The Auburn Tigers are looking to get back in the win column after suffering their first loss of the season to then-No. 11 Oklahoma, 24-17, last Saturday.
And they certainly have another significant opportunity to make some noise this week.
The Tigers will travel to College Station on Saturday to take on No. 9 Texas A&M, ending a two-game road stint against top-25 opponents.
The Aggies will look to stay undefeated and avenge themselves from last season’s 43-41 loss to Auburn in a four-overtime thriller, which ultimately ended their hopes of making the College Football Playoffs.
Led by second-year head coach Mike Elko, Texas A&M is coming off a bye week. The week prior, it took down then-No. 8 Notre Dame in South Bend in a 41-40 nail-biter.
Here’s a quick look at the Tigers’ Week 5 Opponent:
Undefeated Aggies prove to be another big test
Auburn knew the challenge that was on the horizon when it finished up non-conference play against South Alabama. Sandwiched in between Oklahoma and a home game with No. 5 Georgia just so happens to be a top-10 Texas A&M squad.
The Aggies boast one of the most explosive offenses in the country. They have scored at least 40 points in all three of their games. They rank among the nation’s best at generating 20-plus-yard plays with 22 this season. Also, they are just one of nine offenses in the country that are averaging more than 300 passing yards per game while also rushing for 150 yards per game.
On defense, the Aggies have allowed just 2.66 yards per carry on 90 rushing attempts since allowing a 75-yard run on the first play of the second half of the season-opener against UTSA. They most recently held Jeremiah Love and Notre Dame to 3.5 yards per carry. Additionally, they rank in the top 20 nationally in tackles for loss and QB sacks, averaging 8.7 TFLs and 3.0 sacks per game.
Players to know
QB Marcel Reed
Auburn fans are familiar with Marcel Reed, who took snaps under center in last season’s clash with the Aggies.
But Reed has been much-improved throughout the first three weeks of the season and is yet another potent quarterback the Tigers will have to contain. The uber-athletic sophomore has rushed for 142 yards this season. But it’s been his arm that has the Aggies’ offense so highly touted.
His 869 yards passing and 58.6% completion rate have the Aggies ranked top 20 nationally in total offense. His 289.7 passing yards per game rank No. 13 nationally, while his nine passing touchdowns are tied for second-most among quarterbacks who have played three games.
WR Mario Craver
Mario Craver may be a familiar name to Auburn fans after the Tigers were involved in his recruitment in the 2024 class. Craver signed with Mississippi State and made his way to College Station this season. And boy has he blossomed.
Craver leads all Aggies with 443 yards on 20 catches. His 400-plus yards through the first three games of the season put him in the same company as A&M Hall of Famer Mike Evans as the only two Aggie pass catchers to go over that mark.
Additionally, he averages 22.2 yards per catch, which leads the nation among players with at least 15 receptions. He has eclipsed the century mark in all three of the Aggies games this season and leads the nation with 147.7 receiving yards per game.
RB Le’Veon Moss
After suffering a season-ending injury a last year, Le’Veon Moss returns this season as the Aggies go-to option in the backfield.
Totaling 765 yards in nine games a season ago, Moss has tallied 168 yards on 33 carries and four touchdowns. Three of his touchdowns came in a single quarter against Notre Dame. He is the second highest FBS running back with the fewest rushing yards lost (16) in his career, sitting behind Baylor’s Bryson Washington – who Auburn held to 54 yards rushing.
Moss was a preseason first-team All-SEC pick.
LB Taurean York
After leading the Aggies with 82 tackles a season ago, Taurean York has picked up right where he left off. He is tied with safety Marcus Ratcliffe for a team-high 17 tackles through the first three games.
York was named a captain for the second straight year after leading the team with tackles in four games a season ago. He tallied 10 tackles against Auburn last season and has notched one double-digit tackle performance this season with 10 against UTSA.
CB Will Lee III
Not that anyone can truly stop Auburn’s Cam Coleman in a one-on-one situation, but the Aggies boast one of the better back end players in the SEC and he’ll certainly give it his best shot.
Will Lee III returns after a productive 2024 season in which he batted down 10 passes, good for fifth in the SEC. He had a team-best 39 solo tackles and was top five on the squad with 42 tackles.
This season, the 2024 All-SEC second-team corner has posted 15 tackles and two pass breakups.
Quick game overview
Auburn is looking to avoid two straight losses to open up conference play, but it will come with a sizable challenge.
Texas A&M has the fourth-highest blue-chip ratio in the nation, according to CBSSports. So, technically, it will have the talent advantage – at east on paper. Everyone knows Kyle Field presents a raucous atmosphere, but Auburn enters battle-tested after last week’s showdown in Norman.
If Auburn can eliminate crucial mistakes, such as special teams penalties and sacks, and convert on some missed opportunities that it didn’t a week ago, Auburn can walk away with its first ranked road win since 2019. And, head into a bye week with a 4-1 record before No. 5 Georgia comes to town.
Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.