Aggies seek bowl eligibility vs. Ole Miss
Once on the fringes of SEC title talk, the Texas A&M Aggies (5-4, 3-3 SEC) have lost two games in a row following last week’s 28-24 loss to Auburn.
Now the Aggies look to get back on track against Ole Miss (5-4, 1-4 SEC) as they return to the friendly confines of College Station on Saturday.
The Aggies surrendered a 24-14 lead heading into the fourth quarter against Auburn in last week’s loss.
“Domination and winning is a learned behavior,” Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher said. “We have to learn to do that in those critical moments and those critical plays. That’s what we’re here for as a staff. I’ve got to teach those guys that.”
Ole Miss has struggled in SEC play as well. The Rebels have lost two games in a row to Auburn and South Carolina, with last week’s tilt against the Gamecocks coming down to a 48-44 margin.
The Aggies have just three more games to earn their sixth win and become bowl eligible. The game against Ole Miss is followed by a potential trap game against upstart UAB, then a home matchup against LSU.
Quarterback Kellen Mond has been a big topic of discussion this week. He completed 16 of 32 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown, but he lost a fumble on a first-half pitch on an option play and threw a fourth-quarter interception that helped fuel Auburn’s comeback.
He was also limited to 33 yards rushing on 18 carries.
During Jimbo Fisher’s press conference this week, he assured that Mond would remain the starting quarterback.
“One thousand percent,” Fisher said. “The tape says so.”
Fisher said the quarterback often gets too much credit or blame.
“He played a good football game. Did he play a great football game? No,” Fisher said. “Any time the quarterback touches the ball on every play you can change it.”