Key matchups to watch as South Carolina seeks first-ever win over Texas A&M
Oct. 21, 2022
Gamecocks take on Texas A&M Saturday night at Williams-Brice Stadium (7:30 p.m., SEC Network) in a game that could set the Gamecocks up for another overachieving campaign. Here are the key matchups to watch:
SOUTH CAROLINA VS. SERIES HISTORY AGAINST TEXAS A&M
Yeah, you’ve probably heard that South Carolina is winless against Texas A&M since the teams became cross-division “rivals” in 2014. 0-8.
This year, though, might be the closest the two teams have ever been on paper. Texas A&M is in as bizarre a spot as the program could be. It dropped games to Appalachian State and was drilled by Mississippi State. It also beat Arkansas and narrowly fell to Alabama on the last play of the game two weeks ago. So what Aggies team shows up to Williams-Brice Stadium? TBD. South Carolina has looked the part of an improved team in the last few weeks. Playing S.C. State and Charlotte certainly helps. Getting Kentucky without Will Levis is an added bonus. Still, the Gamecocks have looked crisper offensively and the defense continues to get healthy. The Gamecocks have shown life against Texas A&M in the past, but it’s been outscored 122-23 in the last three meetings. This is the kind of game that sets up the Gamecocks for a prolific second half of the season. It needs to take advantage.
QB SPENCER RATTLER VS. TEXAS A&M SECONDARY
I wrote about this on Thursday, but Spencer Rattler has shown some serious progress over the last three weeks as a passer. Some of that has been due to the quality of opponents S.C. State and Charlotte, in particular. The rest is increasing comfort with his weapons.
Rattler has completed 73% or more of his passes each of the last three weeks. He’s also thrown three touchdowns to three interceptions in that span, two picks of which fell entirely on receiver Xavier Legette. This week may be the stiffest test to date for South Carolina’s import signal-caller outside of No. 1 Georgia. Texas A&M ranks second in the Southeastern Conference in passing defense and average yards per attempt by opponents (5.8).
Aggie's defensive backs Jaylon Jones and Jardin Gilbert ought to create the most problems for Rattler and the Gamecocks' passing game. Jones and Gilbert both rank among the top 15 SEC defensive backs in passing coverage, per Pro Football Focus. Texas A&M safeties Demoni Richardson and Antonio Johnson are also allowing just 6.5 and 6.9 yards per reception this year that’s good for the fourth and fifth best marks in the SEC among defensive backs who’ve played 50% or more of their ream coverage snaps, per PFF. Rattler has been sharp of late. His second-half resurgence at Kentucky last week is a big reason South Carolina left Lexington with a win. The Gamecocks will need more of that this week against one of the league’s best pass defenses.
SOUTH CAROLINA DEFENSIVE LINE VS. TEXAS A&M RB DEVON ACHANE
South Carolina and Texas A&M haven’t exactly been mirror images of one another, but there’s plenty of parallels particularly in the run game. Devon Achane has been one of the lone bright spots for this Aggies offense sans receiver Evan Stewart. Achane ranks fourth in the SEC in yards rushing per game. He’s also recording 5.44 yards per touch through six games this fall. In short, Texas A&M has gone as their star running back goes. Achane has recorded 85 yards or more on the ground in three contests this year. The Aggies won two of those three matchups, the lone loss coming at No. 24 Mississippi State.
South Carolina has had its issues stopping the run, but, like Rattler, has turned a corner over the last month. It largely held Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez in check two weeks ago, limiting him to 3.5 yards per carry on 18 of his 22 touches. The Gamecocks have gotten elite play out of defensive tackle Zacch Pickens, while M.J. Webb and Tonka Hemingway have provided stable support and then some alongside the ex-five-star recruit. The Gamecocks currently sit 11th in the SEC in run defense, though the last three weeks have offered optimism things could be changing. After surrendering over 200 yards its first three games, the Gamecocks held their last three opponents to 145 yards or fewer and an average of just 115 yards per contest.
Texas A&M’s quarterback situation has been an absolute mess not all that dissimilar to last year’s South Carolina squad. It’ll need to lean on Achane to find a pulse offensively with do-it-all playmaker Ainias Smith out for the season due to injury. If the Gamecocks can slow Achane, it’s hard to imagine Texas A&M being able to do much offensively on Saturday.
