Texas A&M defense continues impressive streak on opening drive vs. Tennessee
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Texas A&M has had a rough season. After an 8-5 mark in 2024, Mike Elko led the Aggies to an 11-2 mark and a College Football Playoff berth. But they’ve stumbled tremendously in 2026, taking a 4-5 (1-5 SEC) record into Week 11’s game against Tennessee.
One thing the Aggies have yet to do, though, is allow a touchdown on defense during a team’s opening drive. That trend continued on Saturday against the Vols.
Despite a long opening possession — 16 plays, 70 yards, and nearly nine and a half minutes, in fact — Tennessee couldn’t cash in, despite having a first-and-goal at the A&M 7. DeSean Bishop had a pair of carries to get the ball to the 1, but after a fake handoff, George MacIntyre was blown up in the backfield for a four-yard loss.
The Vols were forced to kick a field goal to go up 3-0, a credit to the Aggies’ defensive stand.
Texas A&M is dangerously close to missing out on bowl eligibility. It needs wins in two of its final three games to reach the six-win plateau. After Saturday’s game against Tennessee, the Aggies travel to Oklahoma before a rivalry game against visiting Texas.
That last time the Aggies missed a bowl was 2022, Jimbo Fisher’s fifth season.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
