The Battalion - October 31, 2024

2024 Election Edition:

Kamala v. Trump : Candidate Comparison [A2 & A3]

What’s on the Ballot: Voters Guide [A7] Opinion: Which is the crowd for you? [A6]

Ramirez announces Jan. 1 retirement

Vice president for student affairs to step down in spring

By Nicholas Gutteridge Managing Editor

Texas A&M’s Vice President for Student Affairs Joe Ramirez Jr. announced he is retiring effective Jan. 1, 2025 in a Wednesday email.

“I am extremely excited to start a new chapter in my life — one in which I can dedicate more time to my amazing wife Terry, our nine

children and eight grandchildren,” Ramirez wrote in the email.

The retired brigadier general spent over a decade as the Corps of Cadets commandant before moving to his current role as vice president for student affairs in 2021, where he helps oversee one of the largest student bodies in the country.

“I fell in love with Texas A&M the first day I stepped on the Quad as a naive fish in the Corps and Aggie Band in 1975, and those feelings have never subsided,” Ramirez wrote.

Ramirez wrote that he made the

decision “with mixed emotions.”

“I will continue to work alongside you and the students of Texas A&M every day until my retirement date, and I look forward to the last couple of months of interactions we will share together,” Ramirez wrote. “Thank you all for what you have done for me, professionally, and for [my wife] Terry and me personally. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to have worked with all of you and to have shared so many good times with you. We will never forget you and all that you do every day for Texas A&M University. ”

Election Day

November 5th

Molly Nicole Sims 12/29/2004 – 9/28/2024

Alexander Thomas Bull 5/14/1999 – 8/31/2024

Into the Wicked Woods

By Shalina Sabih Features Writer

A stroll in the woods southwest of campus might end with a glimpse of trees, bushes and maybe a raccoon, but at Kappa Sigma’s seven-acre lodge, these trails turn downright terrifying during their annual Wicked Woods Halloween event.

Each year, about 5,000 thrill seekers venture through uneven and bushy trails. Their screams pierce the night as corpse-like clowns, petrifying pigs and macabre monsters with chainsaws emerge from the shadows.

Nuclear engineering junior Christian Smith was the Dr. Frankenstein of the event this year and had many different scares cooked up in his cauldron from Oct. 24 to Oct. 31. Smith is the philanthropy chair for the fraternity.

“My role was probably one of the most important roles, as this is one of the largest philanthropy events in the nation for our fraternity,” Smith said.

Early voting numbers up in Brazos County, down nationwide

Texas counties see record votes cast while U.S. numbers drop

By J.M. Wise News Editor

As election day inches closer, nearly 40,000 Brazos Valley voters have cast their ballots.

In an election cycle that has seen shakeups from the top of both parties’ ballots, more Texans than ever are using early voting opportunities across Brazos County. In Texas alone, 5,370,515 mail-in and early in-person votes have already been cast. In the 2020 general election, data sourced from TargetSmart reported 9,615,419 early votes and mail-in votes by the end of the election.

Out of the 133,382 registered voters in Brazos County, those that have already voted represent nearly a third of total voters. This trend is represented across Texas, with the

total number of registered voters clocking in at 18.6 million. With the current number of early votes cast, 28.8% of all votes have already been cast in the state.

The number of registered voters in Texas has increased by 1 million since 2022, according to a press release from Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson. The release states that this increase has been in line with the state’s increasing population and interest surrounding this year’s presidential election.

The two most demographically similar metropolitan areas to Brazos County, the Lubbock and Waco regions, have major universities as well, representing a similar demographic to College Station. Similar trends across those areas have also been reported, with over 42,000 votes being cast in McLennan County.

Lubbock County, which contains Texas Tech, has had 31% of its registered voters visiting the polls in early voting. This number represents the highest percentage

of early voting turnout since 2004, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Nationwide, early voting numbers have been down compared to 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic encouraged voters to come to the ballot box before Election Day. According to data sourced from CNN, Texas has 21.3% fewer early votes cast compared to the same time period four years ago.

On Election Day, voters registered in Brazos County can vote at any listed Election Day voting center. All 28 centers around the county are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Anyone in line at the center by 7 p.m. will be able to cast their ballot.

A sample ballot for Brazos County can be found on the Brazos Votes webpage. The special election section contains two propositions, both addressing the addition of a stock law to fence in cattle and other animals.

Brazos County uses Verity Duo as the ballot marking device to count votes. Once voters finish vot-

ing on the electronic device, they must scan the ballot in a separate device to cast their ballot. If voters leave without scanning the ballot, their vote will not be counted and they will not be allowed back into the voting center.

Brazos Votes is encouraging voters to use its website to answer any questions they may have. For the upcoming election, any questions not answered via the webpage may be addressed to the elections coordinator, Krystal Ocon.

BG Joe E. Ramirez Jr. speaks at The Big Event’s opening ceremony. Adriano Espinosa — THE BATTALION

Abdurahman Azeez — THE BATTALION

A clown slowly approaches participants In Kappa Sigma’s Wicked Woods on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024.

Abdurahman Azeez — THE BATTALION

Abdurahman Azeez — THE BATTALION

Abdurahman Azeez — THE BATTALION Masked organizer poses with a chainsaw.

Guide nuns take people into the woods.

Organizers in masks stalk participants.

Chris Swann — THE BATTALION

ELECTION

“ We are not going back. We’re not. ”

What about Tim Walz?

Meet Kamala Harris’ Democratic running mate

Timothy James Walz never anticipated a career in politics. A 60-yearold Catholic raised in Nebraska, he graduated high school in a 25-student class before his stint in Texas, the military, college and ultimately as a teacher and coach. But after attempting to bring his students to a George W. Bush rally and getting removed by security, he left a different calling. After joining a boot camp for aspiring politicians, he ran for Congress — as a Democrat in a

Republican-leaning district. He succeeded, caucusing with Democrats until he ran for Minnesota governor in 2018. With a blue trifecta for the first time in years, Walz signed laws raising the minimum wage, providing free school lunch and more, transforming the state. After Walz began shining on national television and coined the “weird” term Democrats used to criticize Republicans, Harris tapped him as the Democratic nominee for vice president.

Who is Kamala Harris?

The backstory

behind the Democratic nominee

Four years as vice president, six in the senate and decades serving California has led to the second time in three presidential elections where a woman is close to breaking the glass ceiling.

On Nov. 5, Vice President Kamala Harris is seeking to make history.

Born in 1964 in Oakland, California with two immigrant parents, she graduated from Howard University with a political science and economics degree, following it with a juris doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1989. Just a year later, she began a career of public service as a deputy district attorney.

She rose to various state boards and commissions before going to San Francisco as an assistant district attorney. For the next decade, she matched the Californian landscape by pledging to never seek the death penalty and pursuing several progressive initiatives — such as creating a Hate Crimes Unit specializing in hate crimes against LGBTQ+ children and teenagers.

Success continued for the prosecutor into the 2010s, leading to her largest step yet: elected office. With support from Californian powerhouses like then-Senator Dianne Feinstein and then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Harris became

the first woman, African-American and Asian-American to become California’s attorney general. Criminal justice reform immediately took center stage, followed by consumer protection goals after her 2014 reelection. From JPMorgan Chase to Apple, Google and Facebook, conglomerates learned Harris’ name by the time she eyed her next office, an opportunity she couldn’t pass: a Senate seat was opening.

So she ran, and nationwide attention came her way — especially when then-President Barack Obama and then-Vice President Joe Biden endorsed her, solidifying her victory. Arriving in Washington D.C. alongside Donald Trump, became one of his fiercest critics, delaying his judicial appointments and criticizing him on the Senate floor.

To the surprise of few, she challenged him for the highest office of the land in early 2019. But the strong start didn’t last, and she dropped out following lackluster primary results, later endorsing Biden — a bet yielding rewards. Just months later, he picked her as his running mate, winning by historic margins.

As vice president, her senate vote proved vital for the administration. Fast forward four years, Biden stepping down so far into the 2024 campaign left only one choice as a replacement: Harris.

Kamala Harris’s top campaign promises for America

With some of Joe Biden’s largest achievements being his healthcare policies — such as his insulin price cap for seniors — Kamala Harris is seeking to expand on his plans. If sent to the White House with a blue Congress, Harris promises to cap the price of insulin for all Americans and decrease prescription drug costs by targeting pharmacy middlemen who attempt to squeeze profits. She also promises to lower premiums, give Medicare more negotiating power and remove medical debt from credit reports. If presented with a bill to protect abortion nationwide, Harris said she will sign it.

With the economy being most Americans’ No. 1 issue this year, both candidates have presented plans addressing inflation, national debt and prices impacting citizens. Much of Harris’ plan revolves around higher taxes on the upper class to make up for lower taxes on the lower and middle classes — a vital piece of her agenda, especially considering Donald Trump’s 2017 bill cutting taxes for the upper class expires in 2025. She also proposed the building of 3 million affordable rental units and homes and expanding the child tax credit, a tax benefit for Americans with children.

From a foreign affairs perspec tive, a Harris presidency would be the continuation of many of Biden’s policies. Under Harris, the U.S. would support Ukraine against Russia’s invasion and continue supplying humanitarian aid to Gaza and other nations while supporting Israel’s right to defend itself in the Middle East. Harris promises to uphold and expand alliances worldwide while standing up against Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. She has also proposed reviving the bipartisan border bill that she claims would fix major issues with the southern border and immigration system.

As public education continues to become a national culture war battleground, especially in Texas, Kamala Harris said she would continue Biden’s attempts to forgive student loans, a crisis that has ballooned in recent years. As vice president, she has assisted in increasing the maximum Pell Grant award and implementing policies helping Americans pursue alternatives to college, proposals she said she would maintain and expand as president. She also said she would also preserve the Department of Education and its powers, compared to Donald Trump’s plan to disband it.

Harris claims that as a prosecutor, she fought crime by taking illegal firearms off California’s streets. She heads the new Office of Gun Violence Prevention and leads efforts to expand background checks and close illegal gun purchase loopholes. As president, Harris said she would seek a ban on assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, require universal background checks and support redflag laws that stop potentially dangerous individuals from acquiring a firearm. Her administration would also expand gun violence prevention programs throughout the U.S., her campaign said.

Gage Skidmore — Flickr, 2.0 CC

Governor Tim Walz speaks at a campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ on Aug. 9, 2024.

Gage Skidmore — Flickr, 2.0 CC

Senator Kamala Harris speaks with attendees at the National Forum on Wages and Working People hosted by the Center for the American Progress Action Fund and the SEIU at the Enclave in Las Vegas, NV on Saturday, April 27, 2019.

Graphic by Chi-Chi Zhang — THE BATTALION

ELECTION

“ Make America great again, again.”

