No. 25 Texas A&M thrives in Weigman's return, thumps No. 9 Missouri 41-10

AUSTIN (KXAN) — In the only ranked versus ranked matchup of the college football weekend Saturday, No. 25 Texas A&M made a statement and throttled No. 9 Missouri 41-10 at Kyle Field.

The Aggies' defense shined against a typically potent Missouri offense, holding the Tigers to 254 yards of total offense including 68 rushing yards on 30 carries. Missouri came into the game averaging 206.5 rushing yards per game, No. 26 in FBS. The Aggies kept Tigers quarterback Brady Cook in check, sacking him six times and limiting him to a 42% completion rate, 13-for-31 for 186 yards. The Tigers averaged 265.8 passing yards per game and 472.2 yards of total offense.

"We're capable of being a really good defense," Aggies head coach Mike Elko said. "When we communicate and do things the right way and play the game we're capable of, we can be really good. We still have some things to clean up but we played well."

Connor Weigman returned at quarterback for the Aggies and threw for 276 yards on 18 of 22 passing and Le'Veon Moss rumbled for 138 yards on 12 carries with three scores including a 75-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter. Texas A&M scored all five touchdowns on the ground and rushed for 236 yards on 36 carries.

It was the largest margin of victory over an Associated Press top 10 team in program history for the Aggies.

Elko said he knew after practice Thursday that Weigman would be back on the field after practicing the entire week. Weigman sprained the AC joint in his throwing shoulder during a Week 1 loss to Notre Dame then aggravated it the next week against McNeese State. Elko had said for the past couple of weeks that Weigman would be a game-time decision but he went with redshirt freshman Marcel Reed in those games. Reed was 3-0 as the starter.

"We were really happy with how he practiced and we wanted to make sure pregame that he had the zip we hoped he would have," Elko said. "Once we saw him throwing the ball around like he's capable of, we felt good about it."

While Reed shined in relief during Weigman's recovery, some questioned the idea of Weigman starting when he became healthy enough. Elko had some choice words for those he thought took unnecessary shots at Weigman.

"You can challenge Connor for how he plays and you can be upset for how he throws the football, but some of the stuff that has been said about him is embarrassing. It's absolutely embarrassing the stuff that gets out there on this kid. This kid is a winner and a competitor, and he does everything he needs to do for Texas A&M football. There's a lot of people right now that need to stand up and recognize what they've said over the past three weeks and take some buckin' ownership in it."

Elko introduced the statement as "something that needed to be said" before he took questions from media members.

Texas A&M was perfect in the red zone, scoring in all five trips, and the Aggies averaged 8.8 yards per play on offense and ran three fewer plays than Missouri. Texas A&M was 7 for 12 on third down and gained 18.4 yards per third down attempt.

The No. 25 Aggies (5-1, 3-0 Southeastern) have won five consecutive games and have a bye next week before taking on Mississippi State on the road Oct. 19.