Ainias Smith, Aggies Have 'Let's Kill' Mindset Ahead of Season Opener

The Texas A&M Aggies play an inferior opponent in the New Mexico Saturday, and believe it or not, they have something to prove against the Lobos.

The No. 23 Texas A&M Aggies are 38-point favorites, according to DraftKings Sportsbook, against the New Mexico Lobos Saturday, and they struggled last season when they were heavy favorites.

Texas A&M didn't score more than 10 points in a quarter against Sam Houston State, needed a touchdown with five minutes to go against Massachusetts to put the game out of reach 20-3 and lost 17-14 at home to Appalachian State. 

The Aggies played down to significantly inferior competition last season, but they are carrying a new mentality into 2023 ahead of three of four light nonconference opponents.

"We've really been emphasizing in our room: let's not play down to anybody's level. Let's play at our level," wide receiver Ainias Smith said. "My mentality to the guys was, 'Let's kill'. Whoever's in front of us, let's go ahead and destroy them, make sure that they don't want to come back on this field no more.'"

Andrew Dieb, USA TODAY Sports

The Aggies begin the season against the Lobos looking to pick up where they left off.

Head coach Jimbo Fisher announced quarterback Conner Weigman will be the starting quarterback when the Aggies' offense trots off the sideline at Kyle Field, which he said was a product of a full offseason of work and not just after one or two practices.

Texas A&M should have a newfound attitude after a 5-7 season last year, but expectations are continuing to be placed on it. ESPN's Desmond Howard picked the Aggies as a "dark horse" in the Southeastern Conference race as well as having the potential to throw a wrinkle in the College Football Playoff.

With Texas A&M's 24-20 loss to Alabama and an upset 38-23 of LSU, it showed it can hang with the big boys of the SEC.

On Saturday, the Aggies will have to prove that they can take care of the teams they're expected to beat with ease.