Texas A&M (0-1) opened the 2026 season on a high note, blowing out Missouri State 50-0 behind an elite defensive effort, limiting the Bears to 67 total yards, while starting quarterback Marcel Reed had an impressive day under center, completing 20/31 for 233 yards and 2 touchdowns.
However, A&M's revamped offensive line, featuring four new starters, struggled in the first half, but thanks to third-year coach Mike Elko and OL coach Adam Cushing's halftime adjustments, the blocking improved, leading to cleaner pockets for Marcel Reed and opening up the rushing lanes, producing 236 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Given the new 5-for-5 rule, Mike Elko played 21 minutes during Saturday night's opener, while linebacker Tamarion Watkins, cornerback Brandon Arrington,
and defensive end Tristian Givens stood out and should see more playing time as the season rolls on. Overall, the Aggies checked every box, earning their largest shutout since 1997, and will now host Arizona State for an early Saturday afternoon showdown.
Across the rest of the SEC, LSU made a statement after throttling Clemson 51-10 amid the chaos surrounding the program under new head coach Lane Kiffin, while all 16 conference teams finished 1-0 on the weekend, as SEC play begins for nearly every team in Week 3.
Surprisingly, blowing out Missouri State in dominant fashion wasn't enough for Texas A&M to stay at No. 8 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, dropping one spot to No. 9 before hosting the Sun Devils, while LSU moved up five spots to No. 8 after defeating Clemson.
US LBM Coaches Poll Rankings after Week 1
Schools Dropped Out
No. 23 Clemson;
Others Receiving Votes
Louisville 125; Illinois 45; Boise State 43; Arizona 42; South Carolina 36; Memphis 24; Auburn 19; Vanderbilt 17; Pittsburgh 14; Virginia Tech 11; Nebraska 11; Arizona State 11; Minnesota 9; Western Michigan 7; New Mexico 7; North Dakota State 6; Kansas State 6; Navy 5; UCLA 4; Duke 4; UNLV 3; Clemson 3; San Diego State 2; North Carolina 2; Colorado 1;
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M drops one spot in latest US LBM Coaches Poll Top 25
