Football Hosts Auburn to Open SEC Play

Saturday, September 27

Bryan-College Station

2:30 PM

Texas A&M

Auburn

Tickets From $125

COLLEGE STATION, TX - August 30, 2025 - Defensive lineman Albert Regis #17 of the Texas A&M Aggies and Defensive tackle DJ Hicks #5 of the Texas A&M Aggies during the game between the UT San Antonio Roadrunners and the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field in College Station, TX. Photo By Evan Pilat/Texas A&M Athletics

Photo by: Evan Pilat/Texas A&M Athletics

Sep 22, 2025 | Football

PDF Notes

By: Athletics Communications

BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION-- No. 9 Texas A&M hosts Auburn on Saturday afternoon to open SEC play. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. on ESPN.

(#9) Texas A&M vs Auburn

Saturday, September 27, 2025 • 2:30 PM CT • Kyle Field
Weather: sunny clear skies, upper 80s

TV: ESPN (Joe Tessitore, Jesse Palmer, Katie George)

Radio: Texas A&M Sports Network (Andrew Monaco, Dave Elmendorf, Will Johnson)
1620 AM/94.5 FM (local), SiriusXM 81

Spanish Broadcast: Click Here (Pedro Luna, Michel Gonzalez)
102.7 FM (local)

NEED-TO-KNOWS

EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE: Texas A&M ranks among the nation's best at generating 20-yard-plus rush or pass plays. Through three games, the Aggies have produced 22 20-plus gains (7.3 per game), which is well above their 2024 average of 3.9.
STOPPING THE RUN: The Aggies under Mike Elko have limited opponents to less than 4.0 yards per carry in 10 of 16 contests, including their most recent opponent, Notre Dame (3.5 yards per carry). Texas A&M is 9-1 under Elko when allowing less that 4.0 yards per carry.
RARE OFFENSE: The Maroon & White has one of just nine offenses averaging more than 300 passing yards per game while also rushing for 150 yards per contest. After three games, Texas A&M averages 323.3 passing and 157.0 rushing per game.
NATIONAL ATTENTION: Texas A&M has already produced a pair of National Players of the Week honorees. DE Cashius Howell was named the Walter Camp Defensive POTW after his three sacks on a single drive vs. Utah State and WR Mario Craver became Texas A&M's first Associated Press National POTW after gaining 207 yards on seven catches in the top 10 road win over Notre Dame.
EYES ON THE AGGIES: The Aggies' dramatic 41-40 win over the Fighting Irish had 9.4 million viewers at its peak audience on NBC and Peacock on Sept. 13.
HOME OF THE 12TH MAN: Texas A&M has drawn more than 100,000 fans to Kyle Field in both of its 2025 home games and is one of eight programs nationally averaging over 100,000 fans per home game. The Aggies lead the SEC in average attendance at 103,774, which includes a state of Texas record crowd for a season-opener with 107,521 in the stands for the UTSA game on Aug. 30.

TRENDS & NOTABLES

The defense has allowed just 2.66 yards per carry on 90 rushing attempts since allowing a 75-yard run on the first play of the second half of the season-opener against UTSA (8/30).
The Aggies' passing offense ranks in the top 10 nationally with a 15.6 yards per completion average, which is on pace to be the team's highest season average in more than 30 years.
Texas A&M has been elite in the return game in 2025 and are one of only three FBS teams averaging more than 30.0 on kick returns (30.9) and 20.0 yards on punt returns (22.9), respectively.
Texas A&M ranks in the top 20 nationally in tackles for loss and QB sacks, averaging 8.7 TFLs and 3.0 sacks per game.
The Aggies have been red-hot in the red zone, with scores on all 10 of their trips inside the opponent 20 with nine touchdowns (5 rush/4 pass). Boosting that total is RB Le'Veon Moss, who reached paydirt on a trio of short plunges in a single quarter (2nd) against Notre Dame.
Transfer wide receivers Mario Craver and KC Concepcion have made an immediate impact, combining for 33 receptions for 670 yards and seven receiving scores or an average of 11.0 for 223.3 and 3.5 through three games.
Of the tandem's 33 catches, 28 have produced a first down and/or a touchdown, including a perfect 13-of-13 for Concepcion.
QB Marcel Reed has emerged as one of the nation's most dangerous passers, ranking among the FBS leaders in total offense (337.0), passing yards (289.7) and touchdowns (9), as well as points responsibility (20.0 per game).