Who is Donald Trump?

The backstory behind the Republican nominee

A president breaking the mold, either extremely positively or negatively depending on the voter asked. With a childhood marked by riches, he spent the majority of his life entertaining — from hosting talk shows and making guest appearances to endless business ventures, including Trump Vodka and Trump University undertakings.

When Barack Obama propelled himself to the presidency in 2008, conservative movements formed to oppose his agenda and brought one more American with them: Trump. By 2011, the billionaire was appearing at conservative forums, and speculation reigned whether he would run in 2012 before he denied the claims.

But after Mitt Romney’s failure to unseat Obama, Trump made his move: a 2016 presidential run. Politicians in power expected his unorthodox, often aggressive methods to be his downfall, but millions of Americans — many searching for tangible change — chose him on the ballot.

To the surprise of established politicians, the billionaire entered politics for the first time as president of the United States.

His methods initially didn’t transfer well into the White House, and he churned through advisors and cabinet members while seeking in-

dividuals with mindsets similar to himself. The first half of his presidency featured established politicians, such as Rex Tillerson, and the latter featured individuals that would’ve shocked officials just four years earlier, such as Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow — and a trusted Trump advisor during his final year in office.

But controversy after controversy piled up, and the pushback became too much for Trump.

Voters denied him a second term in 2020, and a mob stormed the Capitol months later. Since then, however, he’s been refining, preparing and establishing new roots — culminating on Nov. 5 with the 2024 election. And now, after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race following their first debate, the polling lead Trump lauded disappeared with Vice President Kamala Harris’ entry.

Four years ago, many saw a second Trump term as impossible; four months ago, it seemed inevitable. In a new presidency, Trump is seeking to revolutionize the United States economy, social systems and government.

But with just a week remaining, polls and outlets have a recurring opinion: The billionaire phenomenon that seems to do the impossible is putting his all into one final attempt.

What about JD Vance?

Meet Donald Trump’s Republican running mate

JD Vance held a fascination for politics from the beginning, often making his opinion, based on his unique upbringing, known to others while attending Yale University.

But when he shared that upbringing with one professor, she gave Vance her publisher’s contact information. Soon enough, the bestselling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” was released to critical acclaim, as it followed his Ohio beginnings, military background and a life marked by

struggle. The book, arriving in time to match the populist wave propelling Donald Trump to the White House, resonated with Americans, and soon enough Vance was on television as the “Trump whisperer.”

It came as no surprise that a run for Senate followed — alongside a victory.

And just years after the quick rise to power, the pro-Trump senator accepted an offer to join the Republican ticket.

Donald Trump’s top campaign promises for America

ECONOMICS HEALTHCARE WORLDWIDE EDUCATION GUN RIGHTS

Donald Trump has said publicly he would not sign a nationwide abortion ban if Congress presents him with one. His campaign said it opposes late-term abortions and completely supports mothers and policies advancing prenatal care, including in vitro fertilization. Trump is also promising to expand access to affordable healthcare options, especially regarding prescription medication and care for seniors. Trump has not said whether he would attempt to end or alter the Affordable Care Act, a priority he was unsuccessful in during his first term, nor has discussed expanding it.

A Donald Trump administration would attempt to lower prices for Americans by reigning in federal spending, cutting regulations and expanding oil and natural gas production. He would extend his 2017 tax cuts or make them permanent while expanding the child tax credit, a benefit for Americans with children. Regulations implemented by Joe Biden would be lifted to lower prices, according to the campaign, while federal land would be opened for home construction. He has also claimed he would implement large tariffs on foreign goods to strengthen American production.

Donald Trump has promised to implement the largest deportation operation in U.S. history and move thousands of military personnel to the southern border from overseas installations. Trump said he would ensure allies meet their minimum alliance obligations and that the U.S. would stand with Israel under his administration. It would focus extensively on the Indo-Pacific region countering China and North Korea. At rallies, he and JD Vance have claimed the U.S. currently supplies Ukraine with too many weapons, and both have advocated for decreased funding, claiming it should stay in the U.S.

Donald Trump's campaign claims the proposal to begin the largest mass deportation in U.S. history would have multiple benefits, including lowering education prices. He also proposes creating affordable, alternative routes to success rather than through a four-year degree. He supports ending teacher tenure and closing the Department of Education, so states can fund and control education policies rather than the federal government. Trump would also revert Joe Biden’s Title IX changes, which expanded definitions to protect pregnant and transgender students from discrimination.

In the past, Donald Trump has opposed strengthening background checks and assault rifle bans. In school shooting scenarios, Trump and JD Vance support stronger internal security measures, including reinforced windows and doors in schools and more security personnel on-site. While he once supported red-flag laws that would prevent high-risk individuals from purchasing a firearm, pressure from the National Rifle Association forced his administration to abandon the effort. In a meeting last year, Trump proposed a tax credit for teachers carrying a concealed weapon.

Gage Skidmore/Flickr, 2.0 CC

J. D. Vance speaks at the Southwest Regional Conference hosted by Turning Point USA at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday, April 17, 2021.

Gage Skidmore — Flickr, 2.0 CC

Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, MD on

Friday, Feb. 24, 2017.

HEAD TO HEAD

Why Donald Trump is the better candidate for the presidential election Join the MAGA crowd

Are you interested in paying extra taxes to fund gender care and transition surgeries for detained migrants? Are you interested in defunding ICE in the middle of a border crisis? Are you interested in rich people going broke?

If so, Vice President Kamala Harris is for you. Interested in the vibes? The joy, the laughter and the feels? You can’t beat Megan Thee Stallion twerking at one of her rallies. Pure policy gold.

However, if you want an alternative to what you’ve been offered by mainstream media and “experts,” I will lay out your saving grace before you: former President Donald Trump.

The top issue among voters is the economy, particularly with the current inflation that has heavily affected lower income individuals. Trump has performed better than President Joe Biden and Harris with inflation and gas prices.

Under the Biden-Harris administration, gas prices have increased and inflation is through the roof. Conversely, under Trump’s administration, inflation was under manageable margins before the pandemic, and your wallet was financially secure.

Harris' policies will only negatively affect your wallet.

Her policies would include raising the child tax credit for different ages and introducing more

money for new businesses; while Trump’s policies also include raising child tax credit for minors and a 20% tax deduction for existing businesses.

Harris' plan to pay for this? Not only do her economic plans include increasing income tax for high class Americans, she will initiate a 25% tax on unrealized capital gains for multi-millionaires and tax social security checks.

Your taxes will increase, multi-millionaire investors like Warren Buffett will go bankrupt because they will have to sell most of their assets and your grandparents will be forced to work at the age of 85.

The next issue among voters is immigration. Not only is Harris the Border Czar, but her actions have led to today’s border crisis. In fact, 9.7 million illegal immigrants have entered this country during Harris' supervision of the border since March 2021. How are these migrants getting in so easily?

The CBP One app allows one to make an asylum claim with an unspecified ID and name. Once completed, a court date is appointed to validate your asylum claim. However, with 9.7 million migrants scattered throughout the U.S., is that possible? No.

Places like New York City are failing to handle the influx of migrants, while also supporting them financially. Meanwhile, residents are struggling to survive economically because of Harris’ policies.

In addition, citizens have been killed by catch-and-release migrants with criminal backgrounds

such as Laken Riley, Jocelyn Nungary and Rachel Morin. Although the Laken Riley Act solves some of these problems, Harris' incompetent leadership allowed poorly vetted migrants to commit these crimes in the first place.

When Harris was asked on The View whether she would have changed any of Biden’s policies, she responded, “Nothing comes to mind.” This tells you they are the same, as she is directly involved in Biden’s policies. Harris is a continuation of Biden’s ineffective policies. Her agenda is far more progressive, yet she cannot even answer an unscripted question. If you can’t respond to basic questions, how do you expect to function in an international crisis?

Dissatisfied with America’s direction? Then vote for Trump and join the MAGA movement. You must vote early. Harris received no primary votes for her presidential nomination. She is the definition of a D.E.I candidate. She was not voted by the people, nor will she be for the people.

Questions raised in the 1980 presidential debate come to mind: “Are you better off than you were four years ago? Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago? Is America as respected throughout the world as it was? Do you feel that our security is as safe, that we’re as strong as we were four years ago?”

Killian Netherton is an English and psychology sophomore and opinion writer for The Battalion.

Stay away from MAGA

Why Kamala Harris is the better candidate for the presidential election

Joshua Abraham

Opinion Writer

While I’ll never tell you who to vote for — that’s for you to decide — I’ll tell you why you shouldn’t join the MAGA crowd and why Kamala Harris is a better candidate than Donald Trump.

Economy

The No. 1 issue that most voters say they care about is the economy. While Trump says he had the best economy in the history of the United States, it was actually just average. This lie is just one of the many that he imposes on his supporters, and they take it for granted without fact-checking. It’s sheep following a leader who makes baseless claims with no evidential proof of it; he just says what his people want to hear.

Harris says she’s going to help the middle class; Trump only cares about people like him, the top 1% — not you. Through addressing housing, small businesses and the everyday economy of Americans, her long-term economic plans have been nominated by experts over Trump’s economic plans — Trump’s plan will increase the debt by $7.5 trillion while Harris’s would only increase the debt by $3.5 trillion.

Border control

Under the Biden administration, Harris actually had a solid border control plan. It was nearly passed with bipartisan support until Trump decided to tell Republican members of Congress not to

allow the bill to pass because he wanted it as his main running topic for this election cycle.

When there was an agreement to put an end to the amount of illegal immigrants entering our country, Trump said “no” to it. His unhealthy influence on politicians even when not in office is concerning. Now, imagine what would happen if he does become president. In reality, he doesn’t care about you; he only cares about what makes him look good, and that’s dangerous, not only for controlling the border, but for any law that needs to be passed.

Health care

How are we supposed to trust someone’s healthcare policies when he wouldn’t even listen to scientists on what COVID-19 was? I feel like a broken record, but the lies Trump spews are something that don’t belong in our public health discussion. His actions will affect everyday Americans, and that is something that we shouldn’t play about. More specifically, we’ve witnessed the overturning of Roe v. Wade — something we can directly thank Trump for. Weaponizing the judicial system is a product of his hate, and that has bled into our healthcare. It was never about abortion, it was always about controlling people. Leaving our healthcare to a womanizer is something his sheep-following supporters are going to do, and that would be detrimental to our healthcare system. Let’s leave our healthcare to scientists and doctors who actually know what they are talking about, which is what Harris vows to do. Remember, he only has “con-

cepts of a plan.”

Ultimately, the controversial nature of former President Trump is something we don’t need back in office. As tensions between the right and left have been exponentially rising over the years, being unproblematic is something we need more desperately now than ever. Not only are his policies weak but his character is too. If you join the MAGA crowd, you’re supporting a convicted felon who lies and doesn’t care about you, only his selfish needs.

