South Carolina is set to visit Kyle Field this weekend with hopes of playing spoiler for the second season in a row after taking down the Aggies 44-20 in Columbia last year. These two teams have gone on to have very different seasons, with one on the precipice of conference and national title campaigns, while the other flushed those hopes down the drain long ago.
But even though these two teams are headed down different paths, they'll still play the game; which means we need to take a look at how the rosters stack up against one another. So let's dive into another positional matchup and find out just how this Gamecock crew stacks up with the Aggies.
South Carolina's ground game vs. Texas A&M's run defense
The worst part of South Carolina's team this season is probably its ground game — a group that's barely averaging 100 yards per game, ranking 128th in college football. Its 2.83 yards per carry is good for 131st in the sport, and one of seven programs below the three-yard threshold.
Texas A&M's defense has had some issues stopping the run this year, allowing 200-yard outings to Missouri and Arkansas within the last month, but they've also held the likes of Auburn, Mississippi State, Florida and LSU to 263 yards combined. Overall it's a group that's inside the top 50 in yards per game and rushing touchdowns allowed, but it's in the 70s as it pertains to yards per carry allowed.
If South Carolina was this daunting ground game with explosive playmakers then there would be a hair of concern over how this one would shake out. But even if the Aggies don't bring their best on Saturday, they're still in a prime position to win this battle in the trenches.
The edge goes to ... Texas A&M