TEXAS A&M VS. UCLA
Series history: Texas A&M leads 3-2. Key players: TAMU — WR Christian Kirk, RB Trayveon Williams, DT Kingsley Keke; UCLA — QB Josh Rosen, LT Kolton Miller, DT Jacob Tuioti-Mariner Who has the edge:
Offense – Texas A&M. The quarterback situation is unsettled, but the Aggies have two big-time playmakers back in Kirk and Williams. Kirk registered his second straight productive campaign, hauling in 83 balls for 928 yards and nine TDs, and Williams shined as a freshman, rushing for 1,057 yards and eight TDs on 156 attempts. The Bruins have a new offensive staff after dropping six of their final seven games
Defense – Even. The Aggies weren’t stopping a lot of people before defensive end Myles Garrett went to the Cleveland Browns with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. They surrendered nearly 200 rushing yards per outing in 2016. The Bruins were slightly better against the run, but they sent six defensive players to NFL teams, leaving big holes. Special teams – Texas A&M. Returning punter Shane Tripucka averaged 42.9 yards on 69 punts last season. K Daniel LaCamera wasn’t as reliable, making only 17 of 24 attempts.
Notable: The Aggies won the first meeting with UCLA in College Station, but they needed overtime to do it, prevailing 31-24 after QB Trevor Knight’s 1-yard TD run in the first OT. UCLA won 29-23 in the 1997 Cotton Bowl and 21-0 in 1955 in Los Angeles, where their first three matchups took place. About Texas A&M: Coach Kevin Sumlin, long removed from his Johnny Manziel heyday, is on the hot seat after three consecutive 8-5 campaigns or four straight seasons of .500 or worse in SEC play. They lost four of their final five games in 2016.
About UCLA: The Bruins sputtered down the stretch, too, finishing 4-8 and outside the postseason for the first time since going 4-8 in 2010. Their struggles led to wholesale changes on coach Jim Mora’s staff, with Jedd Fisch as the new OC, Jimmie Dougherty the new receivers coach and Hank Fraley the new offensive line coach.