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Here is everything we learned from Texas A&M's 31-9 win over Mississippi State
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- Here is everything we learned from Texas A&M's 31-9 win over Mississippi State
No. 5 Texas A&M (5-0, 2-0 SEC) defeated Mississippi State (4-2, 0-2 SEC) 31-9 behind its second consecutive elite defensive performance, holding the Bulldogs to 1-10 on third down , while registering four sacks, including three from senior edge Cashius Howell .
In a game where the Aggies trailed 3-0 for most of the first half, starting quarterback Marcel Reed threw a 34-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver KC Concepcion to take what would be the Aggies' first and final lead of the game before erupting in the second half, led by a ground game that racked up 299 yards.
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This was not a perfect game for Texas A&M by any means, which included nine penalties, bringing the total to 22 in the last two games. This problem can and needs to be solved in practice, and at this point, all head coach Mike Elko can do is hope that his players, especially his offensive line, realize that their 5-0 record could be tarnished if these issues continue.
While senior running back Le 'Veon Moss was sidelined for a portion of the game, but still rushed for 36 yards on 11 carries. However, the ground game was led by sophomore back Reuben Owens, who ran for a career high 142 yards while averaging 6.8 yards per carry.
Elite defense combined with nearly 300 yards rushing will almost always result in a victory. Still, OC Collin Klein, who called an average to above-average game, needs to realize that Marcel Reed's strength lies in being an intermediate passer, so more crossers and mesh concept passes should be the focus moving forward.
With Mike Elko's sights set on the Florida Gators , who will make their way to Kyle Field next Saturday night, here are five key takeaways from Texas A&M 's 31-9 win over Mississippi State in Week 6.
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Senior Edge Cashius Howell has lived up to his lofty expectations
Throughout the 2025 offseason, the departure of starting edge rushers Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart , who were both selected in the first and second rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, led to the question, "Who will lead Texas A&M's pass rush in 2025?"
The answer? Senior edge Cashius Howell, who, after recording four sacks in a rotation role last season, now leads the team with seven sacks, which is more than Scourton and Stewart had combined in 2024. After recording three sacks in the win over Utah State, Howell was relatively quiet before breaking out once again against Auburn with one sack.
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In comparison, his three sacks on Saturday night were even more impressive amid an elite defensive performance. Howell's speed and fluid pass-rush style make him a first or second-day draft selection if this type of play continues.
Texas A&M's secondary is in midseason form
Oct 4, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) and teammates celebrate after the win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Since the start of the season, Texas A&M has remained undefeated in part due to the play of the secondary. However, it's notable that, despite the struggles of senior cornerback Will Lee III during the first three games, redshirt sophomore cornerback Dezz Ricks has been spectacular, while transfer corner Jordan Shaw is coming off his best game as an Aggie.
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Production-wise, safety Dalton Brooks was all over the field, recording four tackles, while recovering the stripped ball from Jordan Shaw late in the second half, and has continued to match safety Marcus Ratcliffe , whose instincts in coverage were also on full display.
Still trailing 3-0, Mississippi State was backed up at their own five, and after blitzing on 3rd & 7, Ratcliffe saw the man-to-man single coverage on speed WR Anthony Evans, and checked out of his position to provide help over the top.
While QB Blake Shapen was efficient, Texas A&M locked up the Bulldogs' talented wide receiver rotation throughout the night.
The Aggies possess the best WR duo in the SEC
Marcel Reed did not have his best night in the pocket, knowing that his wide receiver corps, led by KC Concepcion and Mario Craver , was open throughout the night. While he found both pass catchers for a combined ten receptions for 141 yards and two touchdowns to Concepcion, separation was never an issue in all four quarters.
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In the SEC after Week 6, Craver leads the conference with 557 receiving yards, with Concepcion just two spots behind at No. 3. Both transfers are among the primary reasons Texas A&M is 5-0 for the first time since 2016. Since that year, the Aggies have not had two wideouts ranked inside the top 4 in receiving.
Speed, quickness, and consistent separation have provided Reed with an option on every down. As we saw on Saturday, when Mario Craver is covered, Concepcion is there, leading to his two touchdowns, including his now memorable 34-yard reception where he muscled his way into the end zone.
Texas A&M's penalty issues persist as a recurring problem
Oct 4, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) carries the ball during the fourth quarter against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
When the flags are flying on your side of the field at home, this is a problem. After committing 13 penalties during the Week 5 home win against Auburn, the Aggies followed that performance up with nine more flags on Saturday night. While the 31-9 final score is much more lopsided compared to the 16-10 win over the Tigers, it's fair to remember that Texas A&M only led 7-3 going into halftime.
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Again, these problems, which stem from a lack of focus and discipline, have not yet resulted in a loss... yet. The worst part? Twenty-two penalties at home are inexcusable, and the Cabo fund that Mike Elko jokingly referenced could likely fund a whole vacation for all the players and every coach on the staff at this point.
With one more home game before hitting the road for three straight weeks, if these issues aren't resolved, Texas A&M will likely drop a winnable game sooner or later.
Texas A&M is a National Championship contender if QB Marcel Reed figures things out
When you're 5-0, finding problems is actually much easier compared to a bad team with a myriad of issues, and for Texas A&M, the up-and-down play of starting quarterback Marcel Reed has resurfaced after Saturday's average performance from the redshirt sophomore.
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Finishing 13/23 for 180 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception, Reed left plenty to be desired in the passing game, leaving too many receivers open, especially in the first half, and instead opting to double-clutch and attempt too many deep passes that were either inaccurate or lacking juice.
Reed needs to hit open receivers downfield, but right now, similar to his performance during the Week 3 road win over Notre Dame, the intermediate passing game is where he excels, especially with the speed and quickness provided by KC Concepcion, Mario Craver, and Terry Bussey in crossing routes and screens.
For Texas A&M to reach the College Football Playoff and compete for a National Championship, Marcel Reed does not need to be perfect, but he needs to produce explosive plays in the passing game and use his legs to generate chunk yards on the ground. If Reed can play solid football the rest of the year, Texas A&M will remain one of the best teams in college football.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M football's top takeaways from 31-9 win over Miss State