His policies are based on lies that the MAGA party has created that harm citizens. Using Christianity as a vessel of hate to support these lies not only hurts religion but also politics. And at the end of the day, his pride is going to precede the importance of his job — being the president of the United States.

Harris, on the other hand, wants to make changes that impact everyday citizens. With a history of fighting for people, Harris is only going to continue doing that. Through focusing on the lower and middle class, ensuring fundamental freedoms are kept and protected and creating safer communities, she wants to actually make America great, not Donald Trump.

So, you have two options — you can join the crowd that is fueled with hate, only wanting to oppress and divide, or you can join the crowd that actually wants to do good in society. Join the crowd that actually wants to help you and wants to give you a better future.

Joshua Abraham is a kinesiology junior and opinion writer for The Battalion.

Gage Skidmore — Flickr, 2.0 CC

Former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters at a campaign rally at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, AZ.)

Opinion Writer

Killian Netherton

What’s on the ballot?

By Kynlee Bright, Nicholas Gutteridge, Sophie Villarreal

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

The Big Races Across American Ballots

Harris and Tim Walz

Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are running in the 2024 presidential election for the Democratic party.

President/Vice President

Donald Trump/JD Vance (Republican)

Kamala Harris/Tim Walz (Democrat)

Chase Oliver/ Mike Ter Maat (Libertarian)

Jill Stein/Rudolph Ware (Green)

Former President Donald

Sent to federal office for a six-year term, the winner becomes one of two Texas senators and one of 100 nationwide who create, debate and vote on legislation. Senators sit on committees associated with their state or expertise.

U.S. Senator

Ted Cruz (Republican, Incumbent Since 2013)

Colin Allred (Democrat)

Ted Brown (Libertarian)

Sent to the House of Representatives with a two-year term, the winner becomes one of 435 voting members able to create, debate and vote on legislation. Texas has 38 representatives in the House, all of which sit on committees associated with Texas and/or expertise. In the 2022 midterms, voters sent 26 Republicans and 12 Democrats to Capitol Hill.

U.S. Representative District 10

Michael T. McCaul (Republican, Incumbent Since 2005)

Theresa Boisseau (Democrat)

Jeff Miller (Libertarian)

BRAZOS COUNTY

County commissioners serve a four-year term as part of the five-member Commissioners Court. The Commissioners Court oversees construction and maintenance of roads and bridges not part of the highway system.

The court also has the jurisdiction to issue bonds supporting community projects and create offices, boards and commissions to fulfill other needs.

County Commissioner Precinct 3

Fred Brown (Republican)

Mike Sutherland (Libertarian)

CITY OF BRYAN

City councilmembers serve three-year terms as part of the city council, which has six members alongside the mayor. As part of the city council, they help create Bryan’s budget, name members for boards and advance road maintenance, city economic policies and zoning changes.The “at large” candidate does not represent a specific area in the city, unlike the other three.

Single Member District 3

Jared Salvato (Incumbent)

Bob Achgill

Single Member District 4

James Edge (Incumbent)

Shane Savage

City Councilmember At Large, Place 6

Justin C. Wager

Kevin C. Boriskie

CITY OF COLLEGE STATION

College Station council members sit on the city council and serve a three-year term managing the city budget, naming members for boards and advancing various initiatives, such as road maintenance, economic policies and development and zoning changes.

David White

Valen Cepak

City Council Place 3

City Council Place 4

Melissa McIlhaney

Aron Collins

and his

Colin

STATE

The Railroad Commission regulates Texas oil and gas, including but not limited to extraction, waste, pipelines, utilities and surface mining operations. Despite the name, the three-person commission has not regulated railroads since 2005. Commissioners serve six-year terms, and this year, the current chairman, Christi Craddick, is seeking reelection. As chairman, she oversees meetings and ensures the commission runs smoothly.

Railroad Commissioner

Christi Craddick (Republican, Incumbent Since 2012)

Katherine Culbert (Democrat)

Hawk Dunlap (Libertarian)

Eddie Espinoza (Green)

Composed of a chief justice and eight justices, The Texas Supreme Court is the final destination for civil matters. The Texas governor appoints a justice who assumes a six-year term, with following terms requiring approval from voters. Currently, all nine justices are Republicans first appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott.

Justice Supreme Court, Place 2

Jimmy Blacklock (Republican, Incumbent Since 2018) Dasean Jones (Democrat)

Justice Supreme Court, Place 4

John Devine (Republican, Incumbent since 2013)

Christine Vinh Weems (Democrat)

Justice Supreme Court, Place 6

Jane Bland (Republican, Incumbent Since 2019)

Bonnie Lee Goldstein (Democrat)

J. David Roberson (Libertarian)

The Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest court for criminal cases in Texas. The presiding judge and eight judges must be elected by voters for terms of six years.

The court is the state’s highest body regarding criminal matters, and any decision made by the nine-member body is final. It covers all criminal cases, from drug offenses to murder, if it accepts an appeal from one of Texas’ 14 lower courts. However, cases regarding the death penalty go directly to the Court of Criminal Appeals.

Presiding Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals

David J. Schenck (Republican) Holly Taylor (Democrat)

Gina Parker (Republican) Nancy Mulder (Democrat) Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Place 7

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Place 8

Lee Finley (Republican) Chika Anyiam (Democrat)

The Texas State Board of Education determines policies relating to state-mandated curriculum, testing, textbooks, schools and more. Members serve four-year terms and join the 15-person board that determines the state’s public education.

Member,

State Board of Education, District 10

Tom Maynard (Republican, Incumbent Since 2022) Raquel Saenz Ortiz (Democrat)

State representatives serve two-year terms in the Texas legislature as one of 150 members creating, debating and voting on legislation. The Texas legislature meets every two years, and the next session begins in January 2025.

State Representative District 12

Trey Wharton (Republican) Dee Howard Mullins (Democrat)

State Representative District 14

Paul Dyson (Republican) Fred Medina (Democrat)

Kamala

Donald Trump and JD Vance

Ted Cruz and Colin Allred

Trump

running mate Senator JD Vance are running in the 2024 presidential election for the Republican party.

Allred, a Democrat, is running against incumbent Republican candidate Ted Cruz in Texas’ 2024 Senate election.

Launched 26 years ago, Wicked Woods has become a Halloween staple, with all the proceeds benefiting the Military Heroes Campaign and the Brazos Valley Food Bank. The fraternity added a spooktacular twist: a discount for guests who bring canned food to support their cause. Smith said hundreds of cans have already been donated.

“At the end of the day, we want to make sure the organizations we donate to are well-off and are supported,” Smith said.

Over time, Wicked Woods evolved from a simple spooky trail into an intricate horror experience.

Concession stands offer delicious snacks, and Smith said themed merchandise enhances the overall experience for every horror fan.

“You always want to do better than the year before,” Smith said.

This year, the design team added open areas and eerie structures within the trails that lift visitors off the ground as they step into a sinister, carnival-esque nightmare. Shadows loom in dark alleyways where monsters wait behind black tarp walls, ready to leap out and send a jolt of fear through unsuspecting guests. Smith said they never previously had builds going through the trails, and the point was to create an experience never before seen by the fraternity.

“A huge part of this is focusing on time management and making sure we have everything done before opening night,” Smith said. “We wanted this experience to be different from all others, so a lot of planning went into this.”

As any epic monster movie, bringing this event to life took a crew of dedicated monsters. Smith said he appreciated the roughly 230 Kappa Sigma brothers who pitched into finding wood for the builds, finding sponsorships and putting in time outside of class to give the woods a spooky makeover.

Finance sophomore Daniel O’Loughlin, a second-year veteran of Wicked Woods, has taken on multiple frightful roles. He said he has dressed up as a clown scaring kids, haunted the asylum, prowled the graveyard and even charged at visitors with a roaring chainsaw. This year, he serves as a scene leader and starts up the scares.

“This year has been great,” O’Loughlin said. “Everyone came together to bring this event to life and I love seeing people get scared and this is also a great cause.”

Bryan resident Brittany Ofczarzak brought her two young boys to Wicked Woods on Friday, Oct. 25, drawn by the thrill of the area’s haunted house experience. She said she always knew about this event and was looking forward to bringing her family.

“It’s fun enough for the little ones, and it’s scary enough for the big ones,” Ofczarzak said. “We would definitely come back.”

Whether it’s the hunted maze or the captives in the tortuous jail, Wicked Woods offers spine-chilling scenes for every thrill seeker. Each attraction is crafted to keep visitors on edge, blending suspense, shock and plenty of fear along the trail.

“I want people to come out and have a fun time and know that this event is for a good cause,” Smith said.

Inside Agronomy Society’s Halloween Aggieland corn maze

By Theresa Lozano Life & Arts Editor

Between towering cornstalks, winding paths and dead ends, eager Aggies and community members dare to face the 2024 Fightin’ Texas Aggie Corn Maze. For several years, the A&M Agronomy Society has strived for a better attraction than the last despite difficulties.

While the maze opened Oct. 19, the process began months ago. Beginning mid to late July, the organization cares for the acres of land at 2650 F&B Road — planting the corn seeds, maintaining irrigation and fertigation systems, even pulling weeds. Although those are factors they can control, the unpredictability of agriculture and the weather has a large impact on the attraction. Last year, the maze was canceled due to a drought in the summer and problems with the irrigation system.

“If you could pick the worst time of the year to grow corn in Texas, this would be it,” Ronnie Schnell, Ph.D, said. “... But drip irrigation,

SENIOR BOOT BAG

it makes it possible. We don’t have a lot of drip irrigation on this side of the state. So it’s a very efficient irrigation system. And we can actually make that work in some of the worst conditions.”

Luckily not canceled this year, the seeds from a local supplier were planted all uniform at around 25,000 seeds per acre.

“We double planted, so we planted one way, and then we planted the other direction,” Schnell said. “I’m going to say that was maybe close to two bags of seed, so 80,000 kernels in each bag. And we plant two directions using about 75,000 kernels each time.”

With mixed seed varieties, some corn takes time to catch up with their neighbors, growing from six to 12 feet tall. Once at their desired height, the paths finally get paved. They usually stomp and cut the paths by hand, making their way from the start to the exit with only one correct path.

“We kind of try and avoid areas of weaker corn because when you widen out the pass, you risk what’s called ‘lodging,’ where the corn blows over easily with high winds,” turfgrass science senior and corn maze chair Cabot Ellis said. “If you have paths that you create, these

wind channels, it’ll blow over stalks.

So we want to prevent that. We try and cut through healthy corn, and then it’s just kind of something where we have volunteers who will come out and we go, ‘OK, each one of you, you cut a path to throw somebody off.’”

