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The number one thing that needs to change for Texas A&M football under Mike Elko

There was a lot that slipped for the Aggies late in Jimbo Fisher's tenure with Texas A&M football, but there's one thing that was the most egregious.

By Graham Harmon

Oct 16, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Jacob Groff (26) runs against Missouri Tigers defensive back Jaylon Carlies (1) during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Jacob Groff (26) runs against Missouri Tigers defensive back Jaylon Carlies (1) during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports / Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
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Mike Elko's top priority for Texas A&M football should be to amend road game woes

As of the time of writing, it has been 1,003 days since Texas A&M football last won a road game. October 16, 2021, was a game between the Missouri Tigers and the Aggies, who were fresh off of a huge home win over Alabama. The Ags, behind the hard running of Isaiah Spiller, knifed right through a porous Mizzou rush defense en route to an easy 35-14 win.

Since then, here are the road results for the Aggies:

  • 11/13/21, @ #11 Ole Miss, L, 29-19
  • 11/24/21, @ LSU, L, 27-24
  • 10/01/22, @ #20 Mississippi State, L, 42-24
  • 10/08/22, @ #5 Alabama, L, 24-20
  • 10/22/22, @ #23 South Carolina, L, 30-24
  • 11/12/22, @ Auburn, L, 13-10
  • 9/9/23, @ Miami, L, 48-33
  • 10/14/23, @ #17 Tennessee, L, 20-13
  • 11/04/23, @ #9 Ole Miss, L, 38-35
  • 11/25/23, @ #12 LSU, L, 42-30

There are some close games in there. Some strange bounces. A punt return for a touchdown was the difference in the Tennessee game. An uncalled fumble recovery by the Aggies against LSU in 2021 would have given them the win in Baton Rouge that year. There is no shortage of moments that fans could point to as inflection points.

The problem is that all of them have disfavored the Aggies. Even when it feels like there's a big swing—Jacoby Mathews returning a blocked kick for a touchdown against Ole Miss, for example—it doesn't end up mattering, in the end.

These road woes have been well-noted. And for all the talk about the four big home games we have on the docket coming up this season, Elko needs to get the Aggies' house in order in this respect if A&M is to be anything resembling a major player this season.

Their first opportunity will come on September 14, when they travel to the Swamp in Gainesville. That will be a hungry Gators team staring down a brutal schedule, eagerly hoping to start it off on the right foot. On that date, the streak of days without a road win will be at 1,065. Here's hoping that number doesn't climb to 1,066.

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