Texas A&M just notched the biggest win yet of the Mike Elko era, downing the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on the road by a score of 41-40. This one was a nail-biter right up until the very end, as the Aggies and Irish were trading blows on offense in a way that few anticipated coming into the game.
The Aggies showed a lot about who this team really is to the entire nation with this win. Here are three things we can take away from this game.
Texas A&M vs Notre Dame takeaways: Marcel Reed is a winner
Marcel Reed came into this game with the reputation of a guy who was a good athlete, but not a huge threat throwing the ball. That all changed with what he put on the field in this game.
Reed absolutely lit up the night with his play against the Irish, burning them time and time again with the help of receivers Mario Craver and KC Concepcion. No matter what coverage the Irish pulled out, Reed was delivering the ball to those two en route to a night where he averaged 9.7 YPA against one of the best pass defenses in the country.
He was cool, calm, and collected, even when there was pressure in his face. Late in the game, on a play that may already be forgotten, he pulled the ball down and picked up some yardage with his feet to give the Aggies a much-needed first down inside the red zone. He just kept making the right decisions.
After a huge win like this, and the numbers that he got, I wouldn't be surprised to see his name begin to pop up in Heisman conversations. There's no clear favorite at the moment, and wins like this are how you grab the attention of a watching nation.
This felt like a launching point for Reed. We'll see how he handles the bye week and game against Auburn on the 27th, but this was a major move for him.