The Texas Football League (CF25)

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The No. 12 ranked Texas A&M Aggies (5-1) host the No. 22 Baylor Bears (5-1) in a first-place battle between long-time rivals.

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Junior WR Tyler Santiago had 3 catches for 62 yards & a score to help Texas A&M pull off a win over Baylor.






Texas in the Rankings:
#9 Texas A&M, #14 North Texas, #16 Texas Tech

Players of the Week

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[RayLenearl]

Junior QB Ricardo Beckner finished 29/36 for 369 yards & 3 TDs to help SMU earn a 41-35 win in overtime.



Texas Tech (6-2) 24, Houston (4-5) 10
UTSA (2-6) 52, UTEP (3-5) 20
Texas (2-6) 35, Texas State (3-4) 21
Rice (1-6) 31, Sam Houston (3-5) 21
SMU (7-2) 41, Baylor (5-3) 35 OT
Texas A&M (7-1) 35, TCU (4-5) 17







Texas in the Rankings:
#8 Texas A&M, #12 North Texas, #14 Texas Tech, #21 SMU

Players of the Week






CFP Projections

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Battle for Texas Big 12 Supremacy: #21 SMU Visits #8 Texas A&M in Potential Championship Preview

By Betty Jane, Senior Sports Correspondent

November 5, 2030

COLLEGE STATION, TX - The stakes couldn't be higher this Saturday at Kyle Field as the #21 SMU Mustangs (7-2) face off against the #8 Texas A&M Aggies (7-1) in a clash that could very well be a preview of the Texas Big 12 Championship Game.

"These are the games you live for," says Texas A&M head coach Keith Burgess, whose Aggies are riding high after a convincing 35-17 victory over TCU last week. "SMU has proven they're one of the elite teams in this conference, and we know we'll have our hands full on Saturday."

The matchup presents a fascinating contrast in styles. SMU's high-octane passing attack, led by quarterback Layne Castonzo, has been lighting up scoreboards across Texas. Castonzo's 2,412 passing yards lead the conference, and his 31 touchdown passes are tied for the most in the nation.

"Castonzo is playing at an elite level right now," notes SMU head coach Brian Cade. "But we know we're going up against one of the best secondaries in college football."

Indeed, the Aggies' defense, anchored by cornerback Jesus Valles and his seven interceptions (second in the nation), will pose the stiffest test yet for SMU's aerial assault. Last week's defensive showing, featuring Josh Mond's three-sack performance against TCU, earned him Texas Defensive Player of the Week honors.

While much attention will be focused on the passing game, the running back battle between A&M's Carl Bowanko and SMU's Josh Calcaterra could prove decisive. Bowanko leads the Texas Big 12 in both rushing yards (743) and touchdowns (9), while Calcaterra has emerged as a reliable threat, ranking fifth in the conference with 494 yards.

Key Matchups to Watch

SMU WR Alphonso Centeno vs. A&M CB Jesus Valles

- Centeno's 657 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns have made him one of the conference's top threats
- Valles has been a turnover machine with 7 interceptions

A&M DE Josh Mond vs. SMU's Offensive Line

- Mond is coming off a dominant 3-sack performance
- SMU has allowed 22 sacks this season

A&M QB Ronnie Lafferty vs. SMU CB Deion Kiernan

- Lafferty's efficiency (150/200, 2,112 yards) will be tested
- Kiernan's 6 interceptions make him a constant threat

Momentum Watch

Both teams enter with significant momentum. SMU survived a thriller last week, outlasting Baylor 41-35 in overtime, while Texas A&M controlled their game against TCU from start to finish in their 35-17 victory.

Prediction

The combination of home-field advantage and A&M's balanced attack gives them a slight edge, but SMU's explosive passing game could flip the script at any moment. Expect a back-and-forth battle that could come down to the final possession.

