12 early thoughts on a "trap game" for the Aggies at South Carolina

12 early thoughts on a "trap game" for the Aggies at South Carolina

1. Texas A&M's win over LSU was an emotional event not just in the run up to the game but during the contest itself and the euphoria after. Now, as a reward, the Aggies get the closest thing to a "trap" game on their 2024 schedule.

2. Welcome to the new SEC where teams that play big games one week often fall victim to a decent opponent the next week.

Texas wins a rivalry game over Oklahoma and then looks awful against Georgia.

Alabama wins its "Game of the Year" versus the Bulldogs and a week later loses on the road…to Vanderbilt (which not only bankrupted Alabama bettors but the company that insured the Commodores' goal posts).

Tennessee beats a then top 25 Oklahoma on the road, gets a bye week, and still loses to Arkansas on the road.


3. Now, it's A&M's turn to face to deal with the emotions of a big win and the heightened expectations that go along with such a victory to go on the road versus a solid opponent in South Carolina (coming off of a bye week by the way).

4. The Gamecocks aren't great but they actually look like a competent football team (in contrast to past seasons). They use their special teams and defense to set up their offense to score enough points to win games. They've given Alabama and LSU all they can handle and bombed a bad Sooners' team on the road.


5. Not only that, even though they're 4-3, everyone in college football has delusions of grandeur these days via an expanded playoff format. They can make their case with four closing games against top 25 teams. Beating top ten teams like the Aggies and Clemson would allow them to make an outside case for a CFP berth in a weird, wacky, entertaining 2024 season.

5. Freshman quarterback La Norris Sellers is dangerous enough to beat you with a big arm that can crank out long throws and the mobility to buy time. He'll turn it over but he'll also make you sweat out games with off schedule plays.

6. South Carolina is in the top three in the SEC in rushing defense and passer rating defense. The last time they were getting those types of defensive performances, a guy named Jadeveon Clowney was running around their campus. No one is lining up and running over them or away from them as you've seen in the past.


7. Georgia Tech transfer edge Kyle Kennard is the Gamecocks' answer to A&M edge Nic Scourton. He has 26 pressures, leads the SEC with 8.5 sacks, and makes everyone around him better (freshman edge Dylan Stewart has 4.5 sacks playing opposite Kennard).

8. Their interior guys are under 300 pounds but get upfield and redirect things.

9. Due to the pass rush, their secondary has played very well. They have forced a league high ten interceptions because their rush defense puts you in long yardage situations and their pass rush forces you into mistakes.


10. Under head coach Shane Beamer (a former special teams' coach), they're really good on special teams. They've blocked two kicks this season and punter Kai Kroeger nets 44 yards per punt.

11. This will be the Aggies' first real road game with a crowd that will be in the game for four quarters (most of Florida's left after a rain delay). They have a defense that matches up well versus the Aggies' running game with good edges and backers that get really good protection from linemen getting behind pulling blocker.

12. A&M has the better team but can't lose the coaching battle, can't lose the turnover battle, can't lose the special teams battle decisively, and has to find a way to work through the emotional advantages that the Gamecocks have in order to avoid the definition of a trap game.