NCAA RANKINGS DEEP DIVE

Texas A&M is one of just three schools with players ranked in the top 15 in punt and kickoff return average. KC Concepcion ranks No. 4 in punt returns at 28.0, while Terry Bussey comes in at No. 15 in
kick returns at 31.0.
Concepcion's 80-yard punt return touchdown in the season-opener vs. UTSA has him ranked in a tie for No. 3 for season punt return scores.
Bussey ranks No. 10 nationally with 234 combined kick return yards (186 KOR/48 PR).
On the strength of a three-sacks-on-three-straight-plays effort vs. Utah State, senior DE Cashius Howell ranks No. 11 in QB sacks (1.0 per game).

DYNAMIC RECEIVER TANDEM

Transfers Mario Craver and KC Concepcion combine to average a FBS best 223.3 receiving yards per game. The Aggies are one of just five teams with two players ranked in the top 50 in receiving yards per game in the NCAA rankings.
Craver leads the nation with 147.7 receiving yards per game, while Concepcion averages 75.7 per contest.
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Craver leads FBS wide receivers with a 92.3 receiving grade, while Concepcion grades out at 76.6.

Tandem Receiving Yards Leaders: FBS
School - Player (Avg.) / Player (Avg.)	Combined
Texas A&M - M. Craver (147.7) / K. Concepcion (75.7)	223.4
App. State - J. Barnes (112.3) / D. Stroman	210.3
Rutgers - I. Strong (122.3) / K. Duff (84.0)	206.3
TCU - E. McAlister (106.7) / J. Dwyer (85.7)	192.4
USC - M. Lemon (109.5) / J. Lane (79.7)	189.2

MAKING HIS MARK

Craver has joined Texas A&M Hall of Famer Mike Evans (2013) as the only Aggies to reach the 400-yard plateau in the third game of a season. Craver leads the Aggies with 20 catches for 443 yards and four touchdowns.
His 207 receiving yards and 86-yard TD catch at No. 8 Notre Dame are both FBS-bests against top 25 opponents. He is the seventh Aggie with a 200-yard receiving game in program history.
He averages 22.2 yards per catch, which leads the nation among players with at least 15 receptions.
Craver is the first Aggie to post three-straight 100-yard receiving games since Ryan Swope in 2012.

Receiving Yards/Game Leaders
Player, School	G	Rec.-Yds.	Yds./G
Mario Craver, Texas A&M	3	20-443	147.7
Danny Scudero, SJSU	3	22-385	128.3
Ian Strong, Rutgers	3	24-367	122.3
Chase Hendricks, Ohio	4	28-456	114.0
Jaden Barnes, App. State	3	24-337	112.3

Single Game Receiving Yards: 2025 vs. Top 25 Opp.
Player, School	Yards	Opponents
Mario Craver, Texas A&M	207	at #8 Notre Dame
Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee	177	#5 Georgia
Josh Cameron, Baylor	151	at #17 SMU
Ashtyn Hawkins, Baylor	145	at #17 SMU
Omari Kelly, Michigan State	133	at #25 USC
Brenen Thompson, Mississippi State	133	#12 Arizona State

PFF NOTABLES

Redshirt sophomore CB Dezz Ricks has allowed just two catches in 2025 while being targeted 10 times, according to Pro Football Focus. Rick’s receptions percentage of 20.0 is tops among cornerbacks that have faced at least 10 targets.
Junior LB Taurean York owns a 45.5 receptions percentage, allowing just five catches on 11 targets.
Among Aggie defenders with at least 50 snaps, senior LB Scooby Williams has the top defensive grade at 80.1.

