At Kyle Field on Saturday night, the Aggies hosted Mississippi State for “Operation Blackout,” showcasing that the Mike Elko era is in full effect. The environment was electric from start to finish, and it was the kind of atmosphere that reminds you why Kyle Field is one of the toughest places to play in college football. The 12th Man showed up and made their presence felt all night, and you could feel the energy on every snap.
The hype behind the night was unmatched. The Yell Leaders sported all-black uniforms (the first time they have ever worn anything outside the classic whites), and even Reveille joined in with a blacked-out eye patch to support her boys in black. If you weren’t there to feel it in person, the atmosphere of this game was defining. You could feel the atmosphere that Elko is building, not just around the campus of Texas A&M, but on the field and within the locker room as well.
On the field, the Aggie offense showed two completely different versions of itself throughout the game. In the first half, penalties, missed opportunities and a lack of rhythm prevented the Aggies from putting more than seven points on the board, but in the second half, this team looked every bit like the contender they’re capable of being. While the offense had its hiccups, the defense dominated from start to finish, further showcasing that the growth they’ve made in recent weeks makes them a serious problem for opposing offenses.
All this to be said, the Aggies rolled to a 31-9 victory over Mississippi State, moving to 5-0 on the season. Let’s break down what I saw.
Offense: Slow Start, Strong Finish
The first half felt like a continuation of some of the same issues we’ve seen in recent weeks: penalties, miscommunication and mental errors continued to be drive killers for this unit. The Aggies struggled to finish early possessions, and after being stopped on Mississippi State’s 1-yard line and throwing an interception on back-to-back drives, I knew that this team was about to be tested. Moments like that for most teams would have prevented them from finding a rhythm for the rest of the game, but that wasn’t the case for us Saturday night.
This is where I was most impressed with the maturity of this team. On the offense’s next opportunity, following an interception from our defense, Marcel Reed found KC Concepcion on a 34-yard touchdown. From that moment on, the game went in a completely different direction. It was obvious that Elko and Collin Klein made the necessary adjustments to pick apart the Mississippi State defense. The play-calling found balance, and the execution as a whole improved.
Reed finished 13-of-23 for 180 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. It wasn’t his cleanest performance, but when the game tightened, he stepped up and commanded the offense like a veteran through the second half. He used his legs when he needed to, extending drives and flashing his dual-threat ability on a few plays. After going through the film, I know there are some throws he’ll want back — a few missed on the perimeter and one deep shot that was intercepted — but his composure and leadership in the second half helped this offense find its rhythm.
All this being said, penalties continue to remain the biggest issue on this side of the ball. Our offense continues to stall momentum and take away explosive plays. The fact that we’ve been able to put up the points that we have this early in the season, even with all the penalties, is a testament to the potential of this offense. When this group learns to eliminate the self-inflicted wounds, it has the firepower to be one of the best units in college football.
Rueben Owens II and the Rushing Attack Step Up
With Le’Veon Moss seeming to get slightly banged up in this game, Rueben Owens II took over and delivered a statement performance. He rushed for 142 yards on 21 carries and averaged nearly seven yards per attempt. Having Owens and Moss in the backfield creates a one-two punch that’s hard to match as a defense.
Alongside Owens, Moss and others, I was also impressed with freshman Jamarion Morrow, who had five carries for 30 yards. His patient running style is a great changeup to Moss’ and Owens’ downhill attack. Every time the Aggies needed a tough yard, one of our running backs was ready to deliver. Having that type of rushing attack keeps your offense on schedule and wears down defenses over four quarters, which is exactly what you saw in the second half.
This team wears opponents down when they play at a high level. Alongside Owens’ performance, the Aggies were able to get seven other players involved in the run game. The eight ball carriers combined for 54 carries and 299 yards on the ground. The way Klein continues to maximize the run game and utilize his dynamic talent excites me for what’s ahead this season. Being able to lean on this backfield and offensive line shows just how versatile and capable these groups are.
Mario Craver and KC Concepcion: Reliable as Ever
Once again, Mario Craver and KC Concepcion were the engines of the Aggies’ passing attack. I continue to be impressed with both of these guys every week.
Craver finished with six catches for 80 yards, flashing his speed and toughness with the ball in his hands. His ability to be used in the passing game, as well as in the perimeter run game (two carries for 35 yards and one touchdown), makes him such a dynamic threat for this offense. After this week's performance, Craver was able to take the top spot for receiving yards this season in the SEC.
