Missouri football’s worst day of the 2024 season came in College Station.
Texas A&M, in that early October matchup, was in the middle of a seven-game winning streak that had the Aggies in contention for both a place in the SEC title game and a College Football Playoff spot until the last couple weeks of the regular season.
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But Mizzou barely registered an appearance on the road in a 41-10 loss.
The Aggies will make the return trip to Columbia this season, when they’ll be late into Year 2 of the Mike Elko coaching tenure.
What should the Tigers expect for the Nov. 8 matchup on Faurot Field?
The Tribune is analyzing the offseason of each of Mizzou’s 2025 opponents to get you up to speed with the new rosters and coaching staff changes after a busy offseason.
Here’s what to know about Texas A&M in 2025, including key additions, coaching changes and playmakers to keep an eye on when the Aggies visit Columbia in November:
Who are opposing names to know when Missouri football hosts Texas A&M
Quarterback: Marcel Reed, this time for real, is Texas A&M’s starter this season. Mizzou head coach Eli Drinkwitz said in the leadup to last year’s game that he believed Reed would start, and Mizzou appeared caught off guard when Conner Weigman, now at Houston, started under center.
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Reed has the tools to succeed in offensive coordinator Collin Klein’s offense, as at his best, he’s a dynamic dual-threat with particularly dangerous rushing ability. But he also has to take a step forward as a passer to succeed. He passed for 169.5 yards per game while tossing 15 touchdowns and six picks last season. He rushed for 547 yards — 49.7 yards per game — and seven scores.
Offensive playmaker: KC Concepcion was perhaps the Aggies’ marquee offseason signing as he made the move from NC State to College Station. He recorded 1,359 combined receiving and rushing yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie, and followed that up with a 456-yard, six-touchdown campaign last season. If Reed needed help in the passing game, he’s got it.
Defensive playmaker: Linebacker Scooby Williams reportedly played 11 of the Aggies’ 13 games last season on a torn meniscus. He had a forced fumble, an interception, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 43 total tackles while playing hurt. Think a coach like Elko likes that type of grit? Now fully healthy, Williams will be tasked with leading a retooled defensive front into the 2025 season.
Oct 5, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman Albert Regis (17) and linebacker Scooby Williams (0) stop Missouri Tigers running back Marcus Carroll (9) in the fourth quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images.
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What did the offseason look like for the Aggies?
Notable additions: Concepcion (WR, NC State); Mario Craver (WR/PR, Mississippi State); Julian Humphrey (CB, Georgia); T.J. Searcy (DE, Florida); Jordan Shaw (CB, Washington); Amari Niblack (TE, Texas); Lamont Rogers (OT, H.S.)
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Notable losses: Shemar Stewart (DE, NFL); Nic Scourton (DE, NFL); Shemar Turner (DT, NFL); BJ Mayes (CB, UDFA); Noah Thomas (WR, Georgia)
Notable coaching changes: N/A
Texas A&M’s defensive line was big and mean last season, but three of the four starters who made that the case are about to appear on Sundays as first- and second-round picks in this year’s draft.
But, like most positions of need on the roster, the Aggies loaded up on talent in the transfer portal.
Searcy could headline the edge-rushing room, coming off recording four tackles for loss without a full-time starting role last season at Florida. But Texas A&M also has Samuel M’Pemba coming in from Georgia and Dayon Hayes transferring from Colorado, joining stout returners in Cashius Howell and Rylan Kennedy, who combined for 5.5 sacks and 12 quarterback pressures last season.
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Generating pressure off the edge shouldn’t be a problem.
On offense, the clear strength is in the run game, where the mobility of Reed will pair up with a trio of strong returning running backs in Amari Daniels, Le’Veon Moss, and Reuben Owens.
The Aggies should have more weapons in the passing game, even beyond the anticipated talent of Concepcion. Craver, a 368-yard receiver as a rookie at Mississippi State, may be one of the fastest receivers in the sport next season. Niblack is a pass-catching tight end with experience at Alabama and Texas.
Texas A&M also returns both its offensive and defensive coordinators for a second season under Elko.
Oct 5, 2024; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Amari Daniels (5) runs the ball in the first quarter against the Missouri Tigers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images.
Early forecast for Mizzou vs. Texas A&M
There’s no nice way to phrase what happened to Missouri in this matchup last season. That was, in no uncertain terms, a whuppin’.
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If the Tigers have College Football Playoff ambitions, then this is the type of game that they’d like to go their way. In the 12-team format, 10-2 is the likely minimum on MU’s schedule, making the home slate particularly important.
Mizzou has been excellent at home over the past couple of seasons, but that premier regular-season win is still lacking for Drinkwitz and company.
There are certainly questions about the Aggies. Elko lamented the team’s ability to play zone coverage as their CFP bid frittered in the homeward stretch of the year. Reed has to take a step forward if the team is going to take the next step.
More: Missouri football post-spring preview: Is Auburn going to be a top-25 road game for MU?
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But, there’s one safe bet: Texas A&M under Elko is going to rough you up. They have an excellent group of running backs and a big offensive line. Up front on defense, you can confidently assume they’ll generate backfield pressure.
How Mizzou responds to that could be the difference between a signature win or another close call in a marquee home matchup.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Will Texas A&M be CFP contender when it visits Missouri football in 2025?
