The Texas A&M Aggies showed many flashes of promise in the program’s Week 1 victory, but the storylines heading into this Saturday’s game against Utah State involve improvement in aspects that fell short against UTSA.
While the Aggie transfer wide receivers made an outstanding first impression in their Maroon and White debut, the defensive line left much to be desired at times throughout the season opener. Second-year head coach Mike Elko said the run defense issue that arose against the Roadrunners is nothing that can’t be fixed, however.
“They are fixable,” Elko said. “A lot of it was off-yardage runs they popped on us. The two touchdowns were kids playing for their first time, not doing what they needed to do. They are correctable.”
With just one week of college football in the books, it is difficult to fully evaluate the positives and potential negatives of this year’s Aggie squad. Still, Texas A&M performed well against a credible opponent in the first week of the 2025 campaign and will look to continue that success in the second game of this season’s ventures.
Here are the five biggest storylines heading into Week 2 of Aggie football, as Texas A&M gears up to face Utah State this Saturday at Kyle Field:
1. Will Texas A&M wideouts impress again?
KC Concepcion and Mario Craver had monster debuts against the UTSA Roadrunners in Week 1, as the dangerous duo combined for 194 receiving yards and three touchdowns on just 11 receptions. Craver broke former Aggie wideout Christian Kirk’s record for receiving yards in an Aggie debut, with his incredible performance in his first contest in Bryan-College Station, Texas. Facing a Utah State secondary that ranked 129th in the country in 2024 should provide ample opportunity for the pair to shine again in Week 2.
2. Can the defensive line improve rush defense?
While Texas A&M’s defensive line did achieve some success in applying pressure to UTSA’s high-powered offense, it is apparent that the room still needs some work before the program hits the brunt of the No. 10 toughest schedule in college football.
For just the third time since Elko was named the head coach, Texas A&M’s defense gave up over 200 rushing yards. The talent is there, but the unit needs to come together and find ways to improve against Utah State before traveling to face Notre Dame next week.
3. Will the Aggie RB room have a breakout game?
For the majority of the season opener, the Texas A&M running back room was quiet against the Roadrunners. The injury plague caused the unit to slide down in production last season, after spending much of the year leading the Southeastern Conference in rushing.
With a quarterback as good as Marcel Reed, establishing the rushing attack early and often could lead to even more success offensively. If turned loose this week, Le’Veon Moss and Rueben Owens II could have massive performances.
4. Can Marcel Reed continue his dominance?
Reed proved why he is undoubtedly “the guy” for the Aggies moving forward. The Nashville, Tennessee, native threw for 289 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions against UTSA, while also rushing for 39 yards on eight carries. The dual-threat quarterback’s play at the helm will play an integral role in the overall success of this team moving forward.
If Reed can continue to spread the ball around the field to his supporting cast of talented targets, he could be primed for a massive sophomore season in College Station. Against one of the worst defenses in FBS, Reed should be able to rack up the stats on Saturday.
5. Will Le’Veon Moss get more reps this week?
Moss only had three touches in the Week 1 victory over the Roadrunners, which likely stems from Elko and offensive coordinator Collin Klein giving time for the dominant senior back to ease back into rhythm after the knee injury suffered in November. However, the Aggies will need to let Moss loose sooner or later. This week could be the perfect opportunity to give him more reps, heading into next week’s massive contest against the Fighting Irish.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M vs. Utah State: 5 things to watch for
Reporting by Dylan Flippo, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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