Fayetteville — Texas A&M is 7-0 for the fist time since 1994 after taking down the Arkansas Razorbacks 45-42 on Saturday.
Despite giving up big gains to Arkansas on the ground, A&M’s non-stop offense pushed it over the finish line.
Here are the five biggest takeaways from the Aggies’ victory.
Struggling against the run
Sports Roundup
The Aggies had allowed just 67.6 rushing yards per game since beginning SEC play. However, A&M surrendered 268 yards on the ground to Arkansas, the most given up by the Aggies all season. A&M was gashed for multiple big runs, as Arkansas totaled 10 runs of 10-plus yards. Razorback running back Mark Washington Jr. shocked the Aggies’ defense early with a 48-yard run on just the fifth play of the game.
It wasn’t just the running backs causing problems for the Aggies. Dual threat QB Taylen Green ripped the Aggies to shreds all evening, rushing for 85 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Aggies will need to shore up their run defense with big games against LSU and Missouri on the horizon.
Related
Non-stop Offense
After three-straight defensive showcases where the Aggies held opponents 2-of-33 on third-down conversions, A&M looked much more like the team that played Notre Dame. Arkansas converted on four out of 10 third-down tries.
Marcel Reed put on a show throwing the ball, going 23-for-32 for 280 yards and three touchdowns.
Reed was able to dominate thanks to stellar blocking up front, as the A&M offensive line didn’t allow a single sack or hurry all afternoon. The Aggies scored points on seven of their 10 possessions, with six of those being touchdowns.
Meet Ashton Bethel-Roman
A&M fans are used to Mario Craver and KC Concepcion receiving most of the attention out wide, but it was Ashton Bethel-Roman who did most of the damage for the Aggies Saturday. The redshirt freshman came into Saturday boasting only five catches for 86 yards. He proceeded to nearly double his season total as he hauled in four catches for 83 yards along with his first touchdown of the season. While Bethel-Roman doesn’t possess true X-receiver size at just 6’O” 185 lbs, he is the closest thing the Aggies have to it, with Craver and Concepcion both acting as elite slot weapons.
If Bethel-Roman is able to develop into a formidable deep threat, it could open up the field even more for the Aggies’ offense. Craver and Concepcion are still certainly Reed’s go-to targets, with both combining for eight catches, 87 yards and a touchdown against Arkansas. But having a bigger bodied athletic boundary receiver like Bethel-Roman certainly couldn’t hurt offensively for A&M.
No Le’Veon, no problem
Even without leading rusher Le’Veon Moss, A&M had no problem getting the ground game going against Arkansas. The Aggies racked up 217 total rushing yards, surpassing their average of 193.3 coming into Saturday.
Rueben Owens II filled in nicely for Moss, rushing 14 times for 69 yards and two touchdowns. EJ Smith emerged in the backfield with seven runs for 52 yards, including a crucial conversion on 4th and 1. Complimenting the Aggies’ ground game was Reed, who had looked hesitant to run the ball early this season.
The Nashville native ran for 55 yards and a touchdown on six carries. With Moss out for a significant period, A&M will need to continue this success running the ball to keep its offense afloat.
Collapsing the pocket
While Green’s mobility allowed him to allude the A&M pass rush several times, he wasn’t immune from the pressure applied by the Aggies’ front seven. The Arkansas offensive line was no match for containing the amount of top-tier talent A&M has in the trenches. The Aggies ended the evening with four sacks and six hurries, consistently forcing Green out of the pocket.
The big bodies up front weren’t the only names getting in on the action, as safety Dalton Brooks had a crucial late sack, bringing Green down 18 yards behind the line of scrimmage on Arkansas final offensive possession. With 25 total sacks on the season, A&M continues to make life difficult for opposing QBs, applying pressure on the interior while also screaming off the edge.
Kickoff time for Texas A&M-Arkansas delayed due to inclement weatherNIL has derailed college football, but fans in Texas are getting their money’s worth
Find more Texas A&M coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.