Texas A&M's Week 9 bye, according to third-year coach Mike Elko, focused on "internal issues" plaguing the program amid the Aggies' 4-4 start and 1-4 record in SEC play. After falling to Alabama 31-20 on the road in Week 8, Texas A&M will now face No. 23 South Carolina, just a year after the Aggies pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in college football history against the Gamecocks.

Both programs are on different trajectories, as South Carolina coach Shane Beamer has likely saved his job after entering the year on the hottest of seats, leading his team to three consecutive wins over Florida, Tennessee, and last Saturday's blowout victory over Oklahoma on the road, while Texas A&M has just one SEC win over Arkansas back in early October.

On paper, South Carolina is unsurprisingly the more dominant team in six key categories, ranking 18th in total offense, 46th in passing offense behind veteran quarterback LaNorris Sellers, 13th in rushing offense, 31st in rushing defense, 22nd in 3rd down offense, and 48th in explosive plays.

Texas A&M has an advantage in scoring defense (27th), passing defense (30th), 3rd down defense (19th), and explosive-play defense (45th). The Aggies' best chance to pull off a road win for the first time in SEC play starts with containing LaNorris Sellers in the pocket, forcing him to make accurate throws, and stopping the run early and often.

If A&M can consistently force South Carolina into 3rd-and-long, the Aggies' 3rd-down defense under Mike Elko remains the most reliable part of the Aggie defense and was the primary reason the Aggies came back after being down 30-3 in last season's epic matchup.

The Aggie offense won't look any different, as quarterback Marcel Reed will continue as the starter, and Mike Elko has yet to lose faith in the senior signal caller, no matter how poorly he's played. With freshman running back KJ Edwards healthy after suffering a leg contusion against Alabama, the strategy is clear: run the ball.