- Associated Press - Thursday, September 29, 2016

No. 9 Texas A&M (4-0, 2-0 SEC) at South Carolina (2-2, 1-2), 4 p.m. ET (SEC Network)

Line: Texas A&M by 18.

Series Record: Texas A&M leads 2-0.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

Texas A&M is looking to start 5-0 for a third consecutive year - and maintain its momentum into the meat of its schedule. The Aggies went 4-4 down the stretch each of the past two seasons, withering against the SEC West gauntlet that includes Alabama and Ole Miss. South Carolina is seeking a signature victory in coach Will Muschamp’s first season.

KEY MATCHUP

Texas A&M defensive ends Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall against South Carolina’s offensive line. Garrett leads the Aggies with three sacks and, combined with Hall, has been a handful for opponents. The Gamecocks’ offensive line, missing starters Donnell Stanley and Blake Camper, has struggled to hold off pass rushers, allowing eight sacks in four games.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Texas A&M: QB Trevor Knight. The Oklahoma transfer has found a comfortable fit with the Aggies, throwing for 1,055 yards and seven touchdowns.

South Carolina: QB Brandon McIlwain. The true freshman passer has had a rough learning curve and comes off a 10-point, 177-passing-yards performance in a loss at Kentucky. Coach Will Muschamp, though, says McIlwain is playing well and will keep the keys to the offense.

FACTS & FIGURES

South Carolina starts a stretch of five straight home games with its next away game scheduled for Nov. 12 at Florida. … WRWs Ricky Seals-Jones and Josh Reynolds each had TD catches in Texas A&M’s only previous game at South Carolina, a 52-28 victory to start the 2014 season. … South Carolina ranks fifth in the SEC in scoring defense, holding teams to a 17-point average. … Texas A&M enters the contest as the only SEC team with more than 1,000 yards rushing and passing this season.

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