Texas A&M vs. Missouri: Five things to watch for

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Texas A&M vs. Missouri: Five things to watch for

The Texas A&M football program is faced with another challenging Southeastern Conference road task on Saturday afternoon, as the Missouri Tigers look to play spoiler and upset the Aggies.

In just his second year at the helm, head coach Mike Elko has led his team to historic heights, as the Aggies received their highest placement in the College Football Playoff rankings on Tuesday after the program’s first 8-0 start since 1992. The job is far from done, however. Elko and company still have many obstacles in their path, including this weekend’s matchup against one of the most productive defenses in the country.

Head coach Eli Drinkwitz is seeking to play spoiler to the potential opportunities in front of the Aggies, while also keeping Missouri’s playoff opportunities intact. Mizzou will be without starting quarterback Beau Pribula after he suffered an ankle injury against Vanderbilt, but freshman Matt Zollers showed he is ready for this moment by throwing for 213 yards and two touchdowns against the Commodores in place of Pribula. In what could be one of the most competitive contests of the Week 11 slate, massive postseason and conference implications are on the line.

Here are the five things to watch in Saturday’s matchup between the Aggies and Tigers in CoMo:

Can Texas A&M’s defense make Missouri’s freshman QB feel the heat?

Sep 27, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive end Cashius Howell (9) reacts after a sack during the fourth quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Between Cashius Howell’s dominance off the edge and linebacker Taurean York cleaning up the second level, this defense has the talent to compete against the best teams in the country. The challenge this week will be the lack of tape and the true unpredictability of what Zollers brings to the table. Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman must draw up pressure early and often to keep Zollers off-balance and off-time.

How will the Aggies’ offensive line hold up against ferocious Missouri defense?

Sep 27, 2025; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III (60) lines up during the fourth quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Missouri’s defensive unit is making opponents feel the pressure with a physical pass-rush attack that ranks first in the SEC with only 245.8 yards allowed per game, while also ranking No. 13 with 2.88 sacks per contest. The Texas A&M offensive line is first in the league with just 7.0 sacks allowed this season, however. In the meeting between the unstoppable force and immovable object, something must give.

Will Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed succeed against Missouri’s secondary?

Oct 25, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) drops to throw during the first half against the Louisiana State Tigers at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Entering Week 11 as one of the favorites in the Heisman candidacy, Reed is looking to add more impressive feats to his resume by conquering one of the league’s top defensive units. The sophomore from Nashville, Tennessee, ranks fourth in QBR (155.50) and yards per game (246.5) in 2025. If Reed can continue improving his deep-ball accuracy and use his athleticism to create plays on the run, he could be well on his way to leading the program to historic heights.

Can the Aggies continue to limit penalties in a rowdy SEC road environment?

Oct 25, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Mario Craver (1) makes a catch against Louisiana State Tigers cornerback PJ Woodland (11) during the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

At the beginning of this year’s campaign, the Aggies were the most penalized team in the conference. After the introduction of the coaches’ ‘Cabo Fund’, the program is No. 9 in total penalties this season. The hostile environment in CoMo will provide a challenge for the Maroon and White squad to remain consistent and level-headed to avoid those costly fouls that have caused issues throughout the year.

Will the Aggies establish the ground game?

Oct 18, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) celebrates with running back Rueben Owens II (4) after Owner rushed for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Arguably, the most important factor for Texas A&M on Saturday will be finding ways to establish the rushing attack against the 13th-best run defense in college football. Missouri’s defensive unit is firing on all cylinders so far this season — holding opponents to just 90.4 rushing yards per game. With Le’Veon Moss still out, Rueben Owens II, Amari Daniels and Jamarion Morrow will be responsible for opening up the playbook by establishing dominance on the ground against the Tigers.

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M football’s five things to watch against Missouri

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