With a rough template of the A&M primary logo spanning 36 by 36 inches scaled up to 60 feet, in the middle of all the twisting paths lies the carved-out logo.

“We do cut out the A&M logo, like the paths; we just stomp them down, get a rough idea, and then we just kind of chop them up with hoes,” Ellis said. “What’s funny is it doesn’t last long because everybody’s in there walking around. The maze just kind of takes a beating after the first weekend.”

The corn that’s planted early enough to be harvested or not eaten by blackbirds can be sold through local suppliers and generate revenue for the farm as well. The maze itself also serves as a fundraiser for the Agronomy Society to compete in at the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference. The corn maze will run until Saturday.

With booths and a cotton gin demonstration, the maze also serves

as a learning experience for students and the maze-goers. From hands-on experience, planning and growing corn taller than themselves, the organization’s members aim to show off not only their hard work, but also educate the community about the importance of agriculture.

“It’s just great to see the community come back and watch things like the cotton gin operate and just see where their clothes and food come from,” Ellis said. “Because it’s something that not everybody’s fortunate to see, and the Agronomy Society Corn Maze is great at that.”

Nearing seasonal end, the maze honors Jonathan Stanush, Class of 2018 and a former member of the Agronomy Society. While the organization is young, the members have developed a close-knit community of their own to help navigate the future.

“It’s not two of us doing it — it’s a team,” Ellis said. “It’s a family, so to speak, because there’s so many of us planning different things and so many different elements. … It’s a well-organized machine, the Agronomy Society, and I’m fortunate enough to have a good team of people behind me — a good team to put on this event that everybody loves.”

Members of the Agronomy Society paint a decoration for the exterior of the corn maze on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.

A scarecrow rests on stacks of hay outside the Agronomy Society Corn Maze on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.

SILVER TAPS

Ceremony: Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 10:30 p.m. at the Academic Plaza. Warning: There will be gun sounds at the ceremony. Please remember to remain quiet upon arrival.

December 29, 2004 September 28, 2024

Molly Nicole Sims

A positive light with an unforgettable smile

When Lindsay Milheron pictures Molly Sims, she’s usually sitting beside her in the Dutch Bros parking lot, sipping a Picture Perfect Freeze after a long day. Sometimes, she’s goofing off during band practice and sharing in Milheron’s deadpan humor. Other times, she’s in bed in her freshman dorm room, dozing off while rewatching her favorite episodes of “Modern Family.”

“It was on every night; when I came home to my dorm, it was playing,” Milheron said. “I would hear the theme song from outside the dorm and walk in and see Molly asleep.”

Whatever the image, there’s usually one constant — Molly’s laugh.

“She would laugh so hard every time,” Milheron said. “I could say something funny, and she would laugh for like 10 minutes straight. She had a fun laugh. It was very contagious.”

Milheron met Sims during their freshman year of high school when the two both were on drumline for Clark High School’s marching band in Plano. By the end of their time there, they were inseparable.

“For me and Molly, we were both good listeners,” Milheron said. “We would just say two words to each other, but it had more meaning than two words. We would always talk to each other. We had a very sarcastic relationship. ... She was the person that like, if I wanted to hang out with someone, I wanted to talk to someone, that’s who I’d go to. She was my best friend.”

Scrolling through the photos on her phone, Milheron can point out a thousand examples of her and Sims’ hijinks — like the night they drove to Paris, Texas on a whim or the restaurant where Milheron loosened the lid on a parmesan shaker, causing Sims to inadvertently pour a mountain of cheese on her pasta.

There are pictures of the duo smiling in front of the cowboy Eiffel Tower, as well as Sims proudly posing with a thumbs up next to her parmesan peak and countless

other moments from their friendship, now living in an album titled “Molly’s Photos.”

One of Milheron’s favorites?

The turtles. It started at a drumline competition in their junior year.

“Our band director was walking around,” Milheron said. “He put a canopy over his head, and he was like, ‘I’m a turtle.’ We heard that. We thought it was hilarious. Nobody else was listening.”

After that — and partly because Milheron and Sims were the only ones around to see it — turtles became their thing. Coming across any sort of turtle would always elicit a laugh.

“Now, if I see a little turtle figurine, I’ll buy it,” Milheron said.

“I have a bunch on my walls. Our friends and me were talking about getting a little tattoo for her of a turtle. That was one of our things.”

Both Milheron and Sims shared a love for animals. When they came to Texas A&M together, their dorm room in Rudder Hall quickly transformed into a menagerie of animal artifacts, with a photo gallery of otters living at one end and an oversized stuffed bird occupying the other. They named the bird “Lerald” after Gerald from the movie “Finding Dory.”

Sims was always coming up with names for things; her car was named “Arnold.” And when she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor on the first day of senior year, she approached it the only way she knew how — by naming it “George.”

“She was very positive, even with her diagnosis and stuff,” Milheron said. “She would do all different sorts of treatments, but you could never really tell. It never really affected her. She’d always show up to school. She’d always show up to band rehearsal and be there. She just never really let it get to her. You couldn’t tell just by looking if you didn’t know. She was very positive about the whole thing..”

Sims spent the next two years living her life more or less the same as always. Milheron said not

even George could diminish her contagious laugh. She chose to come to A&M to study anthropology, fascinated by forensic anthropologists from the TV show “Bones.” Like Temperance Brennan, Sims loved to write; free moments were filled by either reading her favorite books or writing her own. “I’d call her sometimes and be like, ‘What are you doing?’ She’d be like, ‘I’m writing my book,’” Milheron said. “She’d write a bunch of stuff. [Her parents] have a whole tub of her writing. It was something she always did. They read a couple of her letters that she wrote at her funeral, and they were really good. I’d never actually read anything that she wrote. I just knew that she liked to write.”

May 14, 1999 – August 31, 2024

Her writing now lives with her family, her friends and her boyfriend, Nash Lowry, who Sims had been dating since sixth grade. Milheron said they were a perfect match, and although Lowry attends the University of North Texas, he’d frequently come down to visit her.

“He really does like it here,” Milheron said. “He talks about the school as if he goes here. We bumped into a Yell Leader and he was like, ‘See you around!’ I was like, ‘You’re not going to see him around because you don’t go here.’”

Lowry visited College Station last week with two friends from high school to watch the LSU game. This time, however, it was just Milheron he was staying with.

Alexander Thomas Bull

Alexander Thomas Bull had finally been able to take classes at Texas A&M after 25 years of perseverance. Being dealt an unfair card from a young age, Alex fought a battle with epilepsy for 17 years. Alex was a family man passionate about kindness, faith and learning.

Born in Salem, Massachusetts, Alex was raised by his loving and devoted parents, Tom and Sara Bull. Alex had always been very close with his family, who supported him during his struggles with epilepsy.

After the miracle of surviving his second brain surgery, Alex began to believe in God.

In high school, Alex enjoyed a capella, beatboxing and the camaraderie he experienced through being in theater growing up. He took the time to work and live in Austin with his cousin but decided that he wanted to pursue higher education.

Although he was only able to take a couple of weeks of classes, Alex worked diligently as an honors student at Blinn College in Brenham so he could transfer to A&M.

Before his passing, Alex discussed his faith with his mother after she asked him what his favorite Bible verse was. Sara said the verse he sent her embodied who he was regarding his religion.

“He texted back without hesitation, Corinthians 4:18, and so I looked that up,” Sara said. “It was a quote that says, ‘We look not to

the things that are transient. We look not to the things that are seen, because the things that are seen are transient. We look to the things that are unseen, because the things that are unseen are eternal.’

And I feel like that’s Alex telling us that, you know, he’s okay, he’s in heaven, and he’s eternal; he’s experiencing the everlasting life.”

Alex’s parents said he was excited for his new beginnings at A&M, where he would pursue a major in political science. He overcame many challenges throughout his life, including becoming deaf in one ear at a young age. Still, the challenges did not stop him from fighting to push himself and celebrate his acceptance into the university.

“He overcame so many challenges, and he was not dealt an easy hand,” Sara said. “He was still just a nice person and fun to be around. That’s the most important thing when I think about Alex; it is just what he overcame.”

Despite Alex’s hardship, he found peace in his family’s support and involvement in his personal journey with faith.

“I feel like we’d say something like he was just realizing that God is present and that it was really huge for him,” Sara said. “I think he would say something like,‘I was probably an idiot not to realize it sooner, but I think that would be something more important, which was that … miracles happen because God is real.’” Alex loved his friends and fami-

The apartment she shared with Sims only has one tenant now. The trio spent the weekend in the stands at Kyle Field — poking fun at their friend, who attends LSU, when the Aggies beat the Tigers — as well as wandering campus and reminiscing. But Milheron said it was clear there was someone missing from their group.

“It’s just like, I don’t know,” Milheron said. “I tend to downplay things, so I downplay in my mind what’s been going on. But obviously, it’s a big deal. It’s strange to not have somebody around that you’ve been friends with for years. It’s like, ‘Well, what am I supposed to do now?’ I live in the apartment that we lived in, and now it’s empty. Just me and my turtles and my bird.”

ly and supported them despite the hard times he experienced with his health. He put his own struggles aside to comfort the people who surrounded him.

“This one person texted me and said, ‘Alex was there for me during a hard time in my life,’” Sara said. “Even when he was probably himself going through a really difficult time, he was there for this other friend.”

Alex’s parents said their son worked hard to gain knowledge and transfer into A&M while continuing to be kind to everyone around him, despite what he was going through.

“Alex was quite a conversationalist,” Tom said. “He wanted to know about everything, and he was always seeking knowledge and would sit down and have a call or a conversation with anyone. … He just wanted to learn so much.”

According to Alex’s father, the surgery he underwent on Feb. 5 was successful in removing the lesion that had caused his seizures.

“Persevering is a good word,” Sara said. “At the end of the day, he never really gave up.”

His life, although challenging, was surrounded by love and seeking knowledge.

“Just nothing ever worked out for Alex,” Sara said. “And it wasn’t anything of his fault. It was just like, going deaf, having epilepsy, he never could catch a break, you know? And he finally did, you know, he finally did catch a big break.”

Young

October 31, 1517

Martin Luther nails his 95 Theses to the church door, starting the Protestant Reformation.

November 1, 1946

The New York Knicks — then called the Knickerbockers — defeat the Toronto Huskies in the first-ever game of the NBA.

November 1, 1512

In Rome, the public is allowed to see Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling painting for the first time.

November 2, 1947

Howard Hughes flies the “Spruce Goose” on its only flight.

November 3, 1957

Laika the dog becomes the first animal to orbit Earth, launched on Sputnik II by the Soviet Union.

