Five bold predictions for Texas A&M football as Aggies get back on track vs. McNeese

Last week was a real bummer for a lot of Texas A&M football fans. I think we see a much better product this weekend.

Aug 31, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Conner Weigman, left, and head coach Mike Elko, right, arrive prior to the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sp
Aug 31, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Conner Weigman, left, and head coach Mike Elko, right, arrive prior to the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sp | Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Five bold predictions as Texas A&M football looks to right the ship vs. McNeese Cowboys

Long before the season began for Texas A&M football, fans looked at the setup of the schedule and noticed something early on. Though there were two big games in the first three weeks, each was followed by a sort of "get-right" game directly afterwards—so if A&M was coming off of a victory, it could be an encore, but if they were coming off of a loss, it would be a time to figure things out.

Unfortunately, of course, the Aggies are in the latter scenario here. Even so, I think we see some things from A&M this weekend that show progression from last week's loss. Given the opponent, I think we still see a high level of skepticism—even from Aggie fans—but we'll be watching closely nonetheless.

Here are five bold predictions for this weekend's matchup.

Aggies hit several downfield shots

After an extremely unproductive game one slinging the rock, I think we see Weigman make some big throws down the field. That ND secondary is NFL-good, and McNeese is FCS-below-average. Watch for no. 15 to find Noah Thomas and company on some long bombs.

Weigman looks much better

On that note, I think we see the man of the moment look much more the part in this one. Again, it helps that he won't be playing that secondary, but even as far as his feet in the pocket and general composure, I think we see Weigman look far improved.

But fans continue to clamor for Reed/Henderson anyway

That said, since this is McNeese, we are going to see a backup quarterback at some point in the second half. And when he comes in and runs the ball, fans will start saying he needs to play ahead of Weigman. Whether people contend a running QB fits better in Klein's offense or the simple "he's just got something," I know there will be more than a few looking through the fence at the grass they could swear is that much greener.

A&M defense pitches a shutout

McNeese is not good. Shutouts are tough to get, but this Cowboy team is just... not good. You always run the risk of a team hitting a big, 40-yard pass and then kicking a field goal, but I liked what I saw from this A&M defense a lot last week (for the most part). I think they have what it takes to keep their opponent off the board.

Terry Bussey makes a play

I'm marking this one down in the "perennial prediction" column here until it happens. Bussey saw limited action last week, but I see his role increasing as the season wears on. I think this is the perfect game for him to flash that electricity that garnered him his five-star ranking.

Schedule

Schedule