Texas A&M Football: 3 takeaways from a wild win over the Arkansas Razorbacks

Sep 24, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Devon Achane (6) rushes with the ball against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Devon Achane (6) rushes with the ball against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the third quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports
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Sep 24, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Raheim Sanders (5) is tackled by Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Demani Richardson (26) and defensive lineman Fadil Diggs (10) and defensive lineman Shemar Turner (5) during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Raheim Sanders (5) is tackled by Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Demani Richardson (26) and defensive lineman Fadil Diggs (10) and defensive lineman Shemar Turner (5) during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Resiliency

This win was so impressive for a number of reasons. First and foremost, as cannot be stressed enough, this team lost to App State only two weeks ago. The initial bounce-back came last week against Miami, and this week furthered the Aggies along in their comeback bid. It shows grit to get a win like this.  t shows belief in the program. It shows so much about the character of this team.

This game was a microcosm of that. Arkansas went up 14-0 after scoring on two of their first three drives, hitting big, explosive plays against this Aggie defense that had heretofore been so proficient at preventing them. The offense seemed lifeless, unable to even muster a first down.

Until Devon Achane broke off a 63-yard run, and fortunes began to turn. And then, of course, the fumble return. A&M would score 23-straight points, and Arkansas wouldn’t get back on the board until the middle of the 4th quarter.

Look, this team has to go out and execute in the coming weeks. There’s a lot to improve on. But, similar to the Florida win in 2020, I have the feeling that this is the type of result that can change the direction of a season. But this is a team with so much youth at so many positions that you have to feel like they’re trending upwards.