Texas A&M @ Auburn preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 23, 2023 ) Auburn 10, Texas A&M 27

You could almost feel the bulletin-board material being pinned up in the Auburn meeting room once the slip-up came off Mike Elko's tongue.

No. 15 Texas A&M closes the regular season on Nov. 30 with an epic battle with No. 3 Texas that may decide whether the Aggies land a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

But first the Aggies visit Auburn this Saturday in a Southeastern Conference battle.

"When you're in the situation we're in, it's easy to focus on the task at hand," Elko said, promising Texas A&M wouldn't look past downtrodden Auburn. "You know, I think those big games earlier in the year, maybe you look ahead, and if we didn't have what's at stake, maybe you would worry about it.

"Our focus is single-handedly on Texas. I mean, Auburn right now and locked in on what needs to get done."

Oops, the split-second of tripping over his words will be a huge postgame talking point if the Aggies (8-2, 5-1 SEC) stumble against the Tigers (4-6, 1-5).

Texas A&M badly needs a win to keep its playoff hopes alive. SMU (9-1), BYU (9-1) and the Aggies are the first three teams on the outside of the playoff field after Tuesday's latest projection.

Freshman quarterback Marcel Reed is very aware of what's at stake entering the pivotal stretch.

"Obviously, we're going to go into practice and prepare for this team like it's the biggest game of the year," Reed said of Auburn. "And we got to win out. And this is just another step in the way we want to go."

Reed passed for a season-high 268 yards along with two touchdowns as the Aggies rolled to a 38-3 home win over New Mexico State last weekend.

Defensive end Nic Scourton continues to have a big year on the defensive side with 14 tackles for loss, including five sacks.

Auburn (4-6, 1-5) doesn't have any playoff scenarios to ponder as the program tries to avoid a fourth consecutive losing season. After the clash with the Aggies, the Tigers close the regular season at Alabama on Nov. 30.

But first, Auburn has to beat Texas A&M or the losing season goes into the books.

"Can't wait," Tigers coach Hugh Freeze said. "It'll be a tall task. They're extremely talented. It will be a good test for us."

Auburn will rely on standout running back Jarquez Hunter, who had 102 yards in last week's 48-14 rout of Louisiana-Monroe.

Hunter's 11th career 100-yard outing pushed his season total to 1,015 yards. He ranks sixth all-time in Auburn history with 3,185 career rushing yards. Legendary Bo Jackson is No. 1 with 4,303.

"It's very special to me," Hunter said of his first 1,000-yard season. "I tried to work in the offseason, I planned for this moment. I couldn't do it without the help of the O-line, tight ends and receivers doing a great job blocking and making sure I get to where I need to be.

"I executed off their blocks. It's very special to add to the great running backs who have been here before me, to be part of one of them."

Quarterback Payton Thorpe threw five touchdown passes against ULM, including three to receiver Cam Coleman. Thorpe has passed for 2,111 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Keldric Faulk (seven sacks) and Jalen McLeod (six sacks) have been standouts for an Auburn defense that is tied for 18th in scoring defense at 18.7 points per game.

Texas A&M notched a 27-10 home win over the Tigers last season.

--Field Level Media