No. 9 Missouri looks to improve to 5-0 in visit to No. 25 Texas A&M
Missouri running back Nate Noel, left, runs through Vanderbilt safety De'Rickey Wright (19), Randon Fontenette, bottom, and Bryan Longwel, top right, during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Columbia, Mo. Credit: AP/L.G. Patterson
No. 9 Missouri (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) at No. 25 Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0), Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (ABC).
BetMGM College Football Odds: Texas A&M by 2 1/2.
Series record: Texas A&M leads 9-7.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
The winner will have a leg up in the conference standings and a chance to start separating itself from the rest of the SEC. Missouri is aiming to start 5-0 for the second straight season. The Tigers are looking to extend the nation’s longest winning streak to nine games dating to last season. Texas A&M is trying to start 5-1 for the first time since 2020 and start 3-0 in SEC play for the first time since 2016.
KEY MATCHUP
Missouri RB Nate Noel vs. Texas A&M's rush defense. Noel, who ranks fourth among active FBS running backs with 3,515 yards rushing, has rushed for 441 yards and two touchdowns this season. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in two straight games. Noel rushed for a season-high 199 yards in the Tigers’ last game against Vanderbilt on Sept. 21. The Aggies have allowed 100 yards rushing or less in each of their last three games, with Arkansas finishing with 100 yards last week.
Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed, right, talks with Arkansas defensive coordinator Travis Williams following an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. Texas A&M won 21-17. Credit: AP/Julio Cortez
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Missouri: WR Luther Burden III has 19 receptions for 267 yards and four touchdowns this season. Burden had two touchdown passes in the Tigers’ last game against Vanderbilt. He is tied for tenth in school history with 150 career receptions.
Texas A&M: RB Le’Veon Moss is averaging 94.2 yards rushing this season and has three rushing touchdowns. The junior ran for a career-high 117 yards last week against Arkansas. The Aggies have rushed for at least 200 yards in three of the last four games.
FACTS & FIGURES
This will be the first matchup at Texas A&M between the two teams since 2014 when Missouri defeated the Aggies 34-27. They last met in 2021 at Missouri when Texas A&M won 35-14. … The Aggies are tied for first in the SEC with seven interceptions this season. … Missouri ranks third in the country in total defense allowing 219 yards per game. ... Texas A&M freshman quarterback Marcel Reed has accounted for all eight offensive touchdowns for Texas A&M in those games. He is likely to get the start again Saturday with Conner Weigman still dealing with an injury to his throwing shoulder. … Missouri quarterback Brady Cook has thrown for at least 200 yards in four straight games, and ranks fourth in Missouri history with 7,424 yards passing in his career.
