The Texas A&M offense delivered an uneven performance in a 48-20 win over Arizona State, and the program’s head coach made clear that the running game must improve before SEC play begins.
Coach Mike Elko was candid in the weekly press conference about where corrections are needed, and his comments were captured in reporting by Sports Illustrated, including his assessment that the rushing performance “wasn’t good enough” and that blocking breakdowns occurred at multiple levels.
Key Takeaways
- Texas A&M’s defense forced three straight turnovers in the fourth quarter, including two interceptions returned for touchdowns.
- The Aggies rushed for 92 yards against Arizona State after gaining 236 yards on the ground in the season opener versus Missouri State.
- The game was a tight 24-20 entering the fourth quarter before the defense swung momentum with consecutive takeaways.
- Head coach Mike Elko called the rushing output “not good enough” and identified blocking breakdowns as the primary cause.
Why the Texas A&M offense struggled vs Arizona State
Elko’s appraisal landed squarely on the offensive line and execution in the run game.
Against Arizona State the offense produced far fewer rushing yards than the week prior, and the coach said the team must “be able to run the ball more effectively than that.”
Blocking breakdowns at all three levels
Elko described what he saw on tape as “breakdowns at all three levels,” calling out the need to “do a better job of blocking up front” and to “do a better job of running behind the blocks.”
That critique touched players across the offense, including perimeter responsibility and interior push, and the issue was framed as systemic rather than tied to a single ball carrier.
Rushing and turnover context vs Arizona State
| Category | Missouri State (season opener) | Arizona State |
|---|---|---|
| Rushing yards | 236 rushing yards reported in the season opener | 92 rushing yards in the Arizona State game |
| Fourth-quarter situation | No comparable late-game swing noted in provided account | Game was 24-20 entering the fourth quarter before defense forced three straight turnovers |
| Turnover impact | Not highlighted in the provided Missouri State recap | Two interceptions were returned for touchdowns during the fourth-quarter sequence |
SEC implications for Texas A&M after the ASU win
Texas A&M hosts Kentucky at Kyle Field in its SEC opener, a matchup that puts additional urgency on correcting the rushing attack.
The teams meet for the first time since 2018, with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 PM, and Elko has framed the running game as a determinative factor for the stretch ahead. He warned “we are not going to be very successful much longer if we don’t find better ways to run the football,” signaling potential adjustments to personnel usage, play design and emphasis in practice.
