Texas A&M looks to regroup against FCS The Citadel before a trip to Alabama, in a matchup of two schools with deep military traditions
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Two schools with proud military traditions meet at Kyle Field, and only one of them seats 102,733.
Texas A&M (3-3, 1-3 SEC) hosts FCS The Citadel (2-4) at 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network+. The Aggies need a lift after a 27-6 loss at No. 13 Missouri last Saturday, their third SEC defeat. Next week they visit No. 6 Alabama.
This is only the second meeting between the programs. Texas A&M won the first one, 35-3, at Kyle Field on Sept. 2, 2006.
Mike Elko, in his third season, has a defense-first team with an offense still finding its rhythm. Quarterback Marcel Reed has completed 104 of 188 passes for 1,097 yards, with six touchdowns and six interceptions. Rueben Owens II leads the rushers with 304 yards, and Isaiah Horton has three touchdown catches.
The Citadel brings a run game that can shorten any afternoon. Gavin Garcia has carried 111 times for 579 yards and six touchdowns, and Zyion Brown leads the defense in both tackles (51) and sacks (four). Quarterback Quentin Hayes has thrown four touchdown passes. The Bulldogs have been in tight games all season, including a triple-overtime win at Charlotte and a double-overtime loss to Charleston Southern, and they fell 34-16 to East Tennessee State last week.
The gap in resources is large. Kyle Field seats 102,733. The Citadel's Johnson Hagood Stadium seats 11,427. But the Bulldogs, coached by Maurice Drayton, have an option-based offense that can keep the ball away from an opponent if it stays on schedule.
Texas A&M's tradition includes national titles claimed for 1919, 1927 and 1939, and Heisman Trophy winners John David Crow (1957) and Johnny Manziel (2012). The Citadel has four Southern Conference titles, the most recent in 2016.
Wind could matter early, with gusts near 27 mph, but the forecast is otherwise clear at 63 degrees. Neither team listed injuries of note.
For the Aggies, the goal is simple: clean execution, a healthy roster and some confidence before Tuscaloosa. For The Citadel, it's a chance to measure itself against an SEC program.
Our call: Texas A&M 50, The Citadel 6.