Oct. 21, 2022
Gamecocks take on Texas A&M Saturday night at Williams-Brice Stadium (7:30 p.m., SEC Network) in a game that could set the Gamecocks up for another overachieving campaign. Here are the key matchups to watch:
SOUTH CAROLINA VS. SERIES HISTORY AGAINST TEXAS A&M
Yeah, you’ve probably heard that South Carolina is winless against Texas A&M since the teams became cross-division “rivals” in 2014. 0-8.
This year, though, might be the closest the two teams have ever been on paper. Texas A&M is in as bizarre a spot as the program could be. It dropped games to Appalachian State and was drilled by Mississippi State. It also beat Arkansas and narrowly fell to Alabama on the last play of the game two weeks ago. So what Aggies team shows up to Williams-Brice Stadium? TBD. South Carolina has looked the part of an improved team in the last few weeks. Playing S.C. State and Charlotte certainly helps. Getting Kentucky without Will Levis is an added bonus. Still, the Gamecocks have looked crisper offensively and the defense continues to get healthy. The Gamecocks have shown life against Texas A&M in the past, but it’s been outscored 122-23 in the last three meetings. This is the kind of game that sets up the Gamecocks for a prolific second half of the season. It needs to take advantage.
QB SPENCER RATTLER VS. TEXAS A&M SECONDARY
I wrote about this on Thursday, but Spencer Rattler has shown some serious progress over the last three weeks as a passer. Some of that has been due to the quality of opponents S.C. State and Charlotte, in particular. The rest is increasing comfort with his weapons.
Rattler has completed 73% or more of his passes each of the last three weeks. He’s also thrown three touchdowns to three interceptions in that span, two picks of which fell entirely on receiver Xavier Legette. This week may be the stiffest test to date for South Carolina’s import signal-caller outside of No. 1 Georgia. Texas A&M ranks second in the Southeastern Conference in passing defense and average yards per attempt by opponents (5.8).
Aggie's defensive backs Jaylon Jones and Jardin Gilbert ought to create the most problems for Rattler and the Gamecocks' passing game. Jones and Gilbert both rank among the top 15 SEC defensive backs in passing coverage, per Pro Football Focus. Texas A&M safeties Demoni Richardson and Antonio Johnson are also allowing just 6.5 and 6.9 yards per reception this year that’s good for the fourth and fifth best marks in the SEC among defensive backs who’ve played 50% or more of their ream coverage snaps, per PFF. Rattler has been sharp of late. His second-half resurgence at Kentucky last week is a big reason South Carolina left Lexington with a win. The Gamecocks will need more of that this week against one of the league’s best pass defenses.
SOUTH CAROLINA DEFENSIVE LINE VS. TEXAS A&M RB DEVON ACHANE
South Carolina and Texas A&M haven’t exactly been mirror images of one another, but there’s plenty of parallels particularly in the run game. Devon Achane has been one of the lone bright spots for this Aggies offense sans receiver Evan Stewart. Achane ranks fourth in the SEC in yards rushing per game. He’s also recording 5.44 yards per touch through six games this fall. In short, Texas A&M has gone as their star running back goes. Achane has recorded 85 yards or more on the ground in three contests this year. The Aggies won two of those three matchups, the lone loss coming at No. 24 Mississippi State.
South Carolina has had its issues stopping the run, but, like Rattler, has turned a corner over the last month. It largely held Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez in check two weeks ago, limiting him to 3.5 yards per carry on 18 of his 22 touches. The Gamecocks have gotten elite play out of defensive tackle Zacch Pickens, while M.J. Webb and Tonka Hemingway have provided stable support and then some alongside the ex-five-star recruit. The Gamecocks currently sit 11th in the SEC in run defense, though the last three weeks have offered optimism things could be changing. After surrendering over 200 yards its first three games, the Gamecocks held their last three opponents to 145 yards or fewer and an average of just 115 yards per contest.
Texas A&M’s quarterback situation has been an absolute mess not all that dissimilar to last year’s South Carolina squad. It’ll need to lean on Achane to find a pulse offensively with do-it-all playmaker Ainias Smith out for the season due to injury. If the Gamecocks can slow Achane, it’s hard to imagine Texas A&M being able to do much offensively on Saturday.