Texas A&M-South Carolina likely hinges on who succeeds on the ground

There was a stunning upset. There have been close calls. There have been blowouts.

There have been various margins of as little as three points and as many as 45 in Texas A&M’s eight-game football series with South Carolina.

But there has never been a South Carolina victory.

The Aggies (3-3, 1-2) aspire to keep their win streak intact on Saturday when they visit South Carolina (4-2, 1-2) for a 6:30 p.m. CT Southeastern Conference clash at Williams-Brice Stadium.

That eight-game win streak — which began in 2014 with a 52-24 upset of the ninth-ranked Gamecocks — is something to brag about.

But nothing to talk about.

“Each team is a totally different animal,” A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said earlier this week. “You have to earn your victory each week with the things you do and how you practice. We don’t ever speak on that (streak).”

Maybe not. But South Carolina coach Shane Beamer admittedly has discussed it with his team.

“We talked about it a little bit,” Beamer said. “We haven’t (won). Certainly, that’s disappointing. That’s a game we need to win at some point. Give A&M credit, but that has nothing to do with the 2022 game. There are a bunch of guys that are going to be playing on Saturday night that never even played Texas A&M.”

Which, of course, means those Gamecocks have never lost to A&M.

Among them is quarterback Spencer Rattler, who transferred from Oklahoma.

His presence is a major reason South Carolina faithful are optimistic they can finally defeat A&M.

Another reason is A&M’s own quarterback play.

Haynes King — who was battered in a 24-20 loss to Alabama two weeks ago — has been inconsistent. He even lost the starting job but regained it when Max Johnson sustained an injury in a loss to Mississippi State.

Fisher has praised King for showing improvement against Alabama. Beamer has lauded Rattler despite him having more interceptions (8) than touchdown passes (5).

Quarterback play is always important, but the respective running games may determine whether A&M’s streak extends or South Carolina’s skid ends.

Jamie Maury, TexAgs

Devon Achane has accumulated 528 total rushing yards this season, including a season-high 159 vs. Arkansas. 

South Carolina has rushed for 179 yards or more in each of its last three games. It’s probably not a coincidence the Gamecocks have won all three.

They’re hoping running backs MarShawn Lloyd and Juju McDowell can exploit the A&M defense, which is ranked 13th in the SEC against the run.

Fisher knows the Aggies must improve in that regard. They allowed 288 rushing yards in the loss to Alabama.

“The (defensive) schemes were very sound,” Fisher maintained. “We’ve just got to fit the right things. Sometimes you just got to not get blocked. Not get two guys in one gap. How you fit it and how you fill it. A lot of technical things. The ability is there. We’ve just got to get more technical with what we’re doing.”

South Carolina must show improvement in run defense, too.

The Gamecocks, who are ranked 11th in the SEC against the run, also must do a better job to contain A&M running back Devon Achane, who’s fourth in the SEC in rushing.

He’s gained 332 yards in the last three games against Arkansas, Mississippi State and Alabama.

“He has great feet. He’s got world-class speed,” Beamer said. “We talk about gang tackling and get 11 guys around the ball and flying to the ball. It’s going to be the same thing this week with these guys because he’s really, really, really talented. And they do so much with him out of the backfield as well because of his speed.”