Concepcion continues to be clutch. He recorded four receptions for 61 yards and two touchdowns, both coming in critical moments. The first one came late in the second quarter to break the seal on the endzone, and the other to extend the Aggie lead in the second half. He continues to win in his routes, his timing with Reed keeps improving, and his consistency is what separates him from most receivers in this league. His productivity, while fantastic, still doesn’t fully reflect his impact on the field. In my opinion, he’s one of the best players in the country, period, and he’ll continue to show that week to week. After his performance this week, Concepcion stepped into the #3 spot in total receiving yards in the SEC.
Having these two on the field together makes this offense dangerous from anywhere. They complement each other perfectly; Craver stretches the field, and Concepcion is a one-on-one nightmare. Having two of the top three receiving yard leaders in the SEC is a testament to the success that this offense is having. Klein is taking advantage of the impact that Concepcion and Craver are leaving on this Aggie offense.
Defense: Complete Domination
The story of the night was the defense. This group built off the momentum from last week and looked like one of the top units in college football. Mississippi State managed only 219 total yards of offense, with 77 on the ground and 142 through the air. They went 1-for-11 on third downs and scored just one touchdown all night. This is the same team that put up 34 points on a solid Tennessee squad.
The front seven was relentless. Cashius Howell was everywhere and a menace to Blake Shapen all night. He finished the game with three sacks and lived in the Bulldogs’ backfield. His explosion off the edge is elite, and his motor continues to set the tone for the Aggies’ pass rush. While the Aggies were able to pressure Mississippi State up front, they also limited the Bulldogs’ run game.
Taurean York once again controlled the middle with confidence, finishing with 10 tackles, four of them solo. Alongside Taurean, Daymion Sanford continues to elevate his play. His nine tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and one interception were huge throughout this football game. His performance lit up the stat sheet, and this linebacker group’s impact on the field continues to be palpable.
This defense is beginning to play championship-level football. They’re fast, disciplined and violent. When they play with that level of energy, there aren’t many offenses in the country that can move the ball on them. As we continue through SEC play, I’m excited to see how this group responds to the week-to-week challenge of stopping high-powered offenses. I know this unit looks at the schedule as a chance to prove to all of college football that a new era of the Wrecking Crew might just be back in College Station.
Secondary Holds Its Ground
Mississippi State came in with one of the more explosive receiving groups in the SEC, but the Aggie secondary more than held its own. Dezz Ricks and Will Lee III both had strong outings. These two players only allowed one big play in this game, and it was to the fastest wide receiver in college football, Brenen Thompson. Playing physical at the line of scrimmage and preventing Shapen and his receivers from finding consistent momentum was the key to this group's success.
Another group that continues to impress me is the safeties. Marcus Ratcliffe and Dalton Brooks both play with a physicality that sets the tone for this defense. They prevented the Bulldogs from generating explosive plays downfield, forcing everything underneath and rallying to the football. One thing I loved seeing was how Jay Bateman and Elko used Brooks to create pressure in the backfield. Brooks’ tackle for loss and hard hit on Shapen were beautifully designed defensive looks that will cause headaches for opposing quarterbacks throughout the season.
This defense continues to grow each week, and its confidence is starting to show. When the front four is playing physical and pressuring the quarterback like they did Saturday night and the secondary is locking down on the back end, it’s a nightmare for opposing offenses.
Closing Thoughts: The Standard is Rising
The start wasn’t perfect. The penalties, the slow tempo and the early execution issues all played a part in keeping this game close for a half. But what matters most is how this team responded. The second half was dominant. The adjustments were clear, and the defense controlled this game from start to finish. Championship-level football means either side of the ball can step up any week to help your team win, and that’s exactly what the Aggies are doing week to week. Championship teams respond. They adapt. They take over.
The Aggies continue to show what they’re capable of when all three phases come together. If this team can eliminate the penalties and start cleaner out of the gate, they’ll be a problem for anyone in the SEC.
Elko has built this team on what Aggies stand for: Toughness, effort and passion.
The defense looks elite. The offense continues to find its identity. The standard is climbing every week.
After being on the field to watch this game Saturday, I can confidently say this: Elko has this team playing together, like a family. This team is bought in. They want to be successful, and they’re willing to pay the price to achieve it.
This is a team you should be excited about, but more importantly, it’s a program being built the right way. What Elko is putting together is laying the foundation for something extremely special.
If the Aggies keep playing with this kind of focus and intensity, the rest of the SEC better be ready because this team isn’t just winning games anymore. They’re starting to send a message.
