Texas A&M's Week 9 bye gives the struggling Aggies another chance to rest and recover before the final four regular-season games, starting with South Carolina in Columbia next Saturday afternoon. Sitting at 4-4 and 1-4 in SEC play, third-year coach Mike Elko knows the program's issues start and end with his decisions, going back to the early parts of the offseason.

We've already spent several articles questioning Elko's decision to elevate Holmon Wiggins and Lyle Hemphill as first-year offensive and defensive play-callers, while his steadfast support for quarterback Marcel Reed has been rightfully questioned, as the senior has thrown for eight touchdowns and eight interceptions, and has yet to show improvement, outside of leading the Aggies to their only touchdown drives in the first half during last Saturday's road loss to Alabama.

The Aggies will shift their focus to South Carolina on Monday, while the rest of the SEC slate will serve as pure entertainment and offer a first-hand look at three of the program's four final opponents. After speaking to the media just once during Wednesday's SEC Teleconference, Mike Elko is wholly focused on evaluating the issues that have plagued the Aggies through the first eight weeks.

So, what should Aggie fans be rooting for on Saturday? It's pretty simple!

Watch South Carolina vs. Oklahoma

Texas A&M will face South Carolina next Saturday, followed by Oklahoma in Norman on November 21, and while both teams have also won just four games this season, the Aggies aren't favored in either game and will need to scout the Gamecocks' offense, led by veteran QB LaNorris Sellers, who has led his team to back-to-back wins over Florida and Tennessee.

Texas is playing Mississippi State on the road. You know the drill

Texas is 5-2 and likely needs to win out for the Longhorns to have any shot at making the College Football Playoff for the first time since the 2024 season, starting with a home game against a beat-up Mississippi State team on Saturday night, where the home team is favored by 20.5 points.

What could go wrong? Well, after falling to unranked Oklahoma and Florida, the Longhorns fought hard to defeat Ole Miss at home last Saturday, but lost starting left tackle Trevor Goosby for the year, while star transfer receiver Cam Coleman avoided what could have been a serious injury. I doubt Texas will lose, but expect the Bulldogs to fight hard amid adversity.