HOWELL’S “SACK TRICK”

Senior DE Cashius Howell etched his name into college football lore by posting a "hat-trick" of sorts with three consecutive sacks during a single drive against Utah State (9/6). Research indicates that Howell is the first FBS player to record three-straight sacks in a single drive since Wisconsin's Jack Cichy in the 2015 Holiday Bowl.
For his efforts, Howell was named SEC Defensive Line Player of the Week, as well as the East-West Shrine Bowl Breakout Defensive Player of the Week.

QB1 REED LEADS OFFENSE

Redshirt sophomore QB Marcel Reed has been a driving force behind a strong Aggie offense that has opened the season with three-straight 40-point scoring games for the first time since 2013 when 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel was operating the offense.
Texas A&M ranks No. 20 nationally in scoring with 42.3 points per game.
Reed's dual-threat ability has him ranked No. 4 nationally in total offense with 337.0 yards per game as he's passed for 1,011 yards and rushed for 124 more.
He's tied for No. 8 in points responsibility with 20.0 per game on nine passing touchdowns and one rushing score.
Reed’s 289.7 passing yards per game rank No. 13 nationally while his nine passing touchdowns are tied for second-most among quarterbacks who have played three games (t15 among all QBs).
The Nashville native’s 15.0 yards per completion ranks No. 9 nationally (No. 3 in the SEC).
His TD % of 9.1 (touchdowns divided by pass attempts) ranks No. 14 (No. 4 in the SEC).

FBS Total Offense/Game Leaders
Player, School	Plays	Yards	Yds./G
Taylen Green, Arkansas	170	1,551	387.8
John Mateer, Oklahoma	184	1,405	351.3
Josh Hoover, TCU	112	1,030	343.3
Marcel Reed, Texas A&M	124	1,011	337.0
Demond Williams, Jr., Washington	102	998	332.7

MOSS IS MR. DEPENDABILITY

Senior RB Le’Veon Moss has just seven carries for negative yardage among his 277 career carries. The hard-running Moss has lost just 16 rushing yards throughout his career.
Moss delivered a trio of rushing touchdowns against then No. 8 Notre Dame (all in the second quarter), which is tied for the FBS high by a player against an AP Top 25 opponent in 2025.
For his career, the versatile Moss averages 5.5 yards per rush (277-1,531) and 10.0 yards per catch (23-231). He is one of just nine active FBS players with at least 250 career carries and 20 receptions to average 10.0 yards per catch and 5.0 yards per carry.
Coming off a knee injury that ended his 2024 season in early November, the preseason first-team All-SEC pick leads the Aggies with 168 rushing yards with four touchdowns on 33 carries.

Active FBS Fewest Rushing Yards Lost Leaders (Min. 250 rushes)
Player, School	Rushes-Net Yds.	Lost
Bryson Washington, Baylor	268-1,488	12
Le'Veon Moss, Texas A&M	277-1,531	16
Emmett Johnson, Nebraska	278-1,400	21
Elijah Gilliam, Fresno State	250-1,065	21
Kanye Udoh, Arizona State	317-1,797	24

MAROON GOONS PAVING THE WAY

Texas A&M’s success on offense starts with the strong play of its offensive front, also known as the “Maroon Goons.”
One of just nine teams passing for more than 300 yards while also rushing for 150-plus yards, the Aggies have scored 40-plus points in all three games in 2025 and rank No. 20 nationally in scoring.
The Goons have done a good job of protecting the quarterback, ranking No. 12 nationally in sacks allowed at 0.67 per game (two in three games) despite averaging 35.7 pass attempts per game.
Collectively, the Aggies’ offensive line unit is one of the most experienced in the nation with 161 career starts entering 2025, which ranked fifth-most among FBS schools.
The 2025 starting unit ranks as one of the heaviest in school history, weighing in at 1,617 pounds or 323.4 per goon.

