Texas A&M stock report, who shined in Saturday’s game against Arkansas

There aren’t many undefeated teams left in college football, but after Week 8, the No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies remain among the unblemished—and the only SEC team still without a loss. A&M outlasted a dynamic Arkansas offense to secure a 45–42 rode win following a two-hour weather delay.

With five games remaining, it’ll be tough not to drop one, especially with the number of upsets happening lately—it feels like only a matter of time. However, Coach Mike Elko has ingrained in the team that it’s a week-to-week league. They can enjoy their accomplishments but must avoid getting too high or too low during the ride. In a game where emotions could have taken over, the offense stayed composed and managed to score almost at will.

The Aggie defense ran into one of the best offenses in the country, and while they made a few plays, the Razorbacks’ speed was simply too much to contain. After the game, both Coach Elko and safety Marcus Ratcliffe praised the offense for keeping them in the game, while acknowledging that kind of defensive performance cannot happen again.

Here are the individuals who stood out—and those who need to elevate their game after Week 8:

Stock Up: Marcel Reed

Saturday was Marcel Reed’s best performance of the season. He looked poised in the pocket, and aside from a few high throws, he was highly accurate and used his legs effectively to pick up crucial yards. More importantly, he protected the ball, scoring four total touchdowns with zero turnovers.

Game Stats: 23/32 completions, 280 passing yards, 3 touchdowns / 6 rushes, 55 yards, 1 touchdown

Stock Up: EJ Smith

With Le’Veon Moss sidelined for a few weeks, the Aggies were missing some power and size in the lineup. They leaned into a running-back-by-committee approach on Saturday, and Smith delivered with several hard runs in his best outing of the season. His touches have been limited this year, but he’s made the most of every opportunity.

Game Stats: 7 carries, 52 yards, 7.4 average, 1 touchdown / 1 reception, 7 yards

Stock Up: Ashton Bethel-Roman

There’s been plenty of buzz around Ashton Bethel-Roman and his raw talent. He’s been behind a stacked, experienced wide receiver room, but made significant strides in the offseason to earn playing time. On Saturday, he proved he can be trusted in big moments, hauling in several clutch catches.

Game Stats: 4 receptions, 83 yards, 1 touchdown

Stock Up: Rueben Owens II

Rueben Owens has become the workhorse back, and he’s rounding into midseason form at just the right time. He showcased power, speed, and receiving ability en route to a multi-score game. If the Aggies want to make a playoff push, they’ll need big performances from the run game—and Owens will be central to that effort.

Game Stats: 14 carries, 69 yards, 4.9 average, 2 touchdowns / 2 receptions, 27 yards

Stock Down: The entire defense

When your leading tacklers are all in the secondary, it’s rarely a good sign. Too many receivers were left wide open, and the defensive line struggled to set the edge against a mobile QB like Taylen Green. Most concerning was the sheer number of missed tackles across the board. No defense is perfect all season, but there are clear issues to clean up before next Saturday.

Game Stats: Points - 42 / Total Yards - 527 / First Downs - 25 / Sacks - 4 / TFL - 8 / Turnovers - 0

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: A&M football stock report following Week 8, 45-42 win over Arkansas