Is there any team in the SEC capable of beating Texas A&M in a shootout? Besides Alabama, of course. If not, the Aggies could put up some unbelievable offensive numbers this season. Texas A&M once again broke the 500-yard mark in a 45-33 victory at Arkansas Saturday.
Dating back to last season, the Aggies have gone over 500 yards of total offense in 12 of 17 games Manziel has started in. For the sake of comparison, Texas A&M had 11 games with over 500 yards of offense in 2011 and 2010 while playing in the Big 12 and we have yet to reach the month of October this season. So are the Aggies thriving with a playmaker like Manziel under center? Is it the coaching of Kevin Sumlin? Is the SEC more wide-open than we may have been led to believe compared to the Big 12? If some of the more notable SEC games this month have been any indication, it may actually be a mix of all three.
Johnny Manziel had another fine performance, which has become expected at this point. The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner completed 23-of-30 pass attempts for 281 yards and two touchdowns and did not throw an interception. Manziel also carried the football six times for 59 yards. The entire workload of the running game was shared among the options in the backfield, with Trey Williams rushing for 83 yards and a touchdown, Ben Malena adding 40 yards and two touchdowns and Tra Carson chipping in for 64 yards as well.
Here is what we do know. Texas A&M continues to have one of the top offenses in the SEC, and it remains to be seen just who else on their schedule the rest of the way will have the firepower to top them in any regulation game. On the road at Ole Miss could be entertaining, and a road game at LSU could make for a worthy challenge as well. Ole Miss is next on the schedule for Texas A&M, but that game comes after a bye week. At this point, a bye week could serve Texas A&M well as they look for a way to solve some defensive issues. As good as the offense has been, the defense has been giving up some big plays and big yardage on a regular occasion.
On Saturday Texas A&M gave up 33 points and 483 yards, but the Razorbacks also had two turnovers. In a game in which Texas A&M did not lose the football, being able to match the Aggies on the scoreboard would prove to be much more difficult for Arkansas.