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Texas A&M has turned into an offensive powerhouse since handing over the reins to quarterback Ryan Tannehill, whose dazzling play has helped the program win four straight games for the first time since 2006.
It’s safe to say his fifth test will be his toughest.
Ninth-ranked Nebraska comes into College Station for Saturday night’s showdown fresh off its finest defensive performance in a decade, an effort it would love to replicate against the No. 18 Aggies as it looks to seal a spot in the Big 12 championship game.
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Jerrod Johnson was the conference’s preseason Offensive Player of the Year, but Texas A&M (7-3, 4-2) has gotten itself turned around since handing the job to Tannehill on Oct. 23 at Kansas.
That 45-10 win was just the start of a resurgence for the Aggies. They’ve averaged 488.3 yards - 312.0 through the air - in their past four victories, a stretch in which Tannehill has thrown 10 touchdown passes.
Texas A&M fell behind 30-14 last Saturday at Baylor before bouncing back. Tannehill’s 12-yard TD pass to Ryan Swope was the first of four unanswered Aggies scores, the final three coming on Cyrus Gray runs as Mike Sherman’s team turned a 16-point deficit into a 42-30 win.
“People thought we went (into halftime) screaming, but we just talked about keeping composure, no panic, stay the course and we will win this football game,” Sherman said. “I think the more you’re around your guys, the more they buy into what you are doing and the more success hopefully you will have.”
Gray, who finished with 137 yards and four TDs, has stepped in for sophomore starter Christine Michael, who broke his leg Oct. 30. He’s topped 100 yards during each of the Aggies’ four straight wins, totaling eight touchdowns.
While the offense has taken off during the winning streak, the competition hasn’t exactly been stiff. Tannehill’s put up big numbers against the nation’s 118th-, 75th- and 108th-ranked pass defenses the past three weeks.
Nebraska (9-1, 5-1) provides a much different challenge. The Cornhuskers allow just 140.2 yards per game through the air - second behind TCU - and are coming off one of the finest defensive performances in the program’s storied history. Coach Bo Pelini’s team surrendered 87 total yards - 15 passing - in a 20-3 win over Kansas on Saturday.
It was the fewest yards allowed by a Nebraska team since holding Baylor to 84 yards in 2000.
“I’ve never been involved in anything close to that,” said Pelini’s brother Carl, the Cornhuskers’ defensive coordinator. “These days in college football, teams are hanging up 700 yards. So to hold a team to 200 or 300 is considered a good defensive game. Holding a team to 87 yards is unbelievable.”
Nebraska’s defense certainly has Sherman’s attention, particularly since cornerback Alfonzo Dennard returned Saturday after missing most of the last two games with a concussion. Combined with Prince Amukamara, the ‘Huskers have two of the nation’s top shutdown corners.
“They lock you up on the perimeter and they work hard to take those receivers out of the game,” Sherman said. “They play man coverage as good as I have ever seen.”
Offensively, Nebraska welcomed back quarterback Taylor Martinez from an ankle sprain the star freshman suffered in the team’s Oct. 30 win against Missouri. Martinez wasn’t a huge factor against Kansas - he threw for 167 yards and an interception and ran for 71 yards - but he was just happy to be back on the field.
“It was very important for me to get back out there,” he said. “It’s my team and no one else’s team. For me, it’s about establishing a rhythm for when we play Texas A&M and Colorado.”
Roy Helu and Rex Burkhead combined for 162 yards and two touchdowns to complement Martinez. It would seem that running on the Aggies won’t be easy, but after entering the Baylor game sixth in rushing defense at 92.3 yards per game, A&M gave up 291 yards on the ground against the Bears.
While Nebraska only needs to win one of its final two games to wrap up the North for a second straight season, an Aggies win would keep them alive in the South. No team other than Oklahoma or Texas has represented the South in the Big 12 championship game since A&M went in 1998.
