In college football, or sports in general, nothing is guaranteed. However, matchups on paper often reveal strong possibilities, and this week’s opener is no different.
On Saturday, the Texas A&Mfootball team will kick off its 2026 campaign against a first‑time opponent, the Missouri State Bears. For the Bears, it’s a chance to get valuable reps against a top‑tier program. For the Aggies, it’s an opportunity to work out early‑season kinks and establish rhythm on both sides of the ball.
Missouri State’s offense is led by new head coach Casey Woods, known for stretching defenses across the full 160‑foot width of the field. His up-tempo, sideline‑to‑sideline approach will challenge an Aggie defense that has emphasized playing fast and violent throughout
fall camp. It also gives new defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill an early look at a pace‑driven scheme designed to test discipline and conditioning.
For Texas A&M’s offense, the focus will be on finding thebest combination along the offensive line. The skill players are expected to execute, but the real question is how well the protection holds up and what kind of running lanes can be created as the unit settles in.
As mentioned at the start, when you compare the athletes on the field and the quality of competition, it’s no surprise that nearly all experts predict an overwhelming Aggie victory in Week 1. The only real question is how overwhelming it will be.
Here’s who the experts are picking to win this week’s showdown:
- Tom Fornelli - CBS Sports: Texas A&M
- Chip Patterson - CBS Sports: Texas A&M
- Brandon Marcello - CBS Sports: Texas A&M
- David Kenyon - Bleacher Report: Texas A&M
- Pete Fiutak - College Football News: Texas A&M
Texas A&M will look to open the season with a strong statement win against a Missouri State offense that has enough talent to remind them they can’t take any game lightly.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M Week 1 expert picks for matchup vs. Missouri State
