(Photo credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images)

No. 19 Texas A&M will look to make an early statement against a quality Group of Five opponent when it battles UTSA on Saturday in the season opener for both teams in College Station, Texas.

The Aggies begin their second campaign under coach Mike Elko with dynamic signal-caller Marcel Reed again operating the offense. Texas A&M opened 7-1 last year and was riding high after capturing its first five Southeastern Conference games.

But the final stretch was a step back as the Aggies finished the year with losses in four of their five final outings -- the setback to rival Texas and the Las Vegas Bowl loss to USC representing the low points in that swoon.

Reed, a redshirt sophomore who completed 61 percent of his passes for 1,864 yards and 15 TDs in eight starts, is set to take the next step forward and should be a strength. Elko said Reed has improved his footwork, accuracy and ability to read defenses.

'The second time you do anything, you can do it so much better,' Elko said. 'Maybe not even to the same degree that your third or fourth time. Year One, you don't have any idea. You learn that when you go through experience. I think he came through all of that with a really good understanding of what it takes to be a quarterback in the SEC.'

Reed will work behind an offensive line that returns all five starters and is surrounded by talent at the skill positions, including transfer wideouts Kevin Concepcion (NC State) and Mario Craver (Mississippi State) and All-SEC running back Le'Veon Moss, who's fully recovered from the knee injury he suffered late last season.

It's the Aggies' defense -- especially on the back end -- that remains a huge question mark. Texas A&M needed to replace most of its front seven but had the depth to do so, with that part of the unit buoyed by Taurean York, one of the nation's top linebackers.

The Aggies must be better against the pass after finishing 14th in the SEC in pass yardage allowed last year.

'Over the last nine months, we believe we have solved the problem,' Elko said about his secondary during his Monday press conference. 'We believe we've recruited and coached and did the things we need to do to solve the problems. The reality is we'll find out Saturday night. I'm sure we'll be judged on that.'

Coached by Texas high school football legend Jeff Traylor, the Roadrunners were 7-6 in 2024 and finished tied for sixth in the American Athletic Conference. UTSA will have quarterback Owen McCown back after he started all 13 games for UTSA last season, completing 63 percent of his passes, connecting for 25 touchdowns and uncorking 10 interceptions.

The Roadrunners also return top rusher Robert Henry Jr. (a team-high 706 yards, seven touchdowns and an average of 5.4 yards per carry) to their prolific offense.

'It will be a great opportunity for us to go to see where we are right now,' Traylor said. 'I'm proud of how my team has worked in the preseason and how they prepared. Now it's time to see what that looks like on Saturday.'

UTSA had to replace all 11 starters on defense.

The teams have met twice with the Aggies winning both -- most recently a 45-14 victory in College Station in 2019.

--Field Level Media