The South Carolina Gamecocks may not carry a national ranking into Saturday's SEC showdown at Kyle Field, but Texas A&M's coaching staff isn't fooled by the stats. During his weekly press conference, the Aggies' head coach Mike Elko spoke candidly about what he expects from a South Carolina team that has quietly been one of the most battle-tested teams in the nation.
“Now we turn our attention moving forward to a really challenging South Carolina team,” Elko said. “They’ve played one of the most challenging schedules in the country… This will be their fifth straight game against a team ranked in the top 12 or higher. I can’t imagine that’s happened often in college football. I don't know what they did to the scheduling gods to get the schedule that they've gotten. In my opinion, this is an extremely talented team, much better than their record would indicate.”
It's rare to hear an SEC opponent heap that level of respect towards a team losing hope in even bow eligibility, but it is clear that the Aggies have not forgotten what happened last year in Columbia.
Sellers Still on Their Minds
When asked about South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers, Elko didn't hesitate to reference the lingering scars from 2024.
“I see the same big, physical, athletic kid that ran all over us and threw all over us last year,” he admitted. “He absolutely lit us up last year. If we want to have any level of success on Saturday, we’ll have to understand what the challenge is this year.”
That performance still lingers in the minds of the Aggies' defense, and they know this year's version of Sellers is even more experienced, sharper, and surrounded by speed.
Respect for Nyck Harbor and Offensive Firepower
The Aggies' head coach also singled out Gamecock wide receiver Nyck Harbor as a generational talent.
They've got one of the most physically impressive wide receivers I've seen in 30 years of college football. You know, Nyck Harbor's 6-5, 235. He's probably going to run 4.27 or faster at the combine. I hope I didn't insult him. I hope he's not completely faster than that," Elko said. "But he can absolutely fly. DBs are running away from him on the snap, and he still runs past them. It's one of the most impressive things I've ever seen."
That kind of respect in this conference is telling. Opponents aren't just scheming for Harbor's Olympic-caliber speed, they are bracing for it.
The “Blank Slate” Factor
With South Carolina coming off a bye week and shifting offensive play-calling duties after firing OC Mike Shula, the Aggies are expecting some wrinkles and unpredictability.
"Yeah, it's really challenging. It's really a blank slate that they've had a week to look at our defense, a week to formulate a plan based off everything they've learned about our defense," he said. "You would assume that they're going to have a really, really strong plan coming into the game."
Translation: Texas A&M knows South Carolina is about to unveil something new, and they are preparing to adjust on the fly.
Gamecock Perspective: Respect Earned, Not Given
For South Carolina, this week's press conference felt a little like validation. Even in a season full of uphill battles, the Gamecocks have still managed to earn gunuine SEC respect. The Aggies remember getting "embarrassed up and down the field" last year, ad they are prepaing for a fight.
Meanwhile, the Gamecocks are rested, recalibrated, and carrying quiet confidence into College Station.