From Treys to Tempests: A&M’s South Carolina Showdown
Texas A&M basketball, under new head coach Bucky McMillan, stormed to sole possession of first place in the SEC with a decisive win over South Carolina. Forward Zach Clemence erupted for a career-night seven three-pointers on eight attempts, while the entire Aggie roster exploited the Gamecocks’ previously stingy perimeter defense for a collective 17 treys—the second-highest mark in school history. A winter storm forced an early tipoff shift, but over 10,000 unflinching fans packed Reed Arena, aided by A&M covering student tickets, to witness the Maroon and White’s defense-first identity morph into an all-out shooting spree.
The Aggies’ sudden metamorphosis from glass-and-steel defenders to sharpshooting juggernauts must have left South Carolina fans wondering if they’d accidentally wandered into a 3-point clinic hosted by NASA. Bucky McMillan’s “everyone shoots” playbook seems suspiciously like a secret formula for eternal athletic youth—perhaps scribbled on the back of a Samford win-loss report. Meanwhile, the 12th Man braved hail, sleet, and the existential dread of winter in Texas just to high-five a comet disguised as a basketball. One can only imagine the recruiting pitch: “Come to College Station—where the weather is unpredictable, the shots are wet, and the student section is single-handedly responsible for global warming.”
Aggie Softball Reloads and Nabs No. 11 Rank
Texas A&M softball enters 2026 ranked No. 11 in the USA Softball Top 25 after consecutive Top 25 finishes under head coach Trisha Ford. The program, coming off a No. 1 seed and WCWS berth last season, has retooled its pitching room following key graduations. Ford and staff secured seven newcomers, including five-star freshman Maddie Sauni and transfers like Oklahoma’s Maya Bland and Texas State’s Harley Vestal. A&M opens its season February 5 in the Aggie Classic against ACU, with No. 1 Texas Tech observing, setting the stage for a potential early upset.
Nothing says “we mean business” like cataloging your new roster like an episode of “Extreme Makeover: Softball Edition.” Coach Ford must have stocked the transfer portal like a Black Friday sale—“Get a five-star slugger free with every incoming senior.” One can almost picture the newcomer orientation: “Welcome to Aggieland—your new home away from home, assuming you can find your way out of the dugout.” And to think, the underdog mentality is alive and well in College Station; nothing screams sustainable greatness like scrapping for spots behind an 11-rank banner and considering ACU your opening-day Goliath. At least the Aggies have plenty of fresh faces to blame when things go off the rails.
PFF’s Top 101 Overflows with Aggie Talent (and a Snub)
Four Texas A&M football players earned spots on Pro Football Focus’s Top 101 list for the 2025 season. Linebacker Taurean York led all Aggies at No. 62 after 72 tackles, a sack, three passes defended, and a fumble recovery. Wideouts Mario Craver (No. 67) and KC Concepcion (No. 76) combined for over 1,800 receiving yards supporting QB Marcel Reed. Edge defender Cashius Howell impressively ranked No. 82 despite 11.5 sacks (seventh nationally) and an AP All-American nod. York and Howell will enter the NFL Draft, while Craver returns as A&M’s expected No. 1 receiver next season.
In case you missed it, PFF evidently discovered that Texas A&M was hiding four gridiron unicorns under its massive marquee—and decided to drop everything to tell you all about it. One wonders if the Aggies supplied complimentary jerseys to each PFF analyst as hush money. Meanwhile, Howell’s “snub” at No. 82—just ahead of two non-Aggies by two spots—must sting worse than an overzealous mascot hug. As York, Howell, Craver, and Concepcion prepare for life with actual NFL teams, one can only hope they’ll remember their humble beginnings: starring on a list curated by strangers who get paid to grade shoulder pads.
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