Aggies, Hogs hot entering weekend off

Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond (11) hands off to running back Isaiah Spiller (28) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

— Arkansas and Texas A&M will meet as two of the upstart teams in the SEC.

First, though, the Razorbacks and No. 7 Aggies will rest. Both teams drew a bye week ahead of their Halloween matchup that is scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. at Kyle Field.

Since losing 52-24 at Alabama on Oct. 3, Texas A&M (3-1) has won two straight over Florida and Mississippi State, and has positioned itself well for the No. 2 spot in the division. Behind the Crimson Tide and Aggies, every SEC West team has at least two losses.

“We’re starting to play well and it’s not bad to keep playing, but it’s also not bad to regroup,” Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said Wednesday on the SEC coaches’ teleconference.

“I have concerns over if we need a break sometimes when we get momentum. In the end it’s all about the hand you’re dealt and the situation you’re in, you have to do it. I think (the bye week) came at a pretty good time for us. We need to heal up and get better because there are still a lot of things we can improve on.”

Fisher said he was pleased with the play of his defense and special teams in a 28-14 victory at Mississippi State last week. The Aggies forced two turnovers — including one that led to a touchdown — and blocked a punt that set up a 1-yard touchdown drive.

Texas A&M struggled some offensively against the Bulldogs with a season-low 325 yards. The Aggies were led by a strong performance from running back Isaiah Spiller, who rushed 18 times for 114 yards and two touchdowns.

Quarterback Kellen Mond completed 13 of 23 passes for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns, and also threw an interception in his first game without leading receiver Caleb Chapman, who tore his ACL during the Florida game the week before. Texas A&M’s receiving corps is depleted with the loss of Chapman, which follows a covid-19 opt out by Jhamon Ausbon and early departures to the NFL Draft by Quartney Davis and Kendrick Rogers.

Arkansas (2-2) could also use a chance to rest and regroup following its 33-21 victory over Ole Miss. The Razorbacks played the game without three defensive starters — linebacker Bumper Pool, defensive end Dorian Gerald and cornerback Montaric Brown — from the season-opening game, and had others playing through injuries.

“We certainly needed this open date,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said Wednesday. “Our team is pretty banged up, pretty beat up. We’re trying to get some of our young kids some reps, however a lot of our young kids are playing for us. We have to get healthy because we have six games left.”

The Aggies also have six games remaining. Fisher said his team is preparing some for Arkansas this week, but also for some of the other teams it will play later in the season.

“We have some sessions set for Arkansas, some other teams we have set to play down the year that we have already broken down,” Fisher said, “and things we had from last year, a couple of issues we want to introduce to our players that when the game week comes, what we do.”