Texas A&M Aggies fans should be furious over critical failures in loss to rival Texas Longhorns

Mike Elko was out-coached, Marcel Reed blew it, and the defense fell apart in most when it mattered most against Texas Longhorns

Travis May — College Football Managing Editor
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Texas A&M collapsed in embarrassing fashion just like they usually do when it matters most every single season. Aggies fans have to be absolutely sick following Friday’s 27-17 loss to the Texas Longhorns as the pursuit of a perfect undefeated regular season was ended abruptly.

Following a loss, it’s easy to point fingers, and they’re often pointed in one specific direction. A&M fans can’t do that. They don’t actually likely have enough fingers to point in all the required directions because the critical failures were simply everywhere. However, three key failures stood more than others on Saturday. Marcel Reed’s decision making. Texas A&M’s complete lack of defensive communication and discipline against Arch Manning. And lastly, the fact that Mike Elko just flat out got out-coached by Steve Sarkisian.

Aggies QB Marcel Reed almost single-handedly gave Texas the win

Marcel Reed has played some phenomenal football this season. Coming into A&M’s game against Texas, he was firmly in the Heisman Trophy mix thanks to his nearly 300 total yards per game and high-level consistent efficiency for much of the year. Unfortunately, his decision-making and accuracy were all over the place against Texas, handing the Longhorns not one, but two interceptions late in the game to seal the Aggies’ fate.

Reed had already been struggling for much of the first half, missing easy passes left and right and not seeing the field well. If not for the Aggies’ creative run game, the Aggies might not have punched in a single touchdown for the entire contest. Then, when A&M absolutely could not stand to throw a pick, Reed threw two. If the Aggies want to stay competitive in the College Football Playoff, Reed has to get back to his confident, accurate self. Not whatever that was on Friday.

Defense found themselves out of position on every single score for the Texas Longhorns

The Aggies had one of the best third down defenses in the country for the entire year, had been racking up sacks quite often, and very seldom gave up explosive plays coming into the game against Texas. That was the complete opposite on Friday. The Aggies held up through the first half of action but then seemed to lose communication and consistent structure in the second half.

The massive blown coverage issues began on Ryan Wingo’s 29-yard touchdown pass from Arch Manning about halfway through the third quarter. Manning bought himself a little time and then almost overthrew his wide receiver, but the major takeaway from the touchdown play was that Texas A&M didn’t have a defender within 15 yards of him when he caught the score. The Aggies similarly blew their coverage, leaving an entire deep third of the field vacant, on Jack Endries’ 54-yard score that set up yet another touchdown.

Mike Elko was embarrassingly outcoached by Steve Sarkisian

Besides quarterback Marcel Reed blowing virtually every shot he had to make a play and the defense crumbling, giving up easy shots down field, the other critical failure landed at the feet of head coach Mike Elko. Whether it was the tight end motion touchdown play, the deep crossing routes that created confusion for the Aggies’ coverage, or timely run plays called for Arch Manning, it was clear that Steve Sarkisian simply knew how to beat the Aggies in exactly the right way. Conversely, Elko had very little clue of what to do to create solid offensive momentum or stop anything on defense against Texas.

Sarkisian was just in his bag, calling plays that constantly confused the A&M defense. Route combinations that stressed one side of the field opened things up for Texas. Run plays off of pre-snap motion with plenty of help sent towards stopping edge defender Cashius Howell did wonders for creating extra space. And timely run plays called for Arch Manning set up exactly what Texas needed to close the game out late.

Elko simply had zero answers in adjusting to the Texas Longhorns strategy late. Once Texas’ defense adjusted to the few heavy sets and box advantages the A&M offense was trying to take advantage of the Aggies just couldn’t move the ball with regularity. If Elko can’t improve on his in-game adjustments, then Aggies fans are likely going to have more than a handful of things to be furious about here soon.

We’ll be back with more Texas A&M Aggies coverage here at A to Z Sports soon! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!

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