The undefeated No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies are set to host the Samford Bulldogs at Kyle Field this Saturday, aiming to maintain their flawless season. The Aggies enter the match with a strong record of 10-0, while the Bulldogs, struggling with a 1-10 record, will look to improve after their sole victory against the Virginia Military Institute last month. Despite the significant disparity in performance, the game remains a scheduled event and will proceed as planned.
Analysis of the Teams Ahead of Saturday’s Matchup
As the Bulldogs prepare for their final regular-season game, Texas A&M also approaches the conclusion of its home schedule. Here’s a closer look at both teams as they gear up for this encounter.
The Texas A&M Aggies, under the guidance of head coach Mike Elko, have showcased a powerful offense this season. Averaging 263.2 passing yards per game, quarterback Marcel Reed has been instrumental in their success. The Aggies’ running game has also been impressive, averaging nearly 190.8 yards per game, despite the absence of star running back Le’Veon Moss, who has missed a significant portion of the season.
Defensively, the Aggies have excelled as well. Defensive lineman Cashius Howell ranks second in the nation with 11.5 sacks, just a fraction behind Texas Tech’s David Bailey. Meanwhile, wide receivers KC Concepcion and Mario Craver feature prominently in the SEC rankings for receiving yards. Texas A&M has consistently scored at least 30 points in all but one game this season and holds the third position in the AP Top 25, Coaches Poll, and College Football Playoff rankings.
Conversely, the Samford Bulldogs have faced a challenging season. Their record reflects difficulties on both sides of the ball, with their lone victory over VMI being the only game where the final score was within one possession. Following a 38-14 defeat to East Tennessee State earlier this month, the Bulldogs parted ways with longtime head coach Chris Hatcher, who had led the team for 11 seasons.
In addition to Texas A&M, the Bulldogs have faced other FBS opponents this season, including a visit to McLane Stadium where they suffered a 42-7 loss to the Baylor Bears on September 13. The Bulldogs have averaged just 15.91 points per game while conceding an average of 37 points to their opponents. With a total offense average of 359.8 yards against a defensive average of 452.8 yards allowed, Samford’s statistics align closely with A&M’s average of 464 total yards.
Quarterback Quincy Crittendon has completed 168 of 241 attempted passes this season, recording six touchdowns and six interceptions across eight games. As both teams prepare for their Saturday morning showdown at 11:00 AM, the Aggies aim to solidify their position as championship contenders while the Bulldogs seek redemption in their final matchup of the season.