November 3, 2016 Chicago Cubs win the World Series, breaking the 108-year "curse."

November 4, 1922

King Tutankhamen’s tomb, undisturbed for 3,000 years, is discovered by Howard Carter and a team of archaeologists.

November

of The Battalion staff pose in costume during their Halloween print on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024

Aggies head to Palmetto State

No. 10 A&M football travels to South Carolina on Saturday

By DJ Burton Sports Writer

The 12th Man and Kyle Field have propelled Texas A&M football to its No. 10 ranking this season.

“Everything that they do for our program, I want them to understand how much we appreciate it, and we appreciate their support,” coach Mike Elko said during Monday’s press conference.

“We appreciate how they’re there for us through thick and thin, no matter what.”

At 6:30 p.m. Saturday, the Aggies will march into Williams-Brice Stadium and try to beat the South Carolina Gamecocks without a home-field advantage in their third away game this season.

The two squads first met in 2014 and have since come to know each other well. The Ag gies have taken home the Bon ham Trophy — modeled after James Bonjam, a South Carolina alumnus and Ala mo hero — nine times in the 10 meetings and will look to make it 10 times on Sat urday. Heading into the contest, A&M is rolling. It has trudged its way to a 5-0 conference record for the first time since 1998 during its journey to a 7-1

mark in the Big 12.

The Aggies have no intention of slowing down, Elko said.

“I think [the players] are locked in and focused on what we’re capable of,” Elko said. “I think what we’re capable of has got to be the next step, growth, development. If we finished 5-3 in the SEC, I don’t think anyone in our locker room would be real happy with that.”

The Gamecocks have found themselves with a 2-3 conference record on their way to a 4-3 start to the season. The Aggies have yet to lose on the road, and South Carolina has lost as many as it has won at home this season. The last time the Maroon and White ventured to Columbia, South Carolina in 2022, the Gamecocks came out on top, 30-24.

This year’s South Carolina squad has two close losses to very good programs. The Gamecocks lost to No. 16 LSU on a missed field goal as time expired in Week 3. In Week 7, South Carolina took No. 7 Alabama to the brink before Gamecock freshman quarterback LaNor-

ris Sellers threw an interception, sealing it for the Crimson Tide. South Carolina has played up to its opponents this year — expect Saturday to be no

“I think this will be the biggest challenge of the year to date,” Elko said. “This is going to

be an extremely talented team, 4-3, coming off of a bye week. Certainly could be 6-1, easily.”

Both Elko and Gamecock coach Shane Beamer have emphasized physicality when building their programs. The Aggies have established themselves as one of the best defenses in the land under Elko, and A&M is among the top of the SEC in interceptions, first downs allowed and rushing defense.

Sellers has been serviceable for the Gamecocks’ offense against Top 25 opponents, throwing for 513 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. A&M is among the best in rushing offense, led by junior running back Le’Veon Moss. Moss has 757 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns and is averaging 6.4 yards per carry in 2024, among the best in the SEC.

“The [Aggies’] offensive line is really impressive,” Beamer said Tuesday. “When you talk about physicality, it starts with that running back, and he is a downhill back.”

The Gamecocks will bring a strong defensive front to the table to try and neutralize Moss.

“In the games that they’ve been really successful, the defense has taken the game over in so many ways,” Elko said. “I think it’s by far the best group that we’ve played to date.”

The Aggies and Gamecocks will have their work cut out for them on Saturday. In the SEC, it does not matter what a team’s record is — but rather which team shows up to play that day. Both coaches said they like their guys in the defensive battle.

“If you love tough, gritty, physical football games, this is the one for you,” Beamer said. “If you don’t, then this ain’t the place for you on Saturday night.”

Outshot and out-rebounded

A&M drops exhibition against Houston in NCAA Tournament rematch, 79-64

By Justin Chen Sports Writer

Though the UConn Huskies won the coveted sweepstakes of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, one of the most memorable and thrilling games took place in the second round between two instate foes when the No. 9 seed Texas A&M Aggies took on the No. 1 seed Houston Cougars.

While not the most “flashy highlight” game played, each team traded blows — including a game-tying buzzer-beater 3-pointer from then-senior forward Andersson Garcia — until the Coogs stood victorious with a narrow 100-95 overtime-victory.

With months passed and shake ups to both tournament teams, the two squads got an early look at each other when No. 13 A&M visited No. 4 Houston on Sunday night. In front of a sizable crowd at the Fertitta Center that breathed life and momentum into the Cougars, the Aggies dropped the exhibition, 79-64.

A&M’s defensive second half breakdown

Though Houston lost some key players such as guard Jamal Shead, coach Kelvin Sampson still had his Cougars’ offense as dangerous as ever as they came right out the gates. Within the first minute of the game, redshirt junior G Emanuel Sharp knocked down an open three, a sign of things to come. The first 10 minutes of the first half belonged to the Cougars as they pounced on several open 3-pointers, taking advantage of their dribble penetration kickout gameplan, forcing late closeouts from the Aggies and taking an early 28-17 lead.

Coach Buzz Williams responded by changing up the defensive

scheme for the Aggies by first deploying a near full court press then switching to a 2-3 zone-esque coverage when the ball crossed half. It forced a rare Houston turnover, but a deep stepback three from graduate G L.J. Cryer forced Williams to change defensive looks again.

He kept the masked zone coverage look but abandoned the press and had his players stay home on Houston’s dribble penetration, forcing tough threes and contested floaters that left Houston in a drought and closed the gap to 3528 before a buzzer-beater Cryer three put the Cougars back up by 10 going into halftime.

With adjustments in mind, whatever Sampson said to his squad worked.

Though the Aggies managed to find success with their closing first half defense plan, they began to give up the baseline in hopes of trapping the penetration. This in turn gave up the rotating Houston shooters who moved from the wing to the baseline as soon as A&M trapped.

With the intent of confusing the Cougars, the Maroon and White also switched off from their successful zone back to man-toman coverage, which only increased Houston’s success of finding the open man and gave the home crowd the juice it needed to spur the game-winning second half spark.

A second scorer, or scoring options, are needed

Throughout the majority of the game, only one Aggie managed to crack scoring double-digits — and it’s no surprise it’s graduate G Wade Taylor IV. However, in years past, he’s had a running mate in former A&M G Tyrece Radford who’s been able to provide a second scoring threat with his tough, penetrative style of play.

However, Radford’s time in college has passed and — though just an exhibition — A&M will need an emerging scoring costar or utilize its depth to help out the high-scoring guard or else it will be in trouble.

Just by himself, Taylor had 12 first half points, flexing off his range and cracking through Houston’s defensive scheme, penetrating and finding open players down low and taking it all the way when needed. Unfortunately for the star guard, it proved to be his best half.

After Houston figured out that Taylor was the only threat in the moment, the Cougars honed in on the Dallas native, forcing five second half turnovers with double team blitzes as soon as he crossed halfcourt. It snowballed into a deep deficit of 72-46 that the Aggies could never get out of.

Though senior G Manny Obaseki staged a late second half comeback, pouring in 11 points in the last period, it was a “too little, too late” effort when the game was out of reach.

While A&M struggled to get shots going, Houston — on the coattails of transition threes and its drive-and-kick offense — had four players reach double-digit scoring.They also weren’t afraid to shoot, letting 31 shots from deep fly, contrasted with only 18 A&M threes attempted.

Board man gets paid

Just a year ago, Williams’ hardnosed, get-hands-dirty mentality had the Aggies No. 1 in rebounding in the 2023-24 season, with Garcia and Radford at the helm.

However, Williams has to be displeased with being outrebounded by the upstart Cougars, especially on the offensive glass as Houston worked for 19 total offensive rebounds. Though some shots bounced favorably towards the nearest Cougar, Houston got after the 50/50 balls and won the battle down low, tacking on second chance points.

While not the tallest player, 6-foot-8 sophomore F Joseph Tugler snatched eight offensive boards by himself, winning position down low and leading the team in “hustle points.”

“Our effort wasn’t there today,” Obaseki said. “We got killed on the boards, [and] we got to work a lot more on that.”

Texas A&M Aggies running back Le’Veon Moss (8) reacts after Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed’s (10) touchdown during Texas A&M’s game against LSU at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

Chris Swann — THE BATTALION

Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Noah Thomas (3) is tackled by LSU Tigers cornerback Zy Alexander (14) during Texas A&M’s game against LSU at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

Adriano Espinosa— THE BATTALION

Texas A&M Aggies forward Andersson Garcia (11) dunks the ball during Texas A&M’s charity exhibition against Houston at the Fertitta Center in Houston on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.

Chris Swann — THE BATTALION

Texas A&M Aggies forward Pharrel Payne (21) drives the ball during Texas A&M’s charity exhibition against Houston at the Fertitta Center in Houston on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.

Chris Swann — THE BATTALION

Aggies face questions at quarterback

A&M to face tough test from stellar Gamecock defensive line

By Mathias Cubillan Sports Writer

Coming off a culture-setting win over LSU that propelled Texas A&M to No. 10 in the AP Top 25, coach Mike Elko now faces a quarterback controversy for the second time this season.

With a looming road trip to face off against the vaunted South Carolina defense, the decision on who will lead the offense becomes even more critical.

After starting redshirt sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman struggled in the first half against the Tigers, redshirt freshman QB Marcel Reed powered the Aggies to a victory with three second-half touchdown runs. With LSU woefully underprepared to face Reed’s dual-threat skill set, the Maroon and White only required Reed to throw the ball twice, an untenable game plan against the Gamecocks’ front seven.

“We’re not in a really good timing rhythm of the quarterback going through his progressions in the right timing, the wideouts being in the right windows in the right timing,” Elko said. “And then, when all of those things are happening, some-

times the O-line’s failing, and that happened more Saturday night than it has in previous weeks.”

The bedrock of South Carolina’s defense is the two scalded dogs that fire off the edge of the defensive line to generate pressure for the nation’s 13th-best total defense.

Freshman edge rusher Dylan Stewart has tallied 4.5 sacks and provides the quick-win pressure that tilts an offensive line’s protection in his direction. His bookend, Georgia Tech transfer EDGE Kyle Kennard, gives the defense the stouter presence it needs — as exhibited by being second in the nation in tackles for loss per game and third in sacks per game.

“[The Gamecocks] are extremely talented,” Elko said. “Their front is phenomenal. … They got the transfer from Georgia Tech and the freshman playing for them on the edge. Both of those kids are going to be first-round draft picks.”

Having dynamic players gives the Gamecocks’ defense the ability to get pressure without blitzing additional rushers, allowing the defense to be a robust run-stopping unit. Ranking third in the SEC in rushing defense, South Carolina, in theory, has the blueprint to stop the A&M offense.

