Texas A&M tight end Nate Boerkircher, left, runs past Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter (40) during the first half Nov. 8, 2025, in Columbia, Mo.
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Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko looks at the scoreboard during the first half against Missouri on Nov. 8, 2025, in Columbia, Mo.
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Missouri quarterback Matt Zollers warms up before a game against Texas A&M on Nov. 8, 2025, in Columbia, Mo.
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Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed warms up before a game against Missouri on Nov. 8, 2025, in Columbia, Mo.
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Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed, center, is pressured by Missouri’s Jalen Catalon (6) and Nate Johnson, left, during the first half Nov. 8, 2025, in Columbia, Mo.
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Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz argues a call during the first half Texas A&M on Nov. 8, 2025, in Columbia, Mo.
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Texas A&M running back Rueben Owens II, left, runs the ball during the first half against Missouri on Nov. 8, 2025, in Columbia, Mo.
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Texas A&M wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman (3) celebrates his touchdown with Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed (10) on Oct. 11, 2025 at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo.
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Texas A&M offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III (right) blocks the pass rush of Missouri defensive end Damon Wilson II on Oct. 11, 2025 at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo.
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The ball lands just past Missouri Tigers wide receiver Joshua Manning (0) and Texas A&M Aggies cornerback Dezz Ricks (2) during a game Oct. 11, 2025 at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo.
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Missouri’s Jamal Roberts (left) is tackled by Texas A&M’s Will Lee III in the first half Oct. 11, 2025 at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo.
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Missouri’s Jamal Roberts (right) runs against Texas A&M’s Marcus Ratcliffe (center-right), Tyler Onyedim (center-left) and Taurean York in the first half Oct. 11, 2025 at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo.
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Missouri Tigers tight end Jude James (89) is not able to bring in the pass while defended by Texas A&M Aggies defensive end Nana Boadi-Owusu (12) on Oct. 11, 2025 at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo.
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It may not have been the offensive onslaught Texas A&M football fans are used to but the Aggies took care of business nonetheless Saturday.
Bolstered by a defense that allowed just 36 passing yards through three quarters, No. 3 Texas A&M beat down Missouri, 38-17. The run defense may be of interest after Missouri ripped off three 40 yards gains or more on the ground. The Tigers actually outrushed A&M despite trailing all game long, until A&M salted away the game with 65 rushing yards and a touchdown on the second-to-last drive.
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GOLDEN: Why Texas A&M is deserving of College Football Playoff’s No. 1 spot in the rankings
It’s the first time since last November the Aggies didn’t crack 40 points on the road. But 38 is more than enough, most weeks, and A&M beat Missouri for the third consecutive time. The No. 3 Aggies (9-0, 6-0) will now head home for two straight games.
Here’s what we learned in Saturday’s win:
Marcel Reed doesn’t need to run
Marcel Reed has an outside shot at the Heisman Trophy and did nothing to hurt his candidacy Saturday. He completed 19 of his first 28 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns by the time A&M opened up a three-score lead in the final period. He single-handedly outgained Missouri’s total offense for much of the day. And that was without putting himself in harm’s way in the run game. With 11 minutes left in the fourth, he only had two rushing attempts and a long of four yards.
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On one hand, it was his least-productive rushing performance since the win over Auburn. On the other, he showed he could be a threat with his arm only a week after rushing for 108 yards against LSU.
Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed looks to throw a pass during the first half against Missouri on Nov. 8, 2025, in Columbia, Mo.
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A&M dominates first-time starter
Matt Zollers, a freshman from Pennsylvania, had a tough assignment. Making the first start of his college career, Zollers was harassed by the Aggies’ front all game long. He looked somewhat comfortable last week against Vanderbilt, after coming in in relief. Zoller finished with 138 yards on 14-for-23 passing with a touchdown.
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He didn’t approach those numbers against the Aggies (7-for-22, 77 passing yards). A&M pitched a shutout in the first half.
Zoller had just four completions early into the fourth quarter while being sacked twice. Two other SEC teams have fared worse than the 17 points Missouri mustered, but Zollers was mostly hunting deep throws and coming up empty. After completing his first attempt he went 2 for his next 10 and 6 for his next 21.
Missouri quarterback Matt Zollers (5) looses the ball as he is hit by Texas A&M’s Daymion Sanford in the first half Oct. 11, 2025 at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Mo.
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A rare fumble
It took until Week 9, but A&M lost its first fumble of the season. Ashton Bethel-Roman, who caught a touchdown Saturday, lost the ball early in the fourth quarter after a big gain.
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Still, it might be surprising to know that despite the lack of fumbles, Texas A&M actually came into the game down on its seasonlong turnover margin. An incredibly high sack total (32 entering Saturday, third in the country) helps mitigate some of that concern, but A&M didn’t take the ball from a freshman QB making his first start. The Aggies have recovered four fumbles and picked off just two passes so far this season.
That gives the defense/special teams eight turnovers this year after two Missouri fumbles Saturday, while A&M has given the ball up eight times.
Aggies keep pace in SEC, CFP
The work is far from done but A&M continues to set itself up nicely for the postseason. No other SEC team can match the Aggies’ perfect winning percentage on the season and at 6-0 in SEC play, they’re guaranteed to hold onto first place in the standings for another week.
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Georgia and Ole Miss — each with one conference loss — won convincingly in Week 11. Texas, another team with one SEC loss, was idle this week. Alabama (8-1, 5-0) poses the greatest threat to A&M and plays LSU on Saturday night. The two teams ahead of A&M in the College Football Playoff rankings, Ohio State and Indiana, won as well.
Ahead of a challenging game against South Carolina, which beat A&M last year, and the season finale against Texas, A&M holds the inside track to the SEC title game.