The Cornhuskers have come from behind in the fourth quarter to win their last two trips to College Station, though this is their first visit since 2006.
It’s safe to say his fifth test will be his toughest.
Ninth-ranked Nebraska comes into College Station for Saturday night’s showdown fresh off its finest defensive performance in a decade, an effort it would love to replicate against the No. 18 Aggies as it looks to seal a spot in the Big 12 championship game.
AdChoices
Jerrod Johnson was the conference’s preseason Offensive Player of the Year, but Texas A&M (7-3, 4-2) has gotten itself turned around since handing the job to Tannehill on Oct. 23 at Kansas.
That 45-10 win was just the start of a resurgence for the Aggies. They’ve averaged 488.3 yards - 312.0 through the air - in their past four victories, a stretch in which Tannehill has thrown 10 touchdown passes.
Texas A&M fell behind 30-14 last Saturday at Baylor before bouncing back. Tannehill’s 12-yard TD pass to Ryan Swope was the first of four unanswered Aggies scores, the final three coming on Cyrus Gray runs as Mike Sherman’s team turned a 16-point deficit into a 42-30 win.
“People thought we went (into halftime) screaming, but we just talked about keeping composure, no panic, stay the course and we will win this football game,” Sherman said. “I think the more you’re around your guys, the more they buy into what you are doing and the more success hopefully you will have.”
Gray, who finished with 137 yards and four TDs, has stepped in for sophomore starter Christine Michael, who broke his leg Oct. 30. He’s topped 100 yards during each of the Aggies’ four straight wins, totaling eight touchdowns.
While the offense has taken off during the winning streak, the competition hasn’t exactly been stiff. Tannehill’s put up big numbers against the nation’s 118th-, 75th- and 108th-ranked pass defenses the past three weeks.
Nebraska (9-1, 5-1) provides a much different challenge. The Cornhuskers allow just 140.2 yards per game through the air - second behind TCU - and are coming off one of the finest defensive performances in the program’s storied history. Coach Bo Pelini’s team surrendered 87 total yards - 15 passing - in a 20-3 win over Kansas on Saturday.
It was the fewest yards allowed by a Nebraska team since holding Baylor to 84 yards in 2000.
“I’ve never been involved in anything close to that,” said Pelini’s brother Carl, the Cornhuskers’ defensive coordinator. “These days in college football, teams are hanging up 700 yards. So to hold a team to 200 or 300 is considered a good defensive game. Holding a team to 87 yards is unbelievable.”
Nebraska’s defense certainly has Sherman’s attention, particularly since cornerback Alfonzo Dennard returned Saturday after missing most of the last two games with a concussion. Combined with Prince Amukamara, the ‘Huskers have two of the nation’s top shutdown corners.
“They lock you up on the perimeter and they work hard to take those receivers out of the game,” Sherman said. “They play man coverage as good as I have ever seen.”
Offensively, Nebraska welcomed back quarterback Taylor Martinez from an ankle sprain the star freshman suffered in the team’s Oct. 30 win against Missouri. Martinez wasn’t a huge factor against Kansas - he threw for 167 yards and an interception and ran for 71 yards - but he was just happy to be back on the field.
“It was very important for me to get back out there,” he said. “It’s my team and no one else’s team. For me, it’s about establishing a rhythm for when we play Texas A&M and Colorado.”
Roy Helu and Rex Burkhead combined for 162 yards and two touchdowns to complement Martinez. It would seem that running on the Aggies won’t be easy, but after entering the Baylor game sixth in rushing defense at 92.3 yards per game, A&M gave up 291 yards on the ground against the Bears.
While Nebraska only needs to win one of its final two games to wrap up the North for a second straight season, an Aggies win would keep them alive in the South. No team other than Oklahoma or Texas has represented the South in the Big 12 championship game since A&M went in 1998.
The Cornhuskers have come from behind in the fourth quarter to win their last two trips to College Station, though this is their first visit since 2006.