Breaking Down the Starting Five
Goon	Ht.	Wt.	Starts
Trey Zuhn III, LT	6-6	319	40
Chase Bisontis, LG	6-5	315	25
Mark Nabou, Jr., C	6-3	322	17
Ar'Maj Reed-Adams, RG	6-5	325	30
Dametrious Crownover, RT	6-7	318	18
Averages	6-5.2	323.4	26.0

TRANSFER IMPACT

Head coach Mike Elko’s ability to find talent in the transfer portal has been on display this season.
The 2025 crop of transfers already lead the team in several statistical categories, including scoring, receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, all-purpose yards and punt returns.
Last year, Elko inked seven transfers that started at least 10 games, as well the 2024 team leaders in sacks, tackles for loss, QB hurries, interceptions and breakups.
Additionally, nine transfers from the 2024 class remain on the roster and are playing key roles in 2025.

2025 Transfer Class
Transfer (Position)	Previous School
Nate Boerkircher (TE)	Nebraska
KC Concepcion (WR)	NC State
Mario Craver (WR)	Mississippi State
Dayon Hayes (DE)	Colorado
Julio Humphrey (CB)	Georgia
Sam M'Pemba (DE)	Georgia
Tyler Onyedim (DT)	Iowa State
Amari Niblack (TE)	Texas
Micah Riley (TE)	Auburn
T.J. Searcy (DE)	Florida
Jordan Shaw (CB)	Washington
Jonah Wilson (WR)	Houston
Jacob Zeno (QB)	UAB

Returnees from 2024 Transfer Class
Transfer (Position)	Previous School (2024 stats)
Koli Faaiu (C)	Utah (13 gms, 11 starts)
Cashius Howell (DE)	Bowling Green (4.0 QBS, 8.5 TFL)
Will Lee III (CB)	Kansas State (10 PBU, 2 INT)
Marcus Ratcliffe (S)	San Diego State (48 TT, 3 INT)
Ar'maj Reed-Adams (OL)	Kansas (12 gms, 12 starts)
Dezz Ricks (CB)	Alabama (20 TT, 2 PBU, 1 INT)
EJ Smith (RB)	Stanford (50-183 rush, 8-66 rec.)
Scooby Williams (LB)	Florida (43 tackles, 7.5 TFL)
Jared Zirkel (PK)	Georgia (64.1 KO avg., 44 TBs)

STABLE OF STALLIONS

Texas A&M returns 87% of its run production from last season, including All-SEC Second Team running back Le'Veon Moss who ranked second in the league and 17th nationally with 6.3 yards per carry.
Seniors Moss and Amari Daniels are back after the duo combined for 1,426 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns last season ... Moss ranked sixth in the SEC with 10 rushing touchdowns and eighth in the league rushing for 765 yards, despite an injury prematurely ended his season at nine games ... Daniels was ninth in the SEC in rushing scores (8) and finished 18th in rushing yards (661) after appearing in each regular season game and making three starts.
Daniels came on strong at the end of the season filling in for the injured Moss averaging 5.3 yards per carry in the last five games of the regular season ... during the span, he totaled 369 yards on 70 carries and three rushing touchdowns, including a pair of 50-plus yard scores against South Carolina (56 yards) and New Mexico State (71 yards).
Rueben Owens II is back in full swing after a fall camp injury sidelined him for the majority of last season ... the redshirt sophomore earned 2023 SEC All-Freshman Team honors after leading the league's true freshmen in all-purpose yards (743), rushing yards (385) and kick return yards (249).

