Ball State @ Texas A&M preview
Kyle Field
There's no quarterback controversy as No. 19 Texas A&M prepares to host Ball State on Saturday. Both strong-armed Kyle Allen and speedy Kyler Murray got snaps in the season-opening win against Arizona State and the plan to share time will likely remain as the season progresses.
"If they're both playing at a high level (during the next two weeks), then I could definitely see us packaging things in with both of them (in SEC play)," Aggies offensive coordinator Jake Spavital told reporters on Tuesday. Allen threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another while Murray sparked the offense with 69 rushing yards off the bench. Texas A&M freshman receiver Christian Kirk made an immediate impact, grabbing six catches for 106 yards and a score and recording a 79-yard punt return. The Cardinals will need another big offensive day - after Darian Green had four touchdowns in a 48-36 win against VMI - to keep up with the Aggies.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Texas A&M -28.5
ABOUT BALL STATE (1-0): Three backs shared the majority of the Cardinals' 229 rushing yards, with Green (73 yards, three TDs) and freshman James Gilbert (61 yards, two TDs) reaching the end zone. Jack Milas threw for a career-high 338 yards and a touchdown to Green while four Ball State receivers had at least six catches. Cincinnati transfer Joshua Posley, who played along the defensive line and at linebacker, had eight tackles and forced a fumble in his Cardinals debut.
ABOUT TEXAS A&M (1-0): The upset of Arizona State also featured an impressive debut for John Chavis' new defense, which racked up nine sacks while allowing 291 yards - 164.4 yards less than last year's average. Daeshon Hall (four sacks, two forced fumbles) and Myles Garrett (two sacks, one forced fumble) dominated the front line. "I've said all along that we feel like we have the best two ends, as a pair, in college football," Chavis told reporters on Tuesday. "I think they backed that up Saturday. Now we've got to go do it every week."
EXTRA POINTS
1. Texas A&M reopens Kyle Field on Saturday after a $485-million redevelopment that increased the capacity to a SEC-leading 102,733.
2. The Aggies are 16-0 in nonconference games under fourth-year coach Kevin Sumlin.
3. Green (267 yards) and Kirk (224 yards) are ranked second and third nationally in all-purpose yardage after the season's opening weekend, trailing Maryland's William Likely (296).
PREDICTION: Texas A&M 48, Ball State 17