Texas A&M (8-3, 5-2 SEC) enters the final week of the 2024 regular season at full strength against the Texas Longhorns (10-1, 6-1 SEC). The Aggies have earned a ticket to the SEC Championship Game and are looking to qualify for the College Football Playoff.
After A&M suffered a disappointing four-game loss to Auburn, this seemed like a distant goal. However, the Aggies still don’t have full control of their postseason dreams as Alabama suffered a shocking road loss to Oklahoma. With new hope in their hearts, the Aggies and Longhorns will face off for the first time in 13 years, and it’s not just about the pride and bragging rights of this season.
Aware of the challenges ahead, Elko said they need to be more consistent on both sides of the ball if they are to have a shot at a win Saturday night. A&M’s pass rush, which started and ended with a strong performance from starting quarterback Marcell Reed, will need to put pressure on Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers all night.
On Wednesday, Elko spoke at the weekly Aggie Football Hour. Here’s what he had to say:
Mike Elko congratulates Buzz Williams and Aggie Basketball after Wednesday’s win over Creighton
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“Buzz wins!”
“We know those wins are important. Winning Quad 1 is huge for them.”
Elco talks about the important return of starting left guard Chase Visontis
(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
“Obviously, he was missed. … Every time you lose a guy, the reps are just an opportunity and how you have to spread it out and what you do rotation-wise. … Even this week. I hope he has a good game.”
Elco praises WR Noah Thomas for his two-touchdown performance against Auburn
(Photo by Michael Chan/Getty Images)
“Noah is a big part of our offense. People know that, so it wasn’t necessarily easy to move him.”
“He’s going to need to do something similar on Saturday.”
Elko talks about further utilizing safety rotations
Auburn Tigers wide receiver Keandre Lambert-Smith (age 5) plays the Auburn Tigers against the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama. caught the final pass. The Auburn Tigers defeated the Texas A&M Aggies. 43-41 in the fourth overtime.
“We try to be pretty versatile in what we do against them, and that’s what you see them doing sometimes on offense.”
“It was a very good group.”
Elko talks about health status of two Aggie linebackers
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“Scooby (Williams) went down but came back and was on the field for a two-point play. I hope to see him on Saturday. I think he’ll be fine by the end of Saturday. .”
Elko said LB Damion Sanford’s role at Auburn was limited as he was battling the flu last week/
Saturday night it’s all at stake
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“They’re excited about this opportunity. They’re excited to be a team back on this field.”
“As we get back into shape, this team has a chance to be the team that starts this thing off with a bang.”
Elko talks about what happened at Kyle Field on Saturday
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“I imagine it’s going to be pretty loud. That’s my guess.”
“The #12thMan appears before us as consistently as anything else in this country. When the Aggies play football, expect the sun to rise in the east and a crowd of over 100,000 at Kyle Field. can.”
Elko talks about the need to be consistent from the beginning
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“Three-and-a-half hours is going to be our best football. We’ve got to find a way to do it consistently.”
“We’ve got to get back to playing the game the way we know how for four quarters.”
Elko doesn’t appear to be a Dallas Cowboys player.
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“I haven’t lived the cowboy life for a long time because I got interested in coaching, but lately it just doesn’t seem like much fun.”
Elko signs off
Image by Maria Lysaker Iman.
“Happy Thanksgiving, Gig ‘Em, and let’s go to Saw ‘Em Off on Saturday night.”
