AT&T Stadium plays host to the Southwest Classic with No. 14 Texas A&M facing off with Arkansas as both begin SEC conference play.
With SEC conference play starting up, Texas A&M knows that they're new look defense must be up to the challenge unlike the last couple seasons. New defensive coordinator John Chavis knows very well the physical challenge that SEC play presents, as well as the challenge Arkansas offensive line brings to the table.
Arkansas prides itself on being physical and boasts the largest offensive line in the country with an average weight of 327.6 pounds among its starting five. The Razorbacks might be struggling early on this season being 1-2 coming into this contest but will give the A&M's defense their toughest challenge to date from a pure physicality standpoint.
The Razorbacks offensive line is the largest in the country, college or professional, and they have used that size to prevent quarterback Brandon Allen from being sacked all season. A total of 10 different receivers have caught a pass for the Razorbacks this season and is a testament to the time Allen has had to decipher the opponent's secondary and spread the ball around.
The Aggies will have to game plan for Arkansas' tight end Hunter Henry, who leads the Razorbacks with 14 receptions through two games this season. The preseason All-American has 191 receiving yards and a TD thus far in 2015. Expect running back Alex Collins to have a busy day as well, looking for holes in the A&M defense, a game plan the Aggies struggled with the last time these two teams met.
Texas A&M have started off the year strong with an impressive win over a then ranked Arizona State team and followed that up with wins over Ball State and Nevada at Kyle Field. The Aggies mental game may be tested more than anything as they may underestimate the 1-2 Razorbacks, but with head coach Kevin Sumlin at the helm, a letdown seems unlikely.
Perhaps the biggest key to victory for A&M is to limit the number of turnovers and that all starts with the quarterback Kyle Allen. Thus far, the Aggies have allowed teams to hang around in games due to frequently coughing up the rock or throwing interceptions. Ball State and Nevada may have seem outmatched, but an Arkansas team with its back to the wall will certainly take advantage of every opportunity provided. A&M needs to strike early and often, as a tie game late may not play well in its favor.
A win for the Aggies could push the program to top 10 in the AP and put them in great shape in regards to the SEC West. Once considered to be a potential playoff dark horse by some, the Razorbacks may be in jeopardy of missing out on bowl season entirely if they do not right the ship soon.
For Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema, a victory represents a chance to start 1-0 in conference play despite a rough start to 2015, as well avoid hot seat rumors in his third year with the program. As for A&M, Myles Garrett and company will be working to put pressure on an Arkansas offensive line yet to allow a QB sack this season.
This game should play out to be very tight for the first 30 minutes of play but this A&M team is too talented on both sides of the ball to not take control in the second half. The sack-less streak comes to an end for the Arkansas offensive line as Garrett, Daeshon Hall, and the rest of the A&M defensive line brings pressure all evening long and pull out the victory.