“What they’ve done is successfully turn people over and create opportunities for their offense,” Elko said. “So in the games they’ve been really successful, the defense has tak-

en the game over in so many ways.”

A&M’s rushing offense has continued its dominance, landing as the ninth-best unit in the country with a variety of players factoring in. Junior running backs Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels both average well over 4.5 yards per carry. Reed’s legs have been a major factor when he plays, making him the third player on the team to tally five or more rushing touchdowns this season, joining Moss and Daniels.

If A&M can establish the run against South Carolina, the Aggies should have no trouble controlling the game’s tempo and creating enough offense to get out of South Carolina with a win. But if the Gamecocks force the Aggies to play left handed and lean on the passing game, A&M could find points hard to come by.

Roaming around the South Carolina secondary is junior safety Nick Emmanwori. The ballhawk has magnets in his gloves, hauling in four interceptions and batting down two more passes. South Carolina defensive coordinator Clayton White moves Emmanwori around his zone defense like a chess piece to hunt matchups and confuse quarterbacks.

“[South Carolina] has a firstround safety who’s 6-foot-3, 225 pounds back there,” Elko said.

The Aggies’ quarterbacks will be forced to deal with pressure and dissect an opportunistic secondary.

On paper, Weigman seems like the better choice, given his knack for navigating muddy pockets, but against LSU the passing production simply wasn’t there. Reed undoubtedly gave A&M a spark, but with a week of preparation, South Carolina won’t be beaten as easily by zone read plays in the quarterback run game.

Elko’s quarterback decision is not only pivotal for Saturday’s result but also A&M’s broader quest for the College Football Playoff. With stakes rising every week, countering South Carolina’s defensive brilliance will be another valuable step forward for the Aggies.

“[South Carolina] is by far the best group we’ve played to date,” Elko said. “Playing them coming off of a bye week where they got extra preparation, and they are gonna be really dialed in on what they want to do against us. It’s going to be a huge challenge.”

Momentum a focus for A&M defense

Success in trenches guides Aggies in SEC

By Noah Ruiz Sports Writer

Following a stellar outing against one of college football’s premier offenses in LSU, the No. 10 Texas A&M defense has its sights set on dominating South Carolina’s offense to keep both hands on the wheel of the driver’s seat towards an SEC title.

The task of maintaining the Aggies’ SEC conquest starts in the trenches and the opposing run game, which was nearly perfectly corralled by the A&M defensive line on Saturday. A maroon and white brick wall was cemented in the Kyle Field grass, allowing only 24 rushing yards on 23 attempts. The 1.0 yardsper-carry average is the lowest the Tigers have mustered all season.

Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman’s crew has also made a living getting to the quarterback, racking up 19 sacks this season. No one has been as effective in this category as junior defensive end Nic Scourton, who holds responsibility for five sacks. Scourton’s mere presence is enough to keep opposing offenses away from his side of the line, as he is fifth in FBS in tackles for loss with 12.5.

With the Aggies’ line seemingly improving each week, senior running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders will have his work cut out, averaging 4.4 yards per carry on the season. With only 33 rushing yards in USC’s previous contest against

Oklahoma, Sanders will need a breakout game to stand a chance against a deep A&M rotation.

“I mean, look what we are able to do rotating people around, being able to bring in guys fresh later in the game,” coach Mike Elko said.

“There is quality in our depth that allows us to rotate and continue to allow us to improve as the season goes on.”

South Carolina’s offensive line could be in for a rough outing with little to no margin for error. The Gamecocks’ front five has conceded 32 sacks through seven games and is set to face one of the top defensive lines in the country.

Senior defensive tackle Shemar Turner and junior DE Shemar Stewart represent elite pass-rushing ability and will be hungry to add to

the opportunity to impose their will on their competition — beware the Brothers Shemar.

In the backfield, senior cornerback BJ Mayes will look to replicate his superb performance against LSU, having hauled in two critical interceptions that would guide the Aggies to a victory. If Mayes and A&M interception leader sophomore safety Marcus Ratcliffe can stay stingy in the backfield, the Aggies will have a chance to win the turnover battle.

The X-factor for the Gamecocks comes in the form of redshirt freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who has been South Carolina’s man all season — apart from senior QB Robby Ashford’s Sept. 21 victory over Akron. Sellers has kept his squad in contention with top-20

ing by a combined five points.

“He’s the starting quarterback for a reason,” junior defensive tackle Albert Regis said. “I respect him for that. I commend him for that.

Whether he’s a better runner or thrower doesn’t concern us. We treat every quarterback the same.”

Sellers’ running ability sets him apart from the Maroon and White’s more recent opponents, as he has tallied 247 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground this season. The Aggies’ defense must be prepared to face a two-way foe in the Gamecock quarterback, a responsibility that will be tasked to star sophomore linebacker Taurean York.

But the 2024 team captain is no stranger to the big moments. Leading the Aggies in tackles with 47 to

for the A&M D-line if Sellers escapes containment, whether it be back in coverage, on the line or on a blitz.

Perhaps the biggest story of this game will be if A&M can minimize the chunk plays through the air, which seemingly plague the team at least once a week. Freshman wide receiver Mazeo Bennett Jr. poses the greatest vertical threat for the Gamecocks, producing a team-leading 270 yards and three touchdowns. If there’s anyone who can take advantage of A&M’s occasional soft coverage, it’s Bennett. With that in mind, Bennett will most likely be the primary focus of junior CB Will Lee III. Lee has been playing at an all-conference level for the majority of the season, sporting a team-best nine pass breakups and an interception.

If Bennett is unable to break free from “The Blanket,” South Carolina has a reliable target in sixth-year tight end Joshua Simon. Far from a stand-alone blocker, Simon leads the Gamecocks in catches with 20 to go with two touchdowns and 185 receiving yards.

A&M’s defense can not afford to underestimate the capabilities of South Carolina’s offense if it has any chance of escaping what could easily be a trap game for the only undefeated team in conference play.

On that note, if the Aggies stick to their fundamentals, lock down the run game and force yet another team to be one-dimensional, there will be further hope that A&M can win out for the rest of the season and cruise its way to Atlanta with a spot

LSU wide receiver Aaron Anderson (1) breaks a tackle off Texas A&M linebacker Daymion Sanford (27) during Texas A&M’s game against LSU at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

Chris Swann— THE BATTALION

Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Jabre Barber (1) gets tackled in the air by LSU Tigers safety Sage Ryan (3) during Texas A&M’s game against LSU at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

Adriano Espinosa— THE BATTALION

GALLERY: Football vs. LSU

By Adriano Espinosa, Hannah Harrison and Chris Swann

Texas A&M made a 38-23 comeback against the LSU Tigers in front of a recordbreaking 108,000-plus crowd at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

(Top) A member of the Corps of Cadets holds a pumpkin during Texas A&M’s game against LSU at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

Texas A&M running back Le’Veon Moss (8) runs the ball during Texas A&M’s game against LSU at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

Texas A&M linebacker Scooby Williams (0) looks at LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) during Texas A&M’s game against LSU at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

Texas A&M defensive lineman DJ Hicks (13) sacks LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) during Texas A&M’s game against LSU at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed (10) is lifted by offensive lineman Kolinu’u

Faaiu (61) and offensive lineman Ar’maj Reed-Adams (55) during Texas A&M’s game against LSU at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

Texas A&M defensive back BJ Mayes (20) makes an interception during Texas A&M’s game against LSU at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

The Corps of Cadets drum line marches onto the field before Texas A&M’s game against LSU at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy (2) attempts to stiff arm Texas A&M linebacker Solomon DeShields (22) during Texas A&M’s game against LSU at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

(Right) Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Turner (5) watches referees dispute his penalty during Texas A&M’s game against LSU at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

The Aggies take the field before Texas A&M’s game against LSU at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

GALLERY: Equestrian v.s. South Carolina

Photos by Micah Richter

Hanna Olaussen moves around the arena in the horsemanship portion during Texas A&M’s meet against South Carolina at the Hidebrand Equine Complex on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024.

Gracie Casebolt performs a sliding stop in the reining portion during Texas A&M’s meet against South Carolina at the Hidebrand Equine Complex on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024.

Millie Landon moves around the arena in the horsemanship portion during Texas A&M’s meet against South Carolina at the Hidebrand Equine Complex on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024.

Alexa Leong performs a jump in the jumping seat portion during Texas A&M’s meet against South Carolina at the Hidebrand Equine Complex on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024.

Millie Landon waits to compete in the horsemanship portion during Texas A&M’s meet against South Carolina at the Hidebrand Equine Complex on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024.

Anna Harris celebrates after her ride in the reining portion during Texas A&M’s meet against South Carolina at the Hidebrand Equine Complex on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024.

A member of the equestrian team gives one of the horses a pat after competing during Texas A&M’s meet against South Carolina at the Hidebrand Equine Complex on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024.

Anna Harris moves around the arena for the reining portion during Texas A&M’s meet against South Carolina at the Hidebrand Equine Complex on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024.

From Aggieland to tailgate heaven

Former A&M defensive lineman Jay Arnold builds online niche from football to barbecue

By Ian Curtis Features Editor

When folks think of Jay Arnold, they might think of mayonnaise.

It’s Dec. 30, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Former Texas A&M defensive lineman Jay Arnold is on national television shoving as much mayonnaise as he can down his gullet as part of a “millionth fan” promotion with the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

It’s a promotional stunt designed to entertain fans and al-

low the game to stick out from the dozens of other bowl games during December. And a stunt like that needs a personality to match.

That’s where Arnold comes in.

The former A&M player has become a sort of traveling jester of the college football — and sports as a whole — world, the jolly giant eating barbeque, drinking shoeys and meeting fans wherever he goes. The bucket-of-mayonnaise trip is only his most well-known appearance.

“I’m here for the shared experiences that we all get to have as sports fans and fans of food,” Arnold said. “… I don’t do this for me as much as I do it just to hopefully have some great conversations with people over shared love.”

But make no mistake: Arnold

knows his ball. Just ask Dave Campbell’s Texas Football senior writer and Arnold’s Aggie War Pod co-host Mike Craven.

“I think most people see Jay as this big, jolly, mayonnaise-eating, road-tripping, singing Creed; you see him doing the silly stuff and having a lot of fun,” Craven said. “He’s a really funny guy, right? He’s the humor of our show. He breaks it up because I can be a little too serious, so that works with us, but he’s a really smart football mind. He played it for a long time. He understands more positions in the defensive line. I think that’s probably a thing that Jay doesn’t get enough credit for.”

Arnold played under former A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin and late defensive line coach Terry Price after arriving at A&M as a 3-star recruit.

After a successful playing career, Arnold found a niche in content creation while writing a handful of posts for Good Bull Hunting, the A&M SB Nation blog.

