Texas A&M’s shutout win over Missouri State showed off one major strength that should put the rest of the SEC on notice
Texas A&M had a strong showing to open the season against Missouri State and the play of the defense is something that should concern the rest of the SEC.
Texas A&M’s defense put on an absolute clinic in its season opener, holding Missouri State to 66 total yards and zero points in a 50-0 blowout. The Aggies allowed four first downs, held Missouri State to 1/11 on third down, tallied six tackles for loss, a sack, and even added a safety for good measure.
Every single week this season, one game ball gets handed out. It could go to a coach, a player, a position group, or an entire side of the ball. After a shutout performance like this one, the choice was obvious. The entire Texas A&M defensive unit earned it.
Will this defensive performance from the Aggies hold up against tougher opponents?
Now, I want to be clear. Missouri State is not a Power 4 program. But I remember the times when lower-level opponents like this could at least move the football against A&M. That was not the case here.
Again, the Bears had 66 total yards, four first downs, and could not do a single thing on third down against the Aggies’ defense. That’s suffocating. And frankly, even acknowledging the level of competition, winning 50-0 is winning 50-0.
Now, is that kind of performance something we should expect to see every week? Of course not. But if the Aggies’ defense can continue suffocating close to that level against tougher opponents, the rest of the SEC should be concerned.
Don’t overreact to the rough edges on Texas A&M showed in this win
As for the offensive side of the ball, the offensive line and a few other areas had their bumps. There are negatives you could pick apart if you wanted to.
But I went into this game understanding there are a ton of new pieces on this roster, and it takes time for those pieces to gel. The Aggies don’t have that time. Arizona State is next, then LSU looms on deck, and don’t sleep on Kentucky either. The margin for error is going to tighten quickly.
The real takeaway from this opener is the depth of the program. The transfers got meaningful snaps, and the overall talent level on this roster looks better than anything Texas A&M has put on the field in at least 10 years. That’s not hyperbole.
Most importantly, the defense was dominant. It gets the game ball. And if this unit carries even a fraction of that performance into SEC play, the Aggies are going to be a problem.
