Texas A&M — not Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee or anybody else — is the highest-ranked crew within the ultra-competitive Southeastern Convention.
The No. 3 Aggies are tied with the No. 4 Crimson Tide atop the convention standings as Texas A&M prepares for a matchup with No. 20 LSU on Saturday evening in Baton Rouge, La.
“This place actually does have the potential that I assumed it did once I took the job,” second-year Aggies coach Mike Elko mentioned. “We got here right here with a imaginative and prescient for what this program must be.”
The Aggies (7-0, 4-0 SEC) have been in a position to win shut video games whether or not they have been high-scoring or low-scoring.
Texas A&M gave up 40 factors to Notre Dame on the highway and gained by a degree. The Aggies scored simply 16 factors at dwelling in opposition to Auburn and gained by six factors. Final week, the surrendered 42 factors at Arkansas and gained by three factors as quarterback Marcel Reed accounted for 4 touchdowns.
“If you discuss what a championship program seems like, it seems like a bunch of men being purchased in for when it is time,” Elko mentioned. “There may be going to come back a time when the sport is on the road and the ball goes to come back to you. Your problem is that you need to be able to make that play.
“We won’t simply preserve saying we need to be one thing. Sooner or later, we will need to exit and do it. … It is good to see this system proceed to maneuver in the fitting path.”
LSU (5-2, 2-2) is transferring within the incorrect path. The Tigers had been ranked as excessive as No. 3 early within the season, however they misplaced two of their previous three video games, most just lately falling 31-24 at then-No. 17 Vanderbilt final weekend.
The Tigers may find yourself lacking the School Soccer Playoff for the fourth time in as many seasons beneath $100 million coach Brian Kelly.
“I perceive all people’s angst,” Kelly mentioned. “I imply, my meal does not style good. I am not in an awesome temper. I am not glad. … We have put in a lot preparation time and to to not come via in these conditions, the fellows are offended they usually’re pissed off.
“Some (followers) are saying that I am not getting it finished now. I get that, proper? We’re working onerous each single day to get our soccer crew higher.”
Kelly mentioned he is pleased with his gamers’ “resolve,” however the operating recreation has been beneath par and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and the protection have been inconsistent.
“We have not performed that complementary soccer the place either side are hitting on all cylinders,” Kelly mentioned. “We simply have not hit that time but. So we’ll proceed to organize our soccer crew, work on the issues that may assist us get to that stage.
“It is a aggressive situation every week. The SEC is a troublesome league. It is aggressive every week. There aren’t any layups.”
–Subject Degree Media
