COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Fresh off a dominant 34-7 victory over Arkansas, Texas A&M is turning its attention to another challenging Southeastern Conference road matchup against the #14 Missouri Tigers.
Joining hosts Brian and Chad on "The Thing About Sports," Andrew Monaco, the play-by-play voice of Texas A&M, emphasized that head coach Mike Elko’s message to the team this week centers around mindset and aggressive play.
"I am now replacing the word 'respond' with 'attack,'" Monaco said, recounting Elko's message to the squad. "Don't let the result be whether you have energy or not... Helmets on, move on. You don't just respond; I want you to attack."
The Aggies' ground game took center stage in their victory over the Razorbacks, controlling the line of scrimmage with a 49-carry effort. Freshman running back KC Edwards made a strong impact with 6.5 yards per carry on 28 touches, complementing teammate Reuben Owens.
"Matchup against Arkansas works in KC Edwards' favor that he could get to the edge," Monaco noted. "He can catch it and scoot, he can block, he can pass pro... but for him, I think the biggest thing is he now understands that you have to run between the tackles."
Monaco praised the running backs' versatility and depth, highlighting that Edwards' growing role feeds into his productivity and team trust. However, Monaco warned that Missouri presents a completely different defensive challenge.
Missouri comes into the matchup led by quarterback Austin Simmons, who has thrown 13 touchdowns without an interception this season, alongside a re-tooled receiving core and dynamic playmakers on offense.
"This is a Missouri team that is starting to silence the doubters," Monaco said. "It might come down to who finds the rhythm and plays from ahead."
With Texas A&M facing a grueling road schedule that includes five SEC away games this season, Monaco stressed the importance of execution from the very first snap.
"You write the next chapter," Monaco added, echoing Elko's instructions to the team. "All you can worry about is that guy six inches in front of you."
Coverage for the Texas A&M vs. Missouri game begins with the pregame show at 9 a.m., followed by kickoff at 11 a.m. on Talk 1370.
The Thing About Sports can be heard every Saturday.