Texas A&M 31, SMU 28

Game Information

Date: Saturday, November 9, 2030
Location: Kyle Field, College Station, TX
Kickoff: 3:15 PM CT
Television: Texas Big 12 Network / EsportsTop8 Youtube
Radio: Aggie Radio Network, SMU Radio Network

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[RayLenearl]

Lafferty's Leadership, Aggies' Defense Propel No. 8 Texas A&M to Victory over No. 21 SMU

By Betty Jane, Senior Sports Correspondent

COLLEGE STATION - The No. 8 Texas A&M Aggies defeated the No. 21 SMU Mustangs 21-7 in a hard-fought battle at Kyle Field on Saturday, led by a strong performance from quarterback Ronnie Lafferty.

Texas A&M (8-1) struck first in the opening quarter on a 42-yard field goal by kicker Jimmie Snelly with 3:48 remaining, taking a 3-0 lead.

In the second quarter, the Aggies extended their lead to 6-0 on Snelly's second field goal of the game, this one from 22 yards out with 5:13 left in the half. SMU (7-3) responded just before halftime with a three-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Layne Castonzo to Enrique DiMarco to take a 7-6 lead.

"We knew it was going to be a battle," said Texas A&M head coach Keith Burgess. "SMU is a talented team, and they gave us everything they had. But our guys stayed focused and found a way to win."

Both defenses dominated the third quarter, with neither team able to put any points on the board.

In the final period, Lafferty took over, scoring on a five-yard touchdown run and then running in the 2-point conversion himself to give Texas A&M a 14-7 lead with 9:55 left in the game. He found the end zone again on another 5-yard run later in the quarter, with Snelly adding the extra point to make the final score 21-7.

"Ronnie was outstanding today," Burgess said of his quarterback. "He made big plays with his arm and his legs, and he showed great leadership out there."

Lafferty's performance earned him player of the game honors. The senior completed 21 of 23 passes for 209 yards and added two rushing touchdowns, consistently making plays when his team needed them most.

"I just tried to stay calm and take what the defense gave me," Lafferty said. "The offensive line did a great job, and our receivers made some big catches. It was a total team effort."

The Texas A&M defense was equally impressive, holding SMU to just seven points and coming up with two interceptions, one each by Jesus Valles and Tyrell Troup.

"Our defense really stepped up today," Burgess said. "They made some big stops and took the ball away a couple of times. That was huge for us."

The win keeps No. 8 Texas A&M's playoff hopes alive, while No. 21 SMU suffered their third loss of the season in this top-25 showdown.

"This is a tough loss," said SMU head coach Brian Cade. "But we'll learn from it and get better. Credit to Texas A&M - they made the plays when it mattered most."

Lafferty's clutch play and leadership proved to be the difference, guiding the Aggies to a crucial victory.

"This was a big win for us," Lafferty said. "But we've got to keep getting better every week. We've got big goals this season, and we're going to keep working hard to achieve them."

1st Quarter:
(TAMU) Jimmie Snelly, 42 Yd FG, 3:48

2nd Quarter:
(TAMU) Jimmie Snelly, 22 Yd FG, 5:13
(SMU) Enrique DiMarco 3 Yd pass from Layne Castonzo (Ted Stevens kick), 0:44

4th Quarter:
(TAMU) Ronnie Lafferty, 5 Yd run Ronnie Lafferty (2-Point conversion), 9:55
(TAMU) Ronnie Lafferty, 5 Yd run (Jimmie Snelly kick), 2:10

Scores

#10 North Texas 45, Rice 14
#11 Texas Tech 21, Texas 15
#24 Baylor 35, TCU 14
Houston 38, Texas State 32
UTEP 34, Sam Houston 28

Standings



Players of the Week




CFP Rankings



Texas in the Rankings: #7 Texas A&M, #10 North Texas, #11 Texas Tech, #24 Baylor

CFP Projections



3 Texas Teams in the Playoff!

Playoff Implications



Looking Ahead