Texas A&M enters the new football season ranked No. 8 in the country, looking to build on an 11-win campaign that ended in the College Football Playoff. The Aggies open their schedule Saturday against Missouri State at Kyle Field in College Station.
Team officials and players have emphasized a specific goal for this year: finishing strong. Last season, the squad reached the playoff but ended earlier than desired. This year, the priority is to convert that experience into a national championship.
Junior receiver Mario Craver noted that the team has adopted a mindset of competition in every aspect of training. "Ever since last year, our motto's been 'let's finish,'" Craver said. "We know last year we didn't get to finish the way we wanted to, so everything we do, even in practice, is a competitive period."
Craver added that the objective is clear for the roster. "We haven't really won anything, so like I said, that's something we all want to do," he stated. "We all want to get trophies in the building, but honestly, I just want to go out there, have a good season, win a national championship. That's my only goal."
The defensive unit is also focused on execution and physicality. Senior safety Marcus Ratcliffe described the standard in practice as playing fast and competing against top offensive talent daily. "We're just playing super hard and playing fast," Ratcliffe said.
