The three biggest storylines to watch for in Texas A&M's SEC opener versus Auburn

Can Texas A&M force Auburn into being a one-dimensional offense?

Auburn has done a really nice job running the football so far this year at a clip of 198 yards per game, which ranks 32nd in the country. While a lot of that plays into having talented backs and a dual-threat athlete at the quarterback position, it's also because they don't feel comfortable chucking the ball around the yard all day.

Jackson Arnold has been fine in his first month working with Hugh Freeze, completing over 68 percent of his passes with zero turnovers after a very rocky season with the Oklahoma Sooners in 2024. Despite the bump in production, Auburn is still attempting passes just 26.8 times per game, which ranks 100th in college football. The biggest issue has been Arnold's inability to make things happen if his first read isn't open. He's holding onto the ball too long in those situations, something that has led him to be sacked 4.3 times per game and hold one of the worst sack rates in the nation.

All this is music to Mike Elko's ears: His Aggies have one of the nation's best pass-rushers in Cashius Howell and a unit that's averaging three sacks per game. If Texas A&M's defense can commit to stopping the Auburn run game and the offense can find itself to an early lead, this group should be able to pin their ears back all day and bring Arnold to the ground at a very high rate.