Operation Blackout was unsuccessful for Texas A&M football on Saturday, as the Aggies fell to No. 8 Tennessee, 22-7, at Kyle Field.
The loss moves Texas A&M to 4-6, with contests against Oklahoma and No. 7 Texas remaining on the schedule. With the offensive woes continuing to plague the program, their odds of winning out and making a bowl game are slim to none.
Saturday's result against the Volunteers marks the seventh-straight loss to a ranked opponent. In those games, the offense has scored just five touchdowns through 28 quarters of football.
The bright spots from the 15-point defeat were few and far between, but here are five takeaways from Texas A&M's sixth conference loss of the 2026 season:
A change at quarterback is well-overdue
What can be said that hasn't already been beaten
to death over the last few weeks? Pulling Reed and trying to find a spark seems so simple, but has somehow been made to be the most complicated decision on the planet. After watching Reed go 9-of-22 for just 71 yards and an interception against Tennessee, it is clear the change has surpassed being necessary.
KJ Edwards is the best athlete in the Aggies' running back room
One of the few positives to take away from the loss is Edwards having another excellent showing. The outstanding true freshman rushed for 44 yards on just seven carries and scored the only touchdown of the contest for the Aggies. While he has been banged up at times throughout the year, there should be no doubt in deciding which back should get the majority of the snaps moving forward. Edwards is the future and has all of the attributes to become one of the most dangerous running backs in the SEC.
A change at offensive coordinator needs to be made sooner rather than later
Elko said it was stupid to ask about his long-term faith in offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins during his weekly press conference ahead of Saturday's showdown against Tennessee. However, he might want to rethink that following that awful offensive performance. The Aggies put up just 179 total yards of offense and turned the ball over twice. It's evident the game plan and play-calling aren't panning out, so it may be time for Texas A&M to cut its losses and find a certified offensive coordinator to turn things around next season.
Daymion Sanford was a bright spot defensively
After battling back from an injury sustained in the spring, the leader of the Aggies' defense came to play against the Vols. Sanford recorded seven total tackles, including two tackles for loss, and one sack in the effort against Tennessee, showcasing his elite speed, physical tackling and ability to lead the unit. He has all the qualities to become a big-time linebacker at the next level.
Texas A&M's rush defense showed some cracks
While it wasn't their worst performance by any stretch of the imagination, especially considering they were on the field so much, Texas A&M's defense struggled to slow down DeSean Bishop and Tennessee's dangerous rushing attack at times. The Vols rushed for 196 yards, 97 of which came from Bishop, who ranks second in the SEC in rushing thus far.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Everything we learned from Texas A&M's 22-7 home loss to Tennessee