YORK IN THE MIDDLE

Junior LB Taurean York is tied with junior S Marcus Ratcliffe for the team lead with 17 tackles. York is in his third season as the starting middle linebacker and was selected as a team captain by his teammates for a second straight year ahead of the 2025 season
York led the Aggies with 82 tackles last season and ranked seventh in the league among linebackers in tackles for loss. The 5-10, 227-pound linebacker was named to the Walter Camp Preseason All-America First Team, as well as watch lists for the Butkus and Bednarik Awards.
York led the defense in tackles in seven games last season and notched double-digit tackles at Mississippi State (12), at Auburn (10) and against Texas (10). He led the Aggies with an 85.7 tackling grade according to PFF and missed just six tackles in nearly 700 defensive snaps in 2024 for an impressive 7.4 missed tackle rate.

ELKO AT A GLANCE

Mike Elko was named the head football coach at Texas A&M University on Nov. 27, 2023, returning to Aggieland after spending two seasons as the head coach at Duke University.
With over two decades of coaching experience, Elko has coached in 10 bowl games, helped two different teams to NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinal appearances and been part of four league championship squads. Elko’s bowl games include the 2009 Humanitarian, 2012 & 2016 Military, 2013 Little Caesars, 2017 Citrus, 2018 Gator, 2019 Texas, 2020 Orange, 2022 Military and 2024 Las Vegas. The former Texas A&M defensive coordinator (2018-21) also made stops at Notre Dame (2017) and Wake Forest (2014-16) prior to his time with the Maroon & White.
In Elko's first year at the helm of Texas A&M, the Aggies battled for a spot in the SEC Championship game entering the final week of the regular season, a first for Texas A&M since the school joined the league in 2012. After dropping their season opener to the eventual National Champion runner-up, Notre Dame, Elko’s team rattled off seven consecutive wins, including two over top-10 opponents (No. 9 Missouri and No. 8 LSU). The Aggies capped the year playing in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl against Southern California for its 44th bowl appearance.
In two seasons at Duke, Elko compiled a 16-9 (.563) record and led the Blue Devils to consecutive bowl game appearances (2022 Military and 2023 Birmingham), while earning 2022 ACC Coach of the Year honors. He mentored 14 to All-ACC honors, including two-time recipients in Graham Barton and DeWayne Carter, who both went on to be selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1st round, 26th overall) and Buffalo Bills (3rd round, 95th overall), respectively, in the 2024 NFL Draft.
In his first year in Durham, the Blue Devils boasted one of the best rushing defenses and offensive lines in the country. On defense, they gave up just 120.9 yards per game and 10 touchdowns on the ground, standing as the only school in the ACC to allow 10-or-fewer rushing touchdowns on the year. The offensive line kept its quarterback protected, ranking 12th among Power 5 schools allowing just 1.31 sacks per game and tying for seventh nationally giving up just 51.0 tackles for loss.
The 2023 season saw the Blue Devils get off to a 4-0 start, including a 28-7 victory over then-No. 9 Clemson to start the year before injuries took their toll and Duke finished the regular season 7-5. The Blue Devils again boasted an offensive line that ranked in the top-18 among Power 5 schools in sacks and tackles for loss allowed, while also sitting in 16th nationally as a defense, giving up just 19.0 points per game.
Prior to his time at Duke, Elko served as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach in Aggieland from 2018-21, helping Texas A&M finish with four-straight bowl trips and an overall record of 34-14 (.708). Elko was also the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame in 2017 after helping the Fighting Irish finish with a 10-3 record, including a win over LSU in the Citrus Bowl.
Elko had coaching stints at Wake Forest (2014-16), Bowling Green (2009-13), Hofstra (2006-08), Richmond (2004-05) and Fordham (2002-03) as well. He first coordinated defense at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (2001) and he spent one season (2000) coaching defensive backs at his alma mater, Pennsylvania. Elko started his coaching career as a graduate assistant, coaching inside linebackers at Stony Brook (1999) and defensive backs in the spring of 2000.
A native of South Brunswick, New Jersey, Elko graduated from Penn with a bachelor’s degree in history in 1999. As a safety, he helped the Quakers to the 1998 Ivy League championship. Elko is married to the former Michelle Madison and they are the parents of three children: Michael, Andrew and Kaitlyn.