Five things to know before the Tigers' first road test

The last time we saw No. 9 Mizzou take the field, the Tigers were surviving a scare against the Vanderbilt Commodores (2-2, 0-1 SEC) in a 2OT finish.

Mizzou (4-0, 1-0 SEC) won 30-27 and entered its bye week undefeated.

Now the Tigers hit the road for the first time this season and face a difficult task with a trip to College Station against No. 25 Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0 SEC).

Head coach Mike Elko's Aggies trailed Arkansas 17-14 in the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, but quarterback Marcel Reed led a 75-yard drive that capped off a game-tying touchdown turned in the Aggies' favor.

Texas A&M left the DFW area with its second SEC win, 21-17.

“Obviously we have a tremendous challenge going on the road this week and playing a top-25 team in one of the best stadiums in college football,” head coach Eli Drinkwitz said at Tuesday’s media release. “You know, Mike Elko has done a great job in his time as head football coach. And with this being his first year, I think he’s doing a really great job of developing the identity of this team.”

As the Tigers prepare to take on the Aggies and their infamous “12th” at Kyle Field. To compete, here’s what you need to know…

Details on Mizzou football at Texas A&M

Start: 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 5th

Where: Kyle Field (College Station, Texas)

TV: ABC

Radio: Tiger Radio Network

Betting line: Texas A&M is a 2.5-point favorite (via FanDuel).

Over/Under: 48.5

Five things you should know

1. This is the first time the Tigers have been underdogs this season. With Drinkwitz calling Kyle Field the “first stadium in college football,” there's no doubt that College Station is one of the most hostile environments the Tigers can enter in their first tryout, especially against a top-25 team.

2. A&M's starting QB this week will be a mid-game decision. QB Conner Weigman is dealing with a shoulder injury, which will sideline him for A&M's games against Florida and Arkansas. Elko called Weigman, who has thrown for 225 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions this season, a game-time decision on Wednesday's SEC coaches conference call. If it's not Weigman, the Tigers will face freshman QB Reed. In three starts, Reed has thrown for 585 yards with eight total touchdowns (six passes).

3. A&M has a top-15 rushing offense. Expect the Aggies to run the ball. A&M ranks 13th in rushing offense, averaging 231.6 yards per game and eight rushing TDs. The running attack is largely led by RB Le'Veon Moss with his 471 yards (third best in the SEC) and three touchdowns. The Aggies' passing game, on the other hand, ranks 116th in the FBS with 160.8 yards per game.

4. Watch out for sophomore DB Marcus Ratcliffe in A&M's secondary. Ratcliffe leads the SEC (tied with Arkansas' TJ Metcalf) with three interceptions so far in his first season with the Aggies. Ratcliffe was named San Diego State's Most Outstanding Defensive Freshman last year after recording 49 tackles (31 solo), one pass breakup and one interception.

5. Under Drinkwitz, the Tigers are 4-1 after a bye week. There was little sign that the Tigers were unable to play after the bye. The only loss under Drinkwitz was a 30-21 loss to No. 2 Georgia in 2023.