Texas A&M Hosts No. 9 Tennessee for Blackout in College Station

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M is back at Kyle Field in College Station on Saturday, Nov. 14, to host No. 9 Tennessee in an Operation Blackout matchup that kicks off at 2 p.m. Central Time, with live television coverage.

The Aggies enter the week at 4-5 overall and 1-5 in the SEC after falling 9-17 at No. 21 South Carolina on Nov. 7, their second straight loss. They are 4-1 at home this season and still looking for a first road win. Saturday is the first chance since that trip to play in front of a home crowd at a stadium listed at 102,733.

This is the third Operation Blackout game of the Mike Elko era. In 2024 the Aggies took down then-No. 8 LSU by a 38-23 score, and last year they beat Mississippi State 31-9, both in blackout games. A win this week would be Elko’s 40th as a head coach, the program’s first victory over a ranked opponent since a win against No. 19 Missouri on Nov. 8, 2025, and a third blackout victory in as many tries under Elko.

Tennessee holds a 3-2 edge in the all-time series, but the Aggies lead 2-1 in games played as SEC members. The programs have not met since 2023, and Saturday will be only the second visit to College Station. The first, on Oct. 8, 2016, went to Texas A&M, 45-38. Every earlier meeting has included at least one AP Top 25 team, and the higher-ranked club has won the last four.

Elko, at his Monday game-week news conference, said the South Carolina outing had some bright spots but did not meet the team’s standard, and that the staff and players have to return to work. He framed Saturday as a chance to recover and show what the program is about, and he said blackout games have been a strong setting at Kyle Field, this time with a top-10 opponent coming in. He also said Tennessee now sits No. 1 in the SEC in rushing, with a talented running back, a physical offensive line and two elite tackles.

That rushing attack will test a defense that has been the nation’s toughest in the red zone this season, allowing points on 61.9 percent of 21 trips, with 11 touchdowns and two field goals given up. Quarterback Marcel Reed is one touchdown pass short of 50 for his career, a mark reached by only three Aggies before him: Kellen Mond, who finished with 71, Jerrod Johnson at 67, and Johnny Manziel at 63. Running back Rueben Owens II moved past 1,500 career rushing yards after gaining 137 against South Carolina. Kicker David Olano is 16-for-17 on field goals, leading the SEC in makes and in accuracy at 94.1 percent.

Kickoff is set for 2 p.m., with the game on live television, the Texas A&M Radio Network, and SiriusXM channels 132 or 250. Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff. Texas A&M Transportation Services opens gameday parking at 7 a.m. Limited pay-on-arrival spaces near the Bush Library, the Bonfire Memorial and Agronomy Road cost $25 to $40, and most of those areas have shuttles. Drivers are being pointed toward FM 2818 or Highway 6, because pregame road closures start 4.5 hours before kickoff or 7:30 in the morning, whichever is later. Home-game parking rules start at 5:30 Friday evening and continue through Saturday. The City of College Station also enforces parking in the neighborhoods around campus so emergency vehicles can get through.

Construction on Marion Pugh Drive has the city using a special traffic pattern on home football Saturdays. From halftime until two hours after the game, drivers trying to reach homes on Marion Pugh should take Penberthy Boulevard north, then make a right onto George Bush Drive West, continue to Marion Pugh Drive, and then turn south toward Holleman Drive West. The intersection of Luther Street and Marion Pugh Drive will be shut down. The city says to follow posted devices and directions from traffic personnel.

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