“I was always an avid reader growing up,” Arnold said. “And reading kind of transferred its way into writing, and through writing and the opportunity that I had to do some of that, I’ve just kind of got into all other aspects of the content creation world, whether that’s podcasting or videos or whatever.”

Fast-forward nearly a decade, and Arnold has had his hand in various pursuits: The Aggie War Pod with Craven, NASCAR con-

tent for Apollo Media and the Houston Chronicle’s SEC power rankings as well as miscellaneous mixed-martial art and barbeque content whenever something comes up.

“These are all just things that I’m passionate about,” Arnold said. “And that makes it a little bit easier to take the time to sit down and do content on them because they’re subjects that I would watch and I would consume no matter what, even if I wasn’t doing content. I would still be watching college football, I would still be watching NASCAR, I’d still be watching MMA and I’d still be eating barbecue.”

Arnold’s flagship piece of adventure is #SendJayAway. What started as a Twitter poll tournament to see which game he would attend during A&M’s bye week in 2022 has blossomed into an annual way for Arnold to put a spotlight on the outsiders and unseen parts of college football by allowing fans to vote on which game he will attend — be it an SEC clash or a Division III rivalry.

“It’s getting to go to places that maybe, you know, may not be on the top of everybody’s radar,” Arnold said. “I get to shine a light on them and get to experience the things that make those places special to people.”

Last season’s trip took him to NCAA Division II South Dakota School of Mines & Technology’s O’Harra Stadium, one of the more unique venues in the coun-

try due to its three tiers of parking spaces used instead of stands in a drive-in fashion that allows fans to tailgate while watching the game.

“Last year’s road trip up to South Dakota Mines, I think, has to be one of the coolest experiences of my life,” Arnold said. “Not just in content, but getting to see a part of the country that’s not talked about enough. … It’s just such a unique experience. And it was really cool to get to see firsthand.”

Arnold has certainly found a niche influencing the subset of football fans that also have his interest in the underappreciated — the kind who would shop at Homefield Apparel, the vintage collegiate apparel company for which Arnold offers a discount code for his 16,000 followers on X.

“Everybody knows Jay,” Craven said. “He’s a big fan favorite. All the diehards really love Jay. All the sickos from all these really small schools are big Jay Arnold fans.”

But the biggest influence Arnold hopes to have isn’t about products or promotions or things fans buy: It’s putting a spotlight on the people he is able to meet through his content and trips like #SendJayAway.

“There’s something that’s hard to put into words about how great it is to see people talk about something that they enjoy,” Arnold said. “And that’s always something that makes my content journey so worth it for me.”

Keeping opponents under lock and key

A look into A&M defensive star Solomon Washington’s career

By Justin Chen Sports Writer

In an era of college basketball where offense reigns supreme and highlights from near-logo threes to baptizing-poster dunks are seemingly everywhere, Texas A&M junior forward Solomon Washington’s tranquility lies on the defensive end. He slaps the hardwood, clenches his fists and — like a shark smelling blood in the water — plays with a ferocity that’s seemingly never-ending. Through two seasons, it has paid off for the Aggies.

While Washington enters his third year with the Maroon and White, the team opens up the 2024-25 season as the 13thranked team in the nation, tied for the highest preseason ranking in program history.

Despite the hype and the potential of where the program could head — especially after pushing then-No. 1 Houston to its limits in last year’s NCAA Tournament — Washington and Co. aren’t worried about any outside influence or expectations.

“[There’s no extra pressure] from us,” Washington said. “It’s probably from and for the outsid-

ers, the people that’s not on the team, but from us, we know what we have to do to be the team we need to be.”

For Washington, it means maintaining his blue-collar, chipon-his-shoulder, always-hustling brand of basketball. This sort of underdog mentality has been instilled in him since he was a kid. Though he towers over players at 6-foot-7 now, the New Orleans native didn’t always have the necessary height for basketball — especially on the offensive side.

“As a kid, I’ve always played up with the older guys in the neighborhood, in [Amateur Athletic Union],” Washington said. “Just me always being one of the smallest guys on the court — you have to have the most heart. You have to take pride on defense, like, ‘Your man can’t score, or you’ll never get picked up again.’”

That motivation and mentality was accentuated in high school, where Washington earned the moniker “The Five-Star Stopper” en route to being the 2022 recruiting class’s No. 1 player in Louisiana. While his defense and athleticism mainly took the cake for scouts, Washington also gained notoriety for his trash talk:Though mainly reserved for his matchups, he got social media traction for an interaction with a parent at an AAU game in high school.

“You going to be fouling all game,” the parent said to the young Washington.

“You watching me play, goofy,” Washington clapped back before putting the finishing touches on the game with a crowd-draining, exclamation mark windmill reverse slam.

The fiery personality carried over into his tenure at A&M, highlighted on college basketball’s biggest stage. The first round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament saw Washington take on Nebraska guard and social media sensation Keisei Tominaga.

In the regular season, Tominaga racked up 3-pointer after 3-pointer from everywhere on the hardwood, cultivating an upset win over 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey and the No. 2 Purdue Boilermakers. With Tominaga’s hot hand bound to go off at any given moment, Washington was tasked with being one of his primary defenders. The drama didn’t disappoint.

The two playmakers traded buckets and stops with trash talk sprinkled in. It reached its climax in the second half, when Tominaga helped off his man and blocked a Washington paint attempt, yelling in front of his face and picking up a technical foul.

But the Five-Star Stopper got the last laugh as A&M went on a roll for the rest of the game to close out the Cornhuskers, 98-83, with Tominaga being limited to just six shots in the second half.

For the upcoming season, Washington has his sights on an in-conference opponent in Ar-

kansas and senior G Johnell Davis.

“A matchup I’m looking forward to is Arkansas,” Washington said. “Especially against Johnell Davis. Last year, he got the best of me, so I’m looking forward to that [rematch].”

Though he has donned plenty of jerseys during his basketball career, the one thing that hasn’t changed is Washington’s relationship with his mother — his biggest inspiration.

“I never saw my mom give up, no matter how hard it got,” Washington said with a smile. “No matter the circumstances, she always had a smile on her face.”

Sophomore F Solomon Washington (13) dunks during Texas A&M’s game against Missouri at Reed Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.

CJ Smith — THE BATTALION

Adriano Espinosa— THE BATTALION

Photo courtesy of Jay Arnold

Jay Arnold poses with a jar of mayonnaise at the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022.

Around the SEC:Week 10

By Matthew Seaver Asst. Sports Editor

No. 19 Ole Miss at Arkansas

Saturday, Nov. 2 — 11 a.m. on ESPN Razorback Stadium — Fayetteville, Arkansas

Last week, Ole Miss won a scrappy battle with Oklahoma, 26-14, while Arkansas absolutely shredded Mississippi State, 58-25. The Rebels and Razorbacks both have efficient offenses, averaging 39.5 and 33.3 points per game, respectively, but what separates the two programs is their defense.The men from Oxford, Mississippi boast the No. 1 scoring defense in the country, holding opponents to just 11 points per game. This game will have huge implications for both squads, as Ole Miss needs to run the table for any chance of qualifying for the College Football Playoff, and Arkansas seeks to become bowl eligible after going 4-8 in 2023.The Rebels are going to domesticate these wild hogs.

Prediction: Ole Miss 28, Arkansas 17

Florida at No. 2 Georgia

Saturday, Nov. 2 — 2:30 p.m. on ABC EverBank Stadium — Jacksonville, Florida

Both of these teams enjoyed bye weeks in Week 9 as they kicked their feet up and watched the rest of the conference. This classic SEC rivalry dates back to 1915 and eventually earned the nickname “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” because of the mass tailgating at the neutral site game.

The Bulldogs have won three games in a row, last dropping a game to the Gators in 2020. There is no way that the boys in Blue and Orange keep up with the men in Red and Black when they face off. Get the Gatorade ready, because this is going to be a hard watch for Gator fans.

Prediction: Georgia 35, Florida 10

Kentucky at No. 7 Tennessee

Saturday, Nov. 2 — 6:45 p.m. on SEC Network Neyland Stadium — Knoxville, Tennessee

The Tennessee Volunteers were able to relax during Week 9, while the Kentucky Wildcats got spanked by the Auburn Tigers, 24-10. Kentucky now finds itself in secondto-last place in the SEC with a 1-5 record in conference play. Tennessee, on the other hand, has rebounded from its early upset to Arkansas to win two one-score rivalry games against Florida and Alabama. While the Volunteers’ offense is not as dominant as once thought, they still manage to get the job done on Saturdays. Kentucky has been putting teams on upset watch all season, including a near defeat of Georgia and a take-down of thenNo. 6 Ole Miss. Tennessee is 4-1 in black jerseys and is soon to be 5-1.

Prediction: Tennessee 42, Kentucky 13

Vanderbilt at Auburn

Saturday, Nov. 2 — 11:45 a.m. on SEC Network Jordan-Hare Stadium — Auburn, Alabama

Auburn managed to snap its fourgame losing streak in Week 9 when it took down Kentucky. Vanderbilt, on the other hand, lost to Texas by only three points when the Longhorns came to town. If the Commodores can redirect and take the victory home, the Black and Gold will be bowl-eligible for the first time since

2018. If the Tigers can win this game, they will achieve back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Auburn has found ways to lose time and time again, and Vanderbilt has stayed in every single game it’s played this season. Welcome to the Twilight Zone, SEC fans, where Vanderbilt wins in October.

Prediction: Vanderbilt 31, Auburn 28

Players to watch as A&M takes on South Carolina

Questions plague A&M offense while Wrecking Crew prepares for grind-it-out offense

By Eric Liu Sports Writer

Coming off a dominant 38-23 victory versus then-No. 8 LSU, No. 10 Texas A&M football heads to South Carolina. Here are a few players to watch when the Aggies take on the Gamecocks this Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Marcel Reed, redshirt freshman quarterback, Texas A&M

Subbed on in the second half versus the Tigers in relief of redshirt sophomore QB Conner Weigman, Reed reignited the Aggies’ offense and put on a show.

In stark contrast to the quick-passing RPO game that LSU had bottled, offensive coordinator Collin Klein decided to take a page out of the service academies’ books and went to the read option.

The Tigers’ defense had no answer to the change as defenders were left guessing as to whether Reed would hand the ball off or keep it himself. In the five full drives

he played, A&M went on to score each time with four touchdowns and a field goal.

Coach Mike Elko has yet to give an indication as to which quarterback will start against the Gamecocks. No matter the decision, expect Reed play at some point and showcase his dynamic ability.

Raheim Sanders, senior running back, South Carolina

South Carolina won’t be wowing anyone with its explosive play, but its grind-it-out offense is exactly the type of game it wants to play. Sanders pairs with redshirt freshman QB LaNorris Sellers to create a steady rushing attack. Sanders is a big bruising back who will punish anyone who tries to meet him up the middle.

