So, the Aggies. Did you ever think Mike Elko and Co. would end up having an 8-2 season run? The Aggies have struggled for the last 2 years and have somehow always missed a chance at cracking the playoffs. Back in 2022, the boys were 5-7 and didn’t get into the Bowl games. Mike Elko finally managed to switch things up, and with 7 wins under their belt, the Aggies went for the Texas Bowl but lost to Oklahoma State. This year, though, Elko and his ragtag crew are making every single game count, and going into the Auburn clash, a lot of things are at stake. See, Mile Elko and Co. have the playoff dreams at stake here and honestly, grabbing a win will not be easy.

Back on Locked On Aggies, Andrew Stefaniak points this out. “Do I think Texas A&M ends up getting the win? I do. But I don’t think this is going to be a game where you just walk in, and this is never even competitive. Auburn is going to compete in this game,” Stefaniak mentioned. For the Tigers, they have only managed to win against 1 SEC team this year, so they are pretty much the underdogs in this showdown. But just like the Aggies, the stakes are high for Hugh Freeze as well because the final score of this game will decide if the Tigers crack it into the Bowl games or not.

See, here is the thing: Elko and Co. cannot play the same game they did against South Carolina. The Gamecocks did not allow the Aggies run game to unfold on that turf and the result of it was straightforward; Elko walked home with a 44-20 loss around his neck.

With Longhorns on the map, if Elko wants to prove himself worthy, he has to bring back the elite Aggies run game. The offensive line, with their explosive RB plays by Le’Veon Moss, has managed to crack past the 30-point mark in 6 total games.

While the dude is out with the season-ending knee injury, Elko still has access to Amari Daniels. If Auburn leaves an opening for Daniels, then making a comeback will be very difficult and that added to the fact that Tigers QB Payton Thorne has consistently performed badly against Power 4 competitors, basically means it is a loss for Freeze. Still, all of this does not mean Auburn doesn’t even stand a chance at winning.

Huge finale for Hugh Freeze

The first thing the Tigers have to do is win the turnover battle. With Moss out, the pressure will fall on QB Marcel Reed to make the perfect calls. See, Reed’s resume with the Aggies is not but impressive. Not only did the guy manage to switch up the offense after Conner Weigman‘s struggles, but he also has a record of turning over the football only twice.

With the elite RB out, Auburn’s D-line will have a shot at creating maximum turnovers for the boys. If they fail to do that, then Daniels is going to have one he-k of a time on that turf running the football.

Another thing to keep in mind is creating space for RB Jarquez Hunter. See, if the Aggies have Moss, Auburn has Hunter. Keep in mind that Elko and Co. have barely allowed any team to go past the 4-yard-per-carry mark in any game. So, the offensive line and Reed have to create enough room for Hunter to run.