Texas A&M's fight for bowl eligibility continues vs. Florida on Saturday

Malaise and now malady.

What else could happen in this maledict Texas A&M football season?

As if a four-game losing streak hasn’t wrought enough discomfort, the Aggies are reportedly facing an outbreak of influenza.

The flu is obviously worrisome, but the main concern for the Aggies (3-5) heading into an 11 a.m. Saturday clash with Florida (4-4) is curing whatever ails their sickly run defense.

A&M is among the worst defenses in the country against the run. Meanwhile, Florida is ranked 24th in the nation in rushing offense.

“We’ve got to play the run better,” A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said, stating the obvious. “We’ve got to stop the run. Hopefully, we can score a little bit of points.”

The goal of scoring points starts with freshman quarterback Conner Weigman — if he is available — who made his first start last week and passed for 338 yards and four touchdowns in a 31-28 loss to Ole Miss.

The goal of improved run defense starts with containing Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound sophomore who is a threat on designed runs and scrambles.

Richardson scrambled for a 45-yard touchdown in a win over Utah. He scrambled for an 81-yard touchdown in a loss to LSU.

“You’ve got to get (Richardson) to throw,” Fisher said. “You’ve got to hit him when you can hit him, but you can’t get overzealous and try to rush out of your lane.”

No doubt, A&M would rather Richardson throw than break away for long runs.

But Fisher has to make sure the Aggies aren’t ready to throw in the towel.

The four-game losing streak has ruined a once-promising season... even a modest goal of bowl eligibility is in jeopardy.

The Aggies must win at least three of their remaining four games to qualify for a bowl game.

Though there is not much left for which to play, the Aggies maintain they are still very much invested in this season.

“Yes, we want to fight for bowl eligibility, but at the end of the day, our plan is to win out,” redshirt freshman defensive tackle Albert Regis said. “We fight for it every day. We come together as a team, regardless of what may happen. We collectively come together and continue to give each other love and support because that’s all we’ve got.”

Junior guard Layden Robinson said the Aggies are intent on proving their mettle.

“I feel like we’re just playing for this team for the future … what our identity is going to be,” Robinson said. “Coach Fisher says all the time — and he’s been saying it recently — ‘It’s easy when you’re ahead.’ You figure out what type of person you are, what type of team you are when you’re going through rough times.

“That’s what I feel like we’re playing for. Just to figure out who our identity is going forward. We don’t give up. We fight hard to the end and to the finish. That’s going to be our identity.”