Texas A&M Football vs. ULM: Positional Matchups

Texas A&M Football vs. ULM: Warhawk Run Game vs Aggie Run Defense

Though the Warhawks have had offensive issues more generally, their rushing offense actually has some impressive numbers so far in the season. They’ve averaged 6.83 YPC in their two games so far—collegefootballdata.com attributes much of this to their offensive line’s performance, with the team having a mark of 3.33 line yards/rush so far. The same site has them with a 54% success rate on rushing plays—so they can move the ball with regularity on the ground.

Of course, this will be by far the biggest front seven that they’ve faced so far in the season. The Aggies have only allowed 3 YPC in 2023, so this will probably be the most interesting matchup to watch when ULM is on offense.

Advantage Ranking: Aggies by 3

Texas A&M Football vs. ULM: Warhawk Pass Game vs Aggie Pass Defense

For however positive an outlook as the Warhawks have in the run game, the aerial dimension of their offense is more than balances it out with how dreadful it is. ULM has yet to break 100 yards passing against either of their first two opponents. They rank second to last in pass yardage per game, ahead of only triple option Air Force who has a total of six pass attempts for the season. On a YPA basis, they are dead last by a half-yard—they average 3.6 YPA, and the second worst team (Sam Houston) averages 4.1 YPA.

It’s not often you see a team with a higher YPC on the season than YPA—I cannot recall ever seeing a team that has a season-long YPC that is almost double their YPA. The Warhawks are quite the anomaly!

All that said, the Aggie secondary is coming off… a disappointing game. This is the perfect opponent to restore some confidence and let your athletes just play. I think the Warhawks’ streak of sub-100 passing yard games continues this week.

Advantage Ranking: Aggies by 5

Texas A&M Football vs. ULM: Warhawk OL vs Aggie Pass Rush

This one will largely be scheme-dependent, as we saw against Miami. If the Aggies just try to collapse the pocket every play, they will not quite play up to their potential for havoc against the Warhawks—though, admittedly, this is likely a much more viable play style against ULM than it is against the Hurricanes.

I’d love to see Malick Sylla or Enai White (or even Martrell Harris) have some opportunities and success rushing the passer in this one. That’s a type of guy that the Aggies need coming off the edge at key times during games this season, so hopefully a game like this can get one of them going.

The Warhawks have only allowed 2 sacks all season, but hopefully we see the Aggie defensive front getting home more than just once during this one. The Warhawks like to roll out their QBs or use quick throws, however, which can contribute to a small number of sacks. Even so, the pressure the A&M front can exert should shift the game in their favor in this dimension.

Advantage Ranking: Aggies by 4