Texas A&M football faces a difficult task in Week 10, as the Aggies travel to take on one of college football's hottest teams.
This isn't the same South Carolina
team Texas A&M played in College Station last year. The No. 21 Gamecocks boast a 5-3 overall record, including a 3-3 mark in SEC play, and are coming off three-straight conference wins over then-ranked No. 16 Florida, No. 11 Tennessee and Oklahoma.South Carolina's back-to-back wins over the Gators and Volunteers marked the third time under head coach Shane Beamer the team has posted consecutive top-25 wins. That success has largely come from incredible performances by senior quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who posted his fifth career 300-plus-yard passing game against the Sooners in Week
9.
Texas A&M must stop Sellers and South Carolina's high-powered offense, which enters Saturday's contest ranked the No. 2 unit in the league. However, the Aggies' defense flashed at times in the 31-20 loss to No. 13 Alabama, notching two interceptions and tying the season-high with two sacks.
A road win in one of the nation's most hostile environments would go a long way toward building momentum, but it is a tall ask for a team that has failed to find its footing offensively.
Here are three areas to watch in Texas A&M's road trip to Columbia:
Texas A&M's defensive line vs. Sellers
Sellers was on a tear in October, throwing for over 200 yards every game, including a season-high 301 in South Carolina's 42-25 victory at Oklahoma. He also has back-to-back outings with 90-plus rushing yards, flashing his outstanding athleticism.
To stop the 6-foot-3, 238-pound gunslinger, Texas A&M's defensive line must be able to apply pressure and force him to make errant throws. Sellers' decision-making hasn't been the greatest at times, tied for second in the SEC with seven interceptions, which could provide the Aggies' secondary an opportunity to force turnovers. If defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill can draw up some ways to keep Sellers off-balance by collapsing the pocket, Texas A&M's defense could find success. Physical tackling and the pass rush will be integral in slowing down South Carolina's electric quarterback.
Texas A&M's offensive line vs. Dylan Stewart
On the opposite side of the gridiron, South Carolina boasts one of the most-feared edge rushers in college football. Since Beamer benched him after the Gamecocks' Week 9 loss to Alabama, Stewart has compiled seven solo tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks. The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder's elite speed and physicality are why he leads the 2027 NFL Draft class in pass rush efficiency.
Texas A&M's pass protection must hold firm against Sellers and keep him from wreaking havoc on Marcel Reed or Brady Hart.
Texas A&M quarterbacks vs. South Carolina's defense
An unexpected series of events has led to a quarterback quarrel in College Station. Reed is tied for first in the conference with eight interceptions, largely due to lackluster decision-making and inaccuracy in the short game. Those downfalls have led many Aggie fans to hope for a change to the team's backup sophomore.
Offenses can only go as far as the quarterback can take them. If Reed can't make better reads and get the ball to his slew of talented wideouts accurately, it could be a long day for the Aggies.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M at South Carolina: Three areas to watch in Week 10 road trip
