Just seven days after Florida upset then-No. 9 Texas, Mike Elko's Fightin' Texas Aggies cleared what was viewed as a daunting Gator hurdle with relative ease. Now, Elko faces a different type of challenge as three consecutive road games lie ahead for the Maroon & White.

As the calendar flips to October, Texas A&M's resume is starting to take shape as the Aggies have found success against two very different early-season tests. Despite sitting at 4-0 and No. 6 in the Week 6 edition of the AP poll, the Maroon & White still have work to do.

Sure, Texas A&M has experienced epic wins before, but far too often, the Aggies have fallen just short. However, after the giant leap forward the Maroon & White took last week in South Bend, it's now time for Mike Elko's program to capitalize on the momentum of such a big victory.

It has been a long time since Texas A&M has won a true road game vs. a Power Four non-conference opponent in the regular season. While the Aggies might be due for one, Mike Elko & Co. will have to earn it on Saturday night vs. No. 8 Notre Dame.

In Mike Elko's first season as Texas A&M's head coach, the Aggies have one last chance to accomplish something special, and the path to doing so is simple: Beat Texas to earn another chance, and then beat Georgia to reach the College Football Playoff. That's it.

Texas A&M and Texas have waited 13 long years to renew their historic rivalry, so they can wait another week because the Aggies cannot be caught looking ahead. With everything still to play for, Mike Elko & Co. must be focused as they travel to Auburn for a Saturday night clash.

Texas A&M was outplayed in all phases of the game on Saturday night, as the South Carolina Gamecocks rolled to a 44-20 victory over the Aggies at Williams-Brice Stadium. Though the Ags now have their first SEC blemish in 2024, Mike Elko & Co. still have everything left to play for.

Texas A&M out-physical'd LSU to improve to 5-0 in conference play and claim sole possession of first place in the SEC. While Saturday night's second-half comeback was surely special, Mike Elko knows that the tough tests will continue coming for his Aggie squad.

There have been classics (one that even took seven overtimes) and upsets, but never has an SEC meeting between Texas A&M and LSU meant as much as Saturday night's matchup between the No. 14 Aggies and No. 8 Tigers. Truly, Week 9's showdown will just mean more.

The blueprint Mike Elko & Co. created in the offseason seemingly came to fruition as Texas A&M beat Missouri to a pulp and put the entire college football world on notice. With a few repeat showings, don't be surprised to see the Aggies squarely in the SEC and playoff races.

Similar to the way the last 13 seasons have played out, Texas A&M and Arkansas played a nail-biting, back-and-forth game with the Aggies coming away with the 21-17 victory. It would not have made sense for the final edition of the rivalry at Jerryworld to have played out differently.

As seen in Saturday's near-miss against Bowling Green, Texas A&M is still a long way from being where they want to be, but also closer to getting there than many realize. It remains clear that the first year under Mike Elko will be a “survive and advance” type of campaign.

The culture of Mike Elko's Texas A&M football program wasn't built or solidified with just one road victory in Gainesville, but the foundation for the Aggies is apparent. Now it becomes paramount that the Maroon & White continue to build on the success found in Florida.

The Aggies showed some signs of necessary improvement on Saturday against an overmatched McNeese team, but now a vitally important trip to Gainesville looms. Texas A&M's new goal is turning a feel-good win into a feel-good stretch.

In search of a primetime breakthrough, Texas A&M suffered an offensive breakdown in the first game of the Mike Elko on Saturday night. Now one game into a 12-game regular season, there is obviously a lot for the Aggies to address as the Aggies' search goes on.

In 2021, Texas A&M's loss in Oxford started what is now an eight-game road losing streak. With another trip to Ole Miss up next, Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies have a great opportunity to end those road woes while also getting payback on Lane Kiffin and the Rebels.

Just three weeks after a disappointing early-season setback at Miami, Jimbo Fisher's Aggies are exhibiting passion, physicality and poise in starting 2-0 in conference play. With Alabama coming to town, Texas A&M's formula must continue to extend a modest winning streak.

With A&M riding high into AT&T Stadium after an impressive showing against Auburn, the Ags are pursing another big SEC win before taking on Alabama. At a crucial point in the season, a W over Arkansas can serve as a boost heading into the rest of a grueling conference slate.