Texas A&M Aggies vs. Auburn Tigers Preview: Keys To Victory

The Aggies head to Auburn for their first SEC contest since their upset loss to South Carolina.

Sep 23, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Ainias Smith (0) runs the ball during the third quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports / Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

The No. 15 Texas A&M Aggies take their final road trip of the season in the penultimate game of the 2024 season, heading to Jordan-Hare Stadium to battle the Auburn Tigers.

While it seems that A&M should have the edge on Auburn on both sides of the ball, the home advantage definitely still keeps Auburn in the running for an upset. Like Kyle Field, Jordan-Hare Stadium has been consistently ranked as one of the most intimidating atmospheres in college football. With a capacity of over 88,000, the "War Eagle" chants should be almost deafening.

Nov 25, 2023; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Payton Thorne (1) fumbles the ball after being hit by Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Chris Braswell (41) and linebacker Dallas Turner (15) during the fourth quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

But of course, this is a battle of football teams and not stadium crowds, so let's take a look at what the Aggies need to do to take a win against the Tigers.

Win The Yardage Game

When it comes to the battle between the Aggies and the Tigers, a common theme for the winner has been whoever accrues the most total yards during the contest. Last year, A&M doubled Auburn's yardage production, which led to a big win at home. In 2022, when Auburn was victorious in the low-scoring affair, they had 330 yards to Texas A&M's 215, leading to their 13-10 victory last time the two teams were in Auburn, even when the Tigers had three turnovers in the game.

Shut Down The Run Game

Jarquez Hunter is one of the top running backs in the SEC, with 1,015 yards through 10 games. That's an average of a little over 100 yards, and he'll surely be looking to make a name for himself against one of the top run defenses in the country. If the Aggie run defense shows up and doesn't repeat what happened against the Gamecocks earlier this month, they should be good to go.

Focus On The Task At Hand

It's a stressful time to be a Texas A&M football fan right now. Winning this game and the finale against Texas is crucial for the Aggies and their playoff chances. Texas A&M needs to look at the smaller picture and focus on defeating the Tigers before they even put the thought of next week's game against the Longhorns in their minds. Stay focused, don't look ahead.

Texas A&M has won three of the last five games against Auburn, so it's pretty clear that both of these teams have the other's number. We'll see how well that is tomorrow night in Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn.

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