COLLEGE STATION, Texas — No. 9 Missouri, considered a prime College Football Playoff contender through the season’s first five weeks, went to Texas A&M on Saturday with sights on landing its first signature win of the season and fortifying itself as a contender.
But by the 11-minute mark of the fourth quarter, as the Aggies took a commanding 34-point lead, chants of “OVERRATED!” wafted from the student section on the east side of Kyle Field. At this point, it’s hard to argue with the hecklers. Missouri got derailed from its postseason path as No. 25 Texas A&M dominated the Tigers 41-10 on Saturday in the lone Week 6 matchup between ranked teams.
The Aggies (5-1) scored on their first four drives of the game and took a commanding 24-0 halftime lead. Missouri (4-1) didn’t find the end zone until the 5:06 mark of the third quarter. Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman, making his first start since a Week 2 win over McNeese State, had his best performance of the season. Weigman, who missed the last three games with a shoulder injury, finished 18 of 22 passing for 276 yards. He looked more comfortable and confident than he has all season. The Aggies’ run game was dominant, chewing up 234 yards, led by Le’Veon Moss’ 138.
“Guys got tremendously better those three weeks I was out,” Weigman said after the game.
Two critical plays went against the Tigers early from which they never recovered. Missouri went for fourth-and-1 at the A&M 40 on the game’s opening drive and QB Brady Cook unsuccessfully tried to find WR Theo Wease. Officials threw a flag, presumably for defensive pass interference, but picked it up and allowed the play to stand despite clear contact from A&M defensive back Will Lee. On Missouri’s third offensive possession, Cook found RB Luther Burden for a 75-yard touchdown, but right tackle Armand Membou was correctly penalized for ineligible receiver downfield, negating the score.
Has Texas A&M revived its path to the Playoff?
The No. 25 Aggies have won five in a row after the season-opening loss to Notre Dame. But even in the midst of that winning streak, the Aggies haven’t necessarily looked dominant. They had an ugly six-point home win against Bowling Green and edged Arkansas at AT&T Stadium a week ago.
Saturday was the Aggies’ most complete performance of the season. The offense was in rhythm and the defense suffocated the Tigers. Texas A&M looked like what some thought they could be when considering them a preseason dark horse College Football Playoff contender.
Is Playoff contention back in the cards for the Aggies? With their remaining schedule, it might be if they play like they did on Saturday.
The Aggies’ second-half slate includes road games at Mississippi State, South Carolina and Auburn and home games against LSU, New Mexico State and rival Texas. The Texas game, on Nov. 30, looms largest, regardless of circumstances. But if A&M can somehow win out between now and then — nowhere close to a given until the Aggies show they can string together consecutive dominant performances like Saturday’s — it will make for incredible theater for the renewal of that heated rivalry. — Sam Khan Jr.
Quite possibly the greatest punt you’ve ever seen was just kicked before the half of No. 9 Mizzou vs. No. 25 Texas A&M 😳
🎥 @BryanDFischer pic.twitter.com/7xi3J85avt
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) October 5, 2024
Were Missouri’s two clunkers a warning sign?
Sometimes when a team shows you who they are against inferior opponents you need to believe them.
And Missouri did it twice in September in home games: It trailed Boston College 14-3 before rallying to win, but never ran away and had to hold on to a 27-21 win. Rather than that being a wake-up call, a week later it took Vanderbilt missing a field goal in double overtime.
One clunker can be forgiven. Two, as it turns out, were a blaring warning sign.
Missouri can blame both sides of the ball, but the offense has been the bigger disappointment, considering the preseason hype for receiver Luther Burden and quarterback Brady Cook. Maybe the Tigers miss All-SEC running back Cody Schrader, but Nate Noel came in averaging more than 100 yards per game.
There’s still time for Missouri to rescue its Playoff hopes. But its schedule isn’t particularly strong, so if it loses at Alabama on Oct. 26 there may not be enough quality wins for 10-2 to be enough. This was a bad showing for the Tigers, a program hoping to break into the top tier of the SEC. So far, it looks more like the Tigers have been overrated. — Seth Emerson
Texas A&M QB Conner Weigman’s day
Saturday was the best football we’ve seen from Weigman in about a year. The third-year sophomore has had an up-and-down run, including shoulder issues (and a poor start to the season) this year. Back in the lineup Saturday and seemingly at full strength for the first time in some time, Weigman showed off some of why so many NFL scouts have been interested in him.
This was just one game, of course, but Weigman’s arm talent, size and athleticism combination — when in sync — is exactly what pro teams are looking for. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder was accurate and on time with his reads basically all day, completing 12 of his first 15 throws in a blowout win. Weigman’s ability to move quickly in the pocket while maintaining eye discipline downfield remains a plus.
No one has firmly grabbed the QB1 spot for the 2025 NFL Draft and while it might be too late for Weigman to get there this season, Saturday felt like a great start to what could be an improved second half for the Aggie. He’s either one to watch for 2026, or a sneaky option next spring based on how things finish this fall. — Nick Baumgardner
(Top photo: Ken Murray / Icon Sportswire via Getty)
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