Final thoughts, prediction for today’s game between South Carolina and Texas A&M

There’s a trophy up for grabs on Saturday. You know this, yes? No?

I suppose there’s no real reason for folks in Columbia to know this. In theory, South Carolina can win the James Bonham Trophy should it beat Texas A&M for the first time in the teams’ nine-year series.

Whether you want to call an annual contest in which the Aggies have won all eight previous meetings a “rivalry” might be a stretch, but this is perhaps the most even USC and Texas A&M have been on paper since they started playing in 2014.

“The Bonham Trophy? Is that correct?” Beamer queried during his teleconference ahead of last year’s meeting with Texas A&M. “I was not (aware) until the greatest of all time, (South Carolina sports information director) Steve Fink, mentioned that to me before I got on this call. I’ll be honest with you, I did not (know there was a trophy).”

South Carolina heads into the week fresh off a bye week and two weeks removed from downing then-No. 13 Kentucky in Lexington. The Gamecocks benefited from Wildcats signal-caller Will Levis sitting that one out, but you can’t argue with the result.

Quarterback Spencer Rattler was a wizard in the second half of the contest after a wayward opening 30 minutes. He completed 8 of 10 passes over the final two quarters, recording 128 of his 177 yards in that span. Rattler made the big throws South Carolina fans expected when he committed to the Gamecocks in December, hitting on 6 of his 9 third-down attempts.

So what version of Rattler will we see this weekend? Well, we’ll see.

He’s seemingly turned a corner of late. He’s completed 73% or more of his passes over South Carolina’s three-game win streak. He also turned in his two best passing grades of the year in victories over S.C. State and Charlotte, per Pro Football Focus.

South Carolina will need the more recent version of Rattler if it hopes to beat a Texas A&M team that’s been a mess offensively, but ranks among the Southeastern Conference’s best defenses against the pass.

The Aggies currently sit second in the league in passing defense. It’s also allowing just 5.8 yards per attempt, tied for the eighth-best mark in the country along with Penn State.

“We could have done a lot of stuff better (offensively), but we’re at a good spot,” Rattler said on Tuesday. “We still have everything in front of us. We just got to come to work every day and put our head down and grind. I know that sounds boring, but that’s what it comes down to.”

The caveat here is that Texas A&M has been absolutely gashed on the ground this fall. That lines up nicely for South Carolina running back MarShawn Lloyd and a suddenly competent Gamecocks rushing attack.

The Aggies are currently surrendering 189.83 yards rushing per game, the second-worst mark in the SEC. Four of Texas A&M’s last five opponents ran for at least 175 yards. The only one that didn’t was Mississippi State — who’s air raid offense rarely, if ever, records more than 15 to 20 rushes per game.

Lloyd has been among the bright spots for a South Carolina offense that’s seemingly finding its stride over the last month. He’s recorded 83% of his 434 yards over the last three games. His seven touchdowns rushing also rank tied for the most among SEC tailbacks who’ve played six or fewer games.

“When we run the football, as you guys know, we are successful and we typically win football games we’ve run the ball efficiently,” Beamer said on Tuesday. “MarShawn is doing a great job. He’s healthy, for one. He’s playing fast. He’s playing physical. He’s making people miss.”

Texas A&M’s offense has been a mess for the bulk of 2022. The quarterback carousel that’s bounced between Haynes King and Max Johnson, and even drawn calls for five-star freshman Conner Weigman borderline rivals South Carolina’s crazy signal-caller situation from a year ago.

Running back Devon Achane should be the anchor for an Aggies offense that’s still sorting through identity issues. Texas A&M will need him to produce against a South Carolina defense that largely held All-SEC caliber tailback Chris Rodriguez in check in Lexington two weeks ago.

Freshman receiver Evan Stewart, along with Achane, has been one of the few bright spots for Jimbo Fisher’s unit this fall. Stewart has been thrust into the No. 1 pass-catcher role with Ainias Smith sidelined for the season and responded resoundingly. His 60.6 yards per game are more than five yards better than the next-best SEC freshman. He’ll draw plenty of attention from Cam Smith, Darius Rush and Co.

“With him getting most of the carries this season, I think he’s our main focus in stopping that run,” defensive tackle M.J. Webb said of Achane.

If you don’t know the weird history of the Bonham Trophy, which honors Alamo hero and South Carolina grad James Bonham, it’s worth reading up on. In short, it was supposed to be stored at the state house of the victor. Instead, it’s hidden in some corner of the Alamo and shrouded in mystery.

Gamecocks fans haven’t exactly had a reason to brush up on their Bonham history in recent years. Texas A&M has eviscerated South Carolina in each of the last three meetings, outscoring USC 122-23 in that span.

But, hey, law of averages, right? At some point South Carolina is going to beat Texas A&M. I think it’s this year.

Crack open those Texas history books, folks. You’re going to want to do some reading.

— Prediction: South Carolina 26, Texas A&M 21 —