It took 14 weeks, but the Texas A&M Aggies football team suffered its first loss of the season and was eliminated from the SEC title game in Atlanta for the second year in a row by the Texas Longhorns.
In a game where you need your stars to show up big, it just didn’t happen. Outside of KC Concepcion, there was not much to praise in this game. All of the fraud allegations gained some credibility after the Aggies looked so poor in the second half.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAfter a full season of making the correct adjustments, they made all the wrong ones. The offensive play-calling appeared disjointed, and the defense allowed a team that had struggled to run the ball all season to record its first 100-yard rusher of the year.
Achieving an undefeated record is exceptionally challenging and rare. So, losing to your rival, regardless of rankings, is the one game of the season that everyone will consider a toss-up, especially in the SEC.
From the outside looking in, losing this game in the grand scheme of the postseason is not the end of the world. However, given that Texas A&M has never been to the SEC Championship game, the silver lining of possibly hosting a home game at Kyle Field is not shining very brightly right now.
Here are the individuals who stood out—and those who need to elevate their game after Week 14:
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementStock Up: KC Concepcion
AUSTIN, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 28: KC Concepcion #7 of the Texas A&M Aggies celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 28, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)If there is one person who brings it every single time he steps on the field, it’s KC Concepcion. He did everything he could to keep the Aggies in the game, whether it was catching, rushing, or punt returns. KC gave A&M a chance to win.
Game Stats: 5 receptions, 57 yards, / 1 carry, 8 yards, 1 touchdown / 4 punt returns, 62 yards
Stock Up: EJ Smith
AUSTIN, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 28: EJ Smith #22 of the Texas A&M Aggies scores a fourth quarter touchdown against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 28, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)EJ Smith has shown significant growth as a runner this season in his limited carries. There is a strong argument that he should have gotten the ball more in this game, given his ability to run through arm tackles and gain tough yards. He scored the only Aggie touchdown in the second half and looked sharp doing it.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGame Stats: 4 carries, 27 yards, 6.8 average, 1 touchdown
Stock Up: Tyler Onyedim
AUSTIN, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 28: Tyler Onyedim #11 of the Texas A&M Aggies sacks Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns during the second quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 28, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)Onyedim was the most disruptive defender on the Aggie side of the ball. He was in the backfield all night and had one of the two sacks logged by A&M. His sack of Arch at the end of the second half pushed the Longhorns out of field goal range.
Game Stats: 5 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 1 QB hit
Stock Down: Marcel Reed
AUSTIN, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 28: Marcel Reed #10 of the Texas A&M Aggies runs with the ball during the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 28, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)Reed had his worst game of the year on the biggest stage of the season. He’s made strides this season, but he struggled with his vision in this game and threw two very poor interceptions at the end, with a chance to get the Aggies within striking distance.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGame Stats: 20/32 completions, 180 passing yards, 2 interceptions / 12 rushes, 72 yards, 1 touchdown
Stock Down: Rueben Owens
AUSTIN, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 28: Rueben Owens II #4 of the Texas A&M Aggies runs with the ball against Kobe Black #6 of the Texas Longhorns during the second quarter Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 28, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)Like Reed, Owens had one of his worst games as well. His biggest issue was that he was too easy to bring down. If a Longhorn just got a hand on him, he went to the ground, and there were several times when, if he had just kept his balance, he could have extended drives. He averaged less than four yards per carry. His highlight of the game was his huge block to help KC score, but that was it.
Game Stats: 13 carries, 49 yards, 3.7 average / 3 receptions, 7 yards
Stock Down: Coaching Staff
AUSTIN, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 28: Head coach Mike Elko of the Texas A&M Aggies looks on during the second quarter of a game against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 28, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)I think the stakes of this game got to everyone on the coaching staff. We all know they aren’t the ones playing on the field, but they do control play-calling and personnel. The second-half adjustments that had been great all year didn’t work this time. Also, the play-calling on both sides of the ball seemed passive and stale.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThere should have been a change at running back because, for whatever reason, Owens could not keep his footing, while EJ Smith seemed to have more spark. No one is perfect every game, but this was a bad day to have a bad game.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: A&M football stock report following Week 14, 27-17 loss to Texas
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