Will Texas A&M Experience another November Slide with Starting QB Trevor Knight Out for the Season

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin was hoping this would be the season the Aggies could avoid another second half slide. In each of the previous three seasons, a tough November SEC schedule has upended promising starts seeing the Aggies go a combined 6-6, or 2-2 in all three campaigns. The 2016 season had a different feel with senior dual-threat quarterback Trevor Knight leading the way, but an announcement on Tuesday may lead to another disappointing November in College Station.

The Aggies were soaring, even after a tough 33-14 road loss to No. 1 Alabama. The College Football Playoff Selection Committee slotted A&M (6-1) No. 4 in their 2016 opening rankings. All A&M had to do in theory was win out with five games left against New Mexico State, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Texas-San Antonio, and LSU. The prevailing thought was just get past LSU.

Now the Aggies are 7-2, 4-2, on the season after dropping a 35-28 SEC road contest to unranked Mississippi State. To add salt to the wound, Knight is finished for the regular season after diving into the end zone against MSU landing on his right throwing shoulder. November has hit College Station hard yet again.

With Knight out, Jake Hubenak was put into a familiar situation as seen last season, taking over for a starting A&M quarterback. Hubenak completed 11-of-17 passes for 222 yards with two touchdowns and one interception against Mississippi State but could not rally the Aggies for the needed victory.

Knight’s loss to the Aggies cannot be diminished. Even though he is not the most accurate of quarterbacks, he still had big play potential passing for 1,911 yards with 13 scores with just six picks in 284 pass attempts. The added weapon Knight brings to the gridiron was his ability to gain yards on the ground. Knight is the team’s second leading rusher with 583 yards and another 10 touchdowns scored.

Hubenak enters the Ole Miss game as the assumed starter having completed 23-of-38 passes for 350 yards with three scores and one pick on the season. Hubenak, a junior college transfer from Blinn, played in six games a year ago with one start connecting on 40-of-75 passes for 399 yards with three touchdowns. Playing in big games is nothing new, he started the Music City Bowl against Louisville.

Texas A&M could very well win out. With three wins over Top 25 teams in UCLA, Arkansas, and Tennessee and a Sept. 17 victory over then- unranked Auburn paying off after the Tigers turned around their season now ranked inside the Top 10 in the Associate Press polls, the Aggies have an opportunity to play in a BCS bowl. The injury bug has hit Ole Miss, a team already struggling. Starting quarterback Chad Kelly is out for the season with an ACL tear. A&M should beat UTSA. LSU is always tough but that contest is at Kyle Field.

A 10-win season could still be had if Sumlin rallies the team. A big part of the offense will be lost without Knight in the ground game forcing the running backs to pick up the slack. The offense in the pocket changes allowing linebackers to drop back into coverage instead of fearing Knight’s ability to shred a defense with his legs. Sumlin and offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone are well respected for their offensive minds, expect A&M’s passing game to keep humming along, perhaps even a little bit better. The difference will be on passing downs seeing SEC ends crashing down on Hubenak. Can he extend plays by avoiding pressure and pick up extra yards to keep drives alive?

The Aggies will be put to the test on Saturday, Nov. 12, in a home game against the Rebels. Kickoff is at 7:30 ET with the SEC Network providing coverage.

Photo credit: fansided.com; No. 8 Trevor Knight rolls out against Mississippi State.