'Desperate' Aggies anticipate a playoff-like atmosphere at Faurot Field

The roles are reversed.

Texas A&M’s task is to make sure the results are not.

A year ago, Missouri, undefeated and ranked in the top 10, confidently ventured into Kyle Field to face No. 25 Texas A&M.

The Aggies stunned the No. 9 Tigers, 41-10.

No. 3 Texas A&M (8-0, 5-0) aims to stay on track to the College Football Playoff and Southeastern Conference Championship Game when visiting No. 22 Missouri (6-2, 2-2) for a 2:30 p.m. CT SEC clash at Faurot Field.

Much more than revenge is at stake for Missouri. The Tigers still have playoff hopes, too. Those hopes likely will be dashed with another loss. Therefore, they are a desperate team.

However, A&M coach Mike Elko said the Aggies are desperate, too.

“I think we are desperate,” Elko said. “I tell (A&M players) all the time (that) we have earned everything we’ve got. We’ve got a record. We’ve got a ranking. We’ve got opportunities that we’ve worked really, really hard to earn.

“Every single Saturday, someone’s coming in and trying to take all of that from us. That’s the urgency we have.”

The playoffs are more than a month away. Yet, Elko anticipates a playoff-like atmosphere.

“They’re still very much alive for the playoffs,” he said. “This is a playoff game for them. They obviously know they’re going to have to win out, probably, to get in. This is a huge opportunity for them, at home, on a big stage, to make a statement that they’re going to chase a spot in the playoff.

“There’s a lot more of that nowadays than there has been in the past when only two or four teams were making the playoffs, so in a lot of ways, this is a playoff game on Saturday in Columbia.”

While chasing a playoff spot, Missouri figures to be chasing A&M quarterback Marcel Reed, too.

Will Huffman, TexAgs

Marcel Reed did not throw a pass in last season’s 41-10 drubbing of Missouri.

Reed has emerged as a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender after passing for 482 yards, rushing for 163 yards and accounting for eight touchdowns in A&M’s previous two games vs. Arkansas and LSU.

Reed operates behind an elite offensive line, which has allowed just seven sacks — the fewest in the SEC.

That line, however, will be challenged by the Missouri pass rush, which has posted 23 sacks, the sixth-highest total in the SEC.

Missouri also fields one of the conference’s best run defenses.

But it’s Missouri’s running game that draws the most attention. Tailback Ahmad Hardy leads the SEC and is fourth in the nation with 937 rushing yards.

The importance of Hardy’s running is magnified by the loss of injured starting quarterback Beau Pribula. He’s replaced by true freshman Matt Zollers, who will be making his first career start.

Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

In four career games, Matt Zollers has completed 20 of his 29 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns.

He must deal with an A&M pass rush, led by SEC sacks leader Cashius Howell. The Aggies have posted 32 sacks, which is the highest total for a team that has played only eight games.

The Aggies control their own destiny. A victory in Columbia keeps them on pace to reach Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game. A victory almost assures a spot in the playoffs.

A loss would make reaching Atlanta much more difficult. SEC tie-breakers do not favor A&M.

“I think we understand where we’re at,” Elko said. “We understand the task at hand. We understand to be in the moment and to focus on being in the moment. But all of that stuff has to play itself out on Saturday."