After 16 seasons in the Big 12, Texas A&M opens its tenure in the SEC in grand style — its first game of the season with a nationally-televised audience. This is just the third meeting in history between the two schools: UF beat TAMU 42-6 in 1962 and the Gators lost to the Aggies 37-14 in the 1977 Sun Bowl in El Paso. Word of note, Gator fans: Florida is 1-7-2 when playing in the state of Texas.
Watch out for …
Inexperienced starters, new environments and who battles early jitters best. This is a game of firsts for both teams in many critical areas. First game of the season for TAMU -—and of redshirt sophomore QB Johnny Manziel's career. First game for Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin and his staff in a new offense. It's the first game as the true starter, on the road in a hostile environment, for Florida QB Jeff Driskel, and the Gators will try to implement an offense of shifts and motions under new and difficult circumstances. Florida established a solid run game last week led by Mike Gillisslee, and could benefit from some early success on the ground to give Driskel a chance to get acclimated. The big question for TAMU is how much having its season opener postponed last week will affect the team.
Antonya English, Times staff writer
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