While it is certainly not in their plans this weekend, we live in a world where Texas A&M could lose its first game of the 2025 season. Conference games should never be taken lightly, and especially not when you're welcoming in a team that already has its backs against the wall.
If they do fall at the hands of Hugh Freeze and Jackson Arnold this Saturday, these are the three reasons I'd find most likely.
Jeremiah Cobb & Co. torch the Aggies on the ground
Auburn has one of the best ground games in the country behind lead back Jeremiah Cobb — whose 375 yards through four games are 17th most in the country. Quarterback Jackson Arnold has also chimed in for 181 yards himself, and backup tailback Damari Alston has added an efficient 109 as well.
This group, playing behind one of the better run-blocking offensive lines in the country, poses a massive threat to the Aggies' undefeated season this weekend. If Texas A&M is unable to flood the running lanes or bring these runners to the ground, Auburn will be able to keep its offense on the field for long drives and keep the ball out of the Aggies' hands.
Texas A&M can't get pressure on Jackson Arnold
Every approach the Aggie defense takes this weekend should have one common goal in mind: to make Jackson Arnold uncomfortable. While Arnold has been better at protecting the football this season, he's just one year removed from a 12-turnover campaign with the Sooners and still gets jittery in the pocket when things aren't nice and easy.
Because of those tendencies Auburn has utilized the quick passing game heavily through their first four games. While that doesn't always work, as evidenced by Oklahoma's 10-sack game against the Tigers last week, it has made Arnold a far more efficient quarterback overall: completing over 68 percent of his passes with zero turnovers.
If the Aggie defense can't generate any pressure up front then Arnold will remain calm, cool and collected in the pocket and methodically operate Auburn's offense the way its head coach desires. And if that's the case on Saturday, mixed with the Tigers running the ball effectively, then a ton of pressure is going to be put on the A&M offense to keep this game close.
Marcel Reed can't consistently hit his downfield passing attempts
As has been expressed several times this week, I worry about the volatility of the A&M passing game. While the explosive plays and highlight grabs are more than entertaining and a revelation after what we had to endure last season, I'm not sure how sustainable it is to live off those home-run type plays.
All it takes is one game where the timing is off between Marcel Reed and his wideouts and the next thing you know, the only consistent success they've found on offense is gone. That would be horrible timing if it came this week, and not just because Auburn is prone to giving up chunk plays through the air. The Tigers have the best run defense in the country, and has bottled opposing teams up for under two yards a carry.
If the passing game is too inconsistent to push the ball downfield and the running backs are being held in check, it could be a sour afternoon in College Station for the Aggies.