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Texas A&M Aggies vs. Ole Miss Rebels Keys to the Game

Both the Aggies and the Rebels need every win to climb the SEC West ladder, so a road matchup for Texas A&M isn't ideal, but if it can build some early momentum, the Rebels could be in trouble at home.

Matt Guzman

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If the Texas A&M Aggies want to save their season, a win over a top-10 Ole Miss Rebels team will certainly go a long way in that endeavor. 

It would also help Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher a great deal in terms of his standing with the fan base, and the amount of heat under his seat going forward. 

That said, it will not be an easy test for the Aggies. The Rebels have one of the best offenses in the country, an underrated defense, and have had Texas A&M's number over the last two seasons. 

So, ahead of the Aggies' Saturday game against the Rebels, here are the keys to the game for both teams:

Ole Miss Rebels
Rebels running back Quinshon Judkins runs vs. Texas A&M in 2022 / Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

The Aggies will win if ...

... they can slow down the Rebels offense

Texas A&M will need to come out of the gate with intensity. Taking over a crowd on the road — especially if the Rebels perform well in the weeks leading up to the game — won't be easy, so making an early statement will be crucial. If they can notch a couple of early scores and put together even one stop on the Rebels before halftime to take a lead to the locker room, they'll could force Ole Miss into some mistakes trying to play from behind in the second half. 

In order to do that, they will also have to stop the Rebels rushing attack, which is one of the best in the country. Easier said than done, but the Aggies have the talent defensively to slow down Ole Miss, much like Alabama did. 

And if they can play similarly to the way the Crimson Tide did against the Rebels, they will be in good shape. 

The Rebels will win if ...

... They can control the line of scrimmage

The Aggies have one of, if not the best, defensive lines in college football, and are among the best pass-rushing teams in the nation as well. If the Rebels can make room for Quinshon Judkins and Ulysses Bentley, and impose their will offensively, they will be in good shape.

The Rebels will also have to get pressure early and often on Max Johnson, and take away the Aggies' passing attack, and make them one-dimensional. If they can control the line on both sides of the ball, they should control the game.

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Matt Guzman
MATT GUZMAN

Matt Guzman is a sports journalist and storyteller from Austin, Texas. He serves as a credentialed reporter and site manager for San Antonio Spurs On SI and a staff writer for multiple collegiate sites in the same network. In the world of professional sports, he is a firm believer that athletes are people, too, and intends to tell stories of players and teams’ true, behind-the-scenes character that otherwise would not be seen through strong narrative writing, hooking ledes and passionate words.

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