Coming off its fifth conference loss last Saturday, Texas A&M football will look to salvage what's left of the 2026 season against No. 8 Tennessee in Week 11.
The Aggies' lackluster performances this season have been led by the offense's failure to produce, which reared its ugly head again in the 17-9 loss to No. 21 South Carolina. Illinois transfer kicker David Olano had all of Texas A&M's points in the effort and is averaging over double the number of points the offensive unit has recorded against ranked opponents this season. Saturday's loss to the Gamecocks marked the first time since 1995 that the Aggies have recorded 450-plus yards of offense, but produced fewer than 10 points.
There's no rest for the weary, however. Texas A&M is set to
host a Tennessee squad coming off a massive 34-6 win over the one-loss Kentucky Wildcats. Since earning the start when Faizon Brandon went down with an injury, true freshman quarterback George MacIntyre has been consistent and accurate, alongside Tennessee's dangerous running back DeSean Bishop, who is No. 2 in the conference with 1,066 yards on the ground.
Here are three things to watch when the Vols roll into College Station to face the Aggies for the first time at Kyle Field since 2016:
Texas A&M's offensive line vs. Tennessee's defensive line
The key to pulling an upset against the Vols lies in the trenches. Texas A&M's offensive line has been solid, but has allowed 2.0 sacks per game this season. The unit faces Tennessee's ferocious front, which ranks atop the SEC with 39.0 total sacks, averaging 4.33 per contest. Tyree Weathersby and Xavier Gilliam have led the charge, combining for 13.0 sacks and 20.0 tackles for loss.
With the Aggies' offense struggling to capitalize and put points on the board, they must be sharp in the trenches to give themselves a fighting chance at moving the ball against Tennessee.
Texas A&M's rushing attack vs. Tennessee's rush defense
If this Tennessee defense has a sliver of weakness, it's its ability to stop the run. The Vols rank No. 8 and No. 9 in the conference, allowing 124.33 rushing yards per game and 3.82 yards per carry, respectively. While Texas A&M's rushing attack hasn't been prolific, the group has found great success in recent weeks, averaging 161.0 yards per outing.
Senior running back Rueben Owens II had the best game of the season against No. 21 South Carolina in Week 10, rushing for 137 yards on 19 carries. Behind Owens, true freshman KJ Edwards has been excellent, recording 397 total yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns. Edwards has been banged up in recent weeks, so getting him back will be crucial to creating opportunities for explosive plays on the ground.
Marcel Reed vs. Tennessee's secondary
Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed had arguably his best game of the season against the Gamecocks, despite not producing any touchdowns. Reed threw for a season-high 251 yards, completing 58.1% of his passes in the 17-9 loss. When his name was called upon to be a hero and put the Aggies in position to tie the game, Reed failed to step up.
His inconsistent play and inaccuracy as a passer have been a thorn in the side of the Aggies' offense, which boasts talented wide receivers like Mario Craver, Isaiah Horton, TK Norman, Aaron Gregory and others. Tennessee is going to try and force Texas A&M to be one-dimensional and make Reed win the game with his arm. The Aggies will be matched up against the No. 2 secondary in the SEC, which is allowing just 172.1 passing yards per game.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M vs. Tennessee: Three areas to watch against the Vols