Despite a heavy dosage of runs to the inside, the Maroon and White should be wary of letting him get to the outside, where “Rocket” can showcase his surprising speed, such as his 66-yard touchdown against LSU in a 36-33 loss on Sept. 14.

Shemar Stewart, junior defensive end, Texas A&M

The Gamecocks’ offensive line has acted as a sieve up to this point, surrendering the second-most sacks in the nation with 32. The Aggie Wrecking Crew will be able to exploit this matchup, even with fourman rushes. Expect South Carolina to give a lot of attention to junior DE Nic Scourton, but don’t forget about his partner on the other side of the line.

Stewart has had a quiet last couple of weeks, but this matchup could serve as his breakout game. An edge rusher with plenty of physicality, look for lots of power moves to quickly get past the lineman and straight to Sanders.

Nick Emmanwori, junior defensive back, South Carolina

Despite its offense being middle of the pack, South Carolina has been a tough out for all the teams it’s played thanks to one of the best defenses in the nation. The

only team that may boast a better defensive line than the Aggies, the Gamecocks’ front contains multiple future first rounders who can make opposing quarterbacks’ lives a living hell. Constant pressure leads to bad decision making, and Emmanwori is lurking in the secondary to capitalize on those mistakes.

A big, lanky cornerback with plenty of speed, the Aggies should have an eye on Emmanwori at all times.

Fifth in the nation in interceptions, Emmanwori doubled his season total after his two-interception performance against Oklahoma on Oct. 19. On the first play of the game, Emmanwori kept step in step with his receiver on an out route and leaped to pick off the ball.

Later in the first quarter, freshman QB Michael Hawkins Jr. was hit while he threw, and the ball landed in Emmanwori’s waiting arms, who took it 65 yards to the house for a pick-6.

This is going to be a game of inches.

Golf closes fall season with second-place finish

Cayetana

Fernández García-Poggio

By Luke White Sports Editor

The top of the leaderboard at the Charles Schwab Women’s Collegiate Challenge took on a maroon and white hue on Monday and Tuesday as No. 19 Texas A&M women’s golf closed out the fall schedule with a runner-up finish at Ridglea Country Club in Fort Worth.

The Aggies fired a 7-over 859 to claim second place in the field of 11 teams, finishing just two strokes back of No. 15 Wake Forest in first. Sophomore Cayetana Fernández García-Poggio grabbed the individual title at 4-under 209, while freshman Vanessa Borovilos continued the youth movement in a tie for second place with a 2-under 211. It’s the first individual title of Fernández García-Poggio’s college career and the highest finish for A&M this year. Kentucky also represented the SEC in sixth at 20-over while SMU and TCU finished in third and fourth place, respectively. Baylor and Texas Tech added further Lone Star State flair in seventh and 10th, respectively.

claims first individual title of career

“We were in it right until the very end,” coach Gerrod Chadwell said in a press release. “We battled and were very tough today and this week. This was a good note to end the fall on because I felt like we got better every tournament. I was really proud of Cata and Vanessa for how they played. They both competed extremely well. I am excited for our girls to have the offseason here to rest and get ready for the spring.”

Senior Adela Cernousek tied for 17th less than a week after she garnered 2025 Epson Tour status with a win in the Qualifying Stage of the LPGA Q-Series. Alabama transfer Kynadie Adams tied for 29th place and senior Lauren Nguyen tied for 48th. Competing individually, sophomore Sky Sudberry tied for 37th.

Fernández García-Poggio found herself trailing Borovilos through the first day’s action as Borovilos tied for the top spot at 3-under 139 after two rounds. She came out of the gates hot, carding a 4-under 67 in the first round, capping it with an eagle on No. 18.

“We have seen it coming with

Vanessa,” Chadwell said. “She played really well in the practice round, so it is great to see that carry over into the tournament.”

Borovilos responded with a 1-over 72 in the second round, while Fernández García-Poggio kept things close by logging a 1-under 70 to tie for fourth at 1-under 141 through Monday. Cernousek found herself just two strokes behind and tied for 11th at 1-over 143.

Fernández García-Poggio saved her best golf for Tuesday, when she carded a 3-under 68 with five birdies to catapult into the top spot. Borovilos produced a 1-over 72 in the third round to fall into a tie for second, her first career top-10 finish.

Adams was one of the field’s biggest risers on the final day, jumping 13 spots to 29th after collecting six birdies for a 1-under 70 round. Cernousek shot a 4-over 75 on Tuesday but extended her top-20 streak to 12 tournaments.

A&M is back in action on Jan. 27, 2025 at the Match in the Desert at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club in Gold Canyon, Arizona.

Around the country: Week 10

From a top-five matchup in State College to No. 1 Oregon at Michigan and a battle of ACC title contenders, football fans are in for some unforgettable faceoffs

Fresh off their biggest rivalry win of the season, the Miami Hurricanes are flying high as they prepare to face the Duke Blue Devils at Hard Rock Stadium. With an unbeaten 8-0 record and a coveted No. 5 ranking in the AP Poll — their highest in seven years — the Hurricanes are set to host the Blue Devils, a team that nearly toppled No. 22 SMU last week. The matchup promises to be a battle of Miami’s explosive offense against Duke’s gritty defense, with each team eyeing a critical win.

Miami’s passing and efficient rushing game — especially in redzone conversions — makes it likely to maintain a lead against Duke. Senior QB and Heisman candidate Cam Ward built a strong connection with senior wide receiver Xavier Restrepo, who has 710 yards and six touchdowns, giving Miami a consistent deep threat.

The Hurricanes also bring a productive rushing attack, spearheaded by junior running back Damien Martinez, whose efficiency in the red zone with eight rush-

ing touchdowns has been crucial. However, the Hurricanes’ offense will face a challenge against a Blue devil defense that showed resilience its their last matchup against SMU. Duke forced six turnovers, Junior linebacker Tre Freeman, had a 10-yard interception. On the other hand, senior defensive tackle Kendy Charles and junior DT Aaron Hall put together four hard-earned plays which prevented SMU from breaking through the one-yard line. Duke’s bend-don’t-break defense could cause issues if Miami underestimates its physicality upfront.

Miami’s offense needs to capitalize on Duke’s inconsistencies — building an early lead would force the Blue Devils to play catchup.While Duke’s defense has its moments, Miami’s balanced attack will likely wear them down over four quarters. Ultimately, the Hurricanes have the firepower and depth to overcome Duke’s defensive efforts and should come out victorious.

Prediction: Miami 38, Duke 14

Saturday, Nov. 2 — 7 p.m. on ACC Network

Gerald J. Ford Stadium — Dallas

Is it too early to say the Pony Express is back?

No. 20 SMU sits at 7-1 and 4-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play in its first season in a power conference league since the fall of the Southwest Conference in 1995. Averaging just over 39 points a game, the Mustangs have the 15thbest scoring offense in the nation, ranked 26th in the country in total offense and are in contention for a spot in the conference championship game. But to get there, they’ll have to get past No. 18 Pittsburgh, who is 6th and 25th in those same two categories. Meaning, we’ll be in for an ACC shootout under the lights in Dallas. The Mustangs’ only blemish came against No. 9 BYU in overtime. This will also go into overtime, and be much higher scoring than that earlier 18-15 bout — but this time, SMU gets the dub.

Bitter rivals meet again when the Buckeyes head to Happy Valley to face the Nittany Lions in a matchup with huge playoff implications.

Coming off a loss against thenNo. 3 Oregon, Ohio State managed to bounce back to take a closer-than-expected 21-17 win against Nebraska. Senior quarterback Will Howard was his usual efficient self, which was expected due to the wealth of NFL-caliber weapons he has at receiver.

The story of the game, however, was the lack of running room for the usually dominant Buckeye attack. Ohio State can expect more of the same this weekend as it fac-

Prediction: SMU 47, Pitt 45 (OT)

es the No. 8-ranked Penn State rushing defense.

Penn State cruised to a 28-13 victory against Wisconsin, but all eyes will be on junior QB Drew Allar’s injury. Allar went down with a left knee injury in the second quarter and didn’t return to the game. Redshirt sophomore QB Beau Pribula performed well in his stead, but it’ll be a gametime decision as to who will take the ball under center. Both teams have lockdown defenses, so it’ll be a battle to see which offense can break through. It’s a toss up, but I’ll take the Nittany Lions and their home-field advantage in a narrow victory.

Prediction: Penn State 27, Ohio State 24

Saturday, Nov. 2 — 2:30 p.m. on CBS

The Big House — Ann Arbor, Michigan

The newly-ranked No. 1 Oregon Ducks are headed on the road to The Big House to take on the defending national champions, the Michigan Wolverines. Oregon is coming into this game with an undefeated 8-0 record after a 38-9 beatdown against Illinois. In this game, senior QB Dillon Gabriel threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns. Junior RB Jordan James tacked on 83 rushing yards on 15 carries and senior WR Tez Johnson contributed six receptions with 102 yards and a touchdown. Michigan is entering this game with a 5-3 record and coming off a 24-17 win against their in-state rival Michigan State as senior QB Davis Warren threw for 123 yards and a touchdown. Junior QB Alex Orji contributed 64 rushing yards

and a touchdown off of six carries and junior tight end Colston Loveland recorded six receptions for 67 yards and two touchdowns.

Both teams have had great success throwing and running the football with a healthy balance between the two. The Ducks’ offense will be sure to test the Wolverines defense as it is averaging more than 35 points per game while tallying up over 467 yards of total offense per game.

The Big House will pose a hostile environment for the Ducks, and both teams will bring incredible energy to this game.

While Wolverine fans would love to see them take down the No. 1 team on their homefield, it will be difficult. Ultimately, Michigan will fall and Oregon will continue its winning streak.

Prediction: Oregon 28, Michigan 14

Graphic by Ethan Mattson — THE BATTALION

Sophomore Cayetana Fernández Garcia-Poggío during the Bryan Regional of the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship at Traditions Club on Monday, May 6, 2024.

Saturday, Nov. 2 — 11 a.m. on FOX Beaver Stadium — University Park, Pennsylvania

Saturday, Nov. 2 — 11 a.m. on ABC/ESPN+ Hard Rock Stadium — Miami Gardens, Florida

By Shalina Sabih Features Writer

No. 4 Ohio State at No. 3 Penn State

By Eric Liu Sports Writer

Duke at No. 5 Miami

By Ian Curtis Features Editor

No. 18 Pittsburgh at No. 20 SMU

By Roman Arteaga Sports Writer

No. 1 Oregon at Michigan

Graphic by Pranay Dhoopar — THE BATTALION