator Collin Klein both made the trip out west to see the 2025 commit, who has rebuffed overtures from USC to stick with the Aggies. Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman will be in California tonight to see linebacker commit Noah Mikhail.
Confidence is high on a Rogers flip
Having Lamont Rogers at the Missouri game ended up being a great thing for the Aggies, as the highly-rated 4-star offensive tackle got to see the difference between the two teams in person. Though Thomas has not said anything one way or the other since the trip, people close to the program and industry observers both anticipate that Rogers will flip his commitment from Missouri to A&M. There's no timeframe on this, but I wouldn't be shocked if it doesn't happen pretty soon.
Phone: 281-971-3362
Email: paul@westhoustonsf.com
Looking at A&M's remaining opponents
Mississippi State (1-4)
Opponents:
Eastern Kentucky (W, 56-7)
Arizona State (L, 30-23)
Toledo (L, 41-17)
Florida (L, 45-28)
Texas (L, 35-13)
Rankings:
Total offense, 79th
Total defense, 121st
Scoring offense, 81st
Scoring defense, 110
Ouch stat:
Sacks allowed, 116th
What makes things worse for Mississippi State is that they've played worse at home than on the road. The Toledo and UF thumpings were both in Starkville. The worst thing is that QB Blake Shapen, who was off to a very good start (974 yards, 8 TD in 3 1/2 games), is gone for the year. New starter Michael Van Buren, a freshman and not Andrew Jackson's successor, is completing just a little over 50% of his passes and they have become run heavy. But Van Buren's not a runner. Things are just flat bad for the Bulldogs, and they have Georgia next.
LSU (4-1)
Opponents:
USC (L, 27-20)
Nicholls (W, 44-21)
South Carolina (W, 36-33)
UCLA (W, 34-17)
South Alabama (W, 42-10)
Rankings:
Total offense, 16th
Total defense, 66th
Scoring offense, 31st
Scoring defense, 48th
Ouch stat:
Rushing offense, 96th
LSU has a massive game against Ole Miss tomorrow night. To say it's season-altering is not an overstatement. You can also argue it's the first time LSU has played a good team, as their opponents are combined 11-15 (and that includes an FCS team with a losing record). Ole Miss has the nation's best rush defense so far, leads the nation in tackles for loss and is third in sacks. If the Rebels get after Garrett Nussmeier, that could be really bad. And if Ole Miss does, then the gameplan for A&M will probably be very similar.
South Carolina (3-2)
Opponents:
Old Dominion (W, 23-19)
Kentucky (W, 31-6)
LSU (L, 36-33)
Akron (W, 50-7)
Ole Miss (L, 27-3)
Rankings:
Total offense, 94th
Total defense, 22nd
Scoring offense, 75th
Scoring defense, 32nd
Ouch stat:
Sacks allowed, 133rd (Last in FBS)
South Carolina's opponents have combined for a 14-13 record so far and things are only getting tougher. They have, in their next three games, at Alabama, at Oklahoma and A&M. They're essentially one-dimensional, as LaNorris Sellers is a capable running quarterback but hasn't thrown for more than 166 yards in his four starts. They're 110th in passing yards, which is skewed upward by the 243 Robbie Ashford threw for against Akron, possibly the worst team in FBS. The only two capable offenses Carolina has played, LSU and Ole Miss, combined to put up 845 yards on the Gamecocks.
I know some of you are scared of this team and this game, but judging from how they've played, that may be unwarranted.
New Mexico State (1-5)
Opponents:
Southwest Missouri State (W, 23-16)
Liberty (L, 30-24)
Fresno State (L, 41-0)
Sam Houston (L, 31-11)
New Mexico (L, 50-40)
Jacksonville State (L, 54-13)
Rankings:
Total offense, 125th
Total defense, 126th
Scoring offense, 121st
Scoring defense, 127th
Ouch stat:
Rushing defense, 132nd
They're terrible.
Auburn (2-4)
Opponents:
Alabama A&M (W, 73-3)
California (L, 21-14)
New Mexico (W, 45-19)
Arkansas (L, 24-14)
Oklahoma (L, 27-21)
Georgia (L, 31-13)
Rankings:
Total offense, 35th
Total defense, 53rd
Scoring offense, 64th
Scoring defense, 45th
Ouch stat:
Turnovers lost, 131st
Auburn is not an easy place to play, but the Tigers are 2-3 at home so far this year. They have two more road games coming up after their first one, the trip to Athens which didn't go well. Auburn's opponents are 19-13, and they've lost to all four opponents who have winning records. But when you're 132 in turnover margin and have already given the ball away 15 times, that's more than just a glitch. That's a trend of bad play.
Texas (5-0)
Opponents:
Colorado State (W, 52-0)
Michigan (W, 31-12)
UTSA (W, 56-7)
ULM (W, 51-3)
Mississippi State (W, 35-13)
Rankings:
Total offense, 7th
Total defense, 3rd
Scoring offense, 7th
Scoring defense, 2nd
Ouch stat:
Tackles for loss allowed, 65th
Texas is very good, to be sure, but their opponents are a combined 13-13. They have not been tested yet, and I'm not sure a one-dimensional OU team is a test either. That may have to wait until Georgia. But, without question, these guys are the biggest remaining challenge for A&M on their schedule. It's not even close. Everyone else has serious flaws, and Texas has yet to show any.
And in case you were wondering about A&M:
Total offense: 58th
Total defense: 37th
Scoring offense: 56th
Scoring defense: 21st
Ouch stat:
118th in penalties
Opponents’ combined record: 21-10
No problems for Weigman this week
The Aggies had a little more relaxed schedule this week due to the bye, but in any event, there were no problems or setbacks for quarterback Conner Weigman. His arm hasn't given him any trouble since he started practicing again 12 days ago. Just in case there was any thought, there is no competition. He's the starter.
Barber, Bussey ready to add to offense
Something we saw really for the first time last Saturday was Jabre Barber and Terry Bussey both getting down the field on their pass routes. Both had been limited to plays around the line of scrimmage until recently, with Barber finally getting down the field some against Arkansas and Bussey having several deep routes against Missouri. Barber is now getting close to fully healthy, and that should mean more reps and deeper routes. Bussey, clearly, is starting to feel comfortable at receiver. He looked the part against Missouri. If those guys can continue to pick up their production, life gets much tougher for opponents and easier for Noah Thomas, Jahdae Walker and Cyrus Allen.
Coaches out in Cali
Coronoa (Calif.) Centennial won 63-0 last night and quarterback Husan Longstreet had some big names in attendance. Coach Mike Elko and offensive coordinator Collin Klein both made the trip out west to see the 2025 commit, who has rebuffed overtures from USC to stick with the Aggies. Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman will be in California tonight to see linebacker commit Noah Mikhail.
Confidence is high on a Rogers flip
Having Lamont Rogers at the Missouri game ended up being a great thing for the Aggies, as the highly-rated 4-star offensive tackle got to see the difference between the two teams in person. Though Thomas has not said anything one way or the other since the trip, people close to the program and industry observers both anticipate that Rogers will flip his commitment from Missouri to A&M. There's no timeframe on this, but I wouldn't be shocked if it doesn't happen pretty soon.
