The decibel level at Kyle Field during Thanksgiving week will likely reach all-time highs when the Lone Star rivalry game returns.
The Aggies want redemption from the last time the two teams played in 2011 when the Aggies lost by a field goal. Texas A&M sophomore quarterback Connor Weigman is ready for the faceoff, speaking about it before the 2024 Texas A&M football fall camp.
“I’ve always wanted to beat Texas,” Weigman said. “That’s a given. … That’s going to happen.”
Weigman is back on the field after a season-ending injury in the SEC opener against Auburn last year, but he had a lot of time while he was in a boot to pick up strategy from new offensive coordinator Collin Klien.
However, just like the rest of the A&M team, Weigman has a lot to prove.
It is uncertain how well the Aggies will perform in the fall. After a disappointing 7–6 season under former head coach Jimbo Fisher, the Aggies paid out Fisher’s hefty contract to hire former defensive coordinator Mike Elko.
A new head coach comes with a whole new coaching staff and playbook. Elko and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman’s defensive scheme will likely create a strong Aggie defense that is proficient at stopping third-down conversions. However, Klein’s offensive scheme is yet to be seen.
The coaching staff turnover also meant that the Aggies lost more than 20 players to the transfer portal, but the portal goes both ways.
According to Bill Connelly’s annual report on ESPN, the Aggies still have the highest returning production percentage in the SEC, returning or replacing 72% of their 2023 players.
The team’s high percentage is largely due to the amount of players brought in by Elko, especially on the defensive line and in the secondary. Some players to watch from the portal include junior cornerback Will Lee III and junior defensive lineman Nic Scourton, who led the Big 10 in sacks last year.
Scourton will be standing on the line with returning senior defensive lineman Shemar Turner, who made the 2023 All-SEC Second Team.
On offense, Weigman has several targets that can make big plays. Junior wide receiver Noah Thomas led the Aggies last year with five receiving touchdowns, totaling 359 receiving yards.
“He’s 6 ‘6, and he can fly,” Weigman said about Thomas. “He can go get a ball up top and he can do anything. Just (by) giving him the ball quickly and giving him the ball in open space, it’s going to be fun to watch him this year.”
Also on offense is graduate student wide receiver Moose Muhammed III, who caught a reception in all 12 games he played last season for 345 receiving yards.
The Aggies have the talent for a successful season, but it is yet to be seen how the Aggie playbook will do against other teams. However, no matter how well their season goes, the Aggies are going to be fired up for the rivalry game and are going to put up a good fight against the Longhorns on Saturday, Nov. 30, in College Station.
