Texas A&M Aggies

Texas A&M seeks rebound from first loss of season

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:26 p.m. ET

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Damage control the seemed to be the theme this week following the 33-14 loss to No. 1 Alabama as ninth-ranked Texas A&M steps out of conference play to host New Mexico State.

Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPNU) at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas

The loss to the Crimson Tide doesn't completely eliminate the Aggies (6-1, 4-1 SEC) from the West Division race, but it does leave the in position of needing help in the form of at least one loss for Alabama to get to the SEC title game.

A&M quarterback Trevor Knight commented that he has seen one-loss teams still getting to where they want to go in a season, but coach Kevin Sumlin is taking a more focused approach.

"We're not talking about that," he said. "Got to worry about this week. Don't have any control over what happens after that. Our guys understand that.

"Right after that game everyone still wants to talk about where we are in national picture and what can happen here and there. Guess what? Six weeks ago that wasn't a conversation. Now all of sudden it is? We don't forget that.

"We have to beat New Mexico State this week. That's what this week is about. Then we'll figure out next week," Sumlin said.

Beating New Mexico State (2-5, 1-3 Sun Belt) is almost an afterthought.

These Aggies -- they share the nickname with Texas A&M -- have lost their last two games, 22-19 to Georgia Southern and 55-23 to Idaho, with the latter marking the third time this season they have surrendered more than 50 points. Earlier, they lost 52-6 to Troy and 62-42 to Kentucky.

But New Mexico State does have a senior quarterback, Tyler Rogers, who has thrown for nearly 287 yards a game and a solid all-around back in senior Larry Rose III. Rose missed the first three games of the season while recovering from a sports hernia but has rushed for 281 yards in four games since his return. He also has 12 receptions for another 86 yards.

New Mexico State may have put together its best effort of the season in the three-point loss to Georgia Southern, one of the Sun Belt's top teams.

"I'm proud of our offense and defense for how hard they played," New Mexico State coach Doug Martin said. "Our football team has to play smarter. I'm proud of the fight the team showed and I guarantee they'll continue to fight."

Sumlin expects an aerial show.

"They're gonna throw it around a bunch," Sumlin said. "Doug Martin has been around, been a head coach for a while.

"Going to sling it around all over place. Got a guy that can do that. Gonna spread us out. Zone read and really more of the same. RPO stuff. Take shots down field. Will test us deep. They've got nothing to lose."

Rogers also has rushed for 220 yards, third on the team, mostly on run-pass option plays.

"They were putting points up and moving it down the field," Sumlin said, referring to New Mexico State's loss to Kentucky. "Heck of a game. This is another SEC opponent. No stranger to that.

"Definitely a team that is going to try and expose you and get big plays off deep throws and all kind of things down field."

Getting in an up-and-down the field kind of game could work in A&M's favor, helping to snap out of whatever funk may be lingering from the loss at Tuscaloosa. The Aggies rushed for only 114 yards against the Crimson Tide after putting up 353 the previous week against Tennessee.

"Up until that game our line was leading the league in rushing," Sumlin said. "That front against us, no doubt they were better."

Running back Trayveon Williams rushed for 217 yards against Tennessee but scratched his way for only 23 yards on nine carries against the Tide. Quarterback Trevor Knight rushed for 24 after getting 351 in the previous three games.

"Do we want to be better? Yes," Sumlin said, referring to an offensive line that has a redshirt freshman, true freshman and a sophomore starting with two seniors. "Can we be better? We will be better, because these guys will be playing for us for next three or four years."

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