Previewing Texas A&M football's home matchup against The Citadel

After starting SEC play with a 1-3 record, the Texas A&M football program must turn its attention to its final non-conference contest against The Citadel Bulldogs, who seek to spoil the Aggies' season in College Station this weekend.

The Citadel boasts a 2-4 record through the first six weeks of the 2026 season, placing them at No. 10 in the Southern Conference. Led by head coach Maurice Drayton, who spent time coaching special teams with the Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts and Las Vegas Raiders, the Bulldogs pulled off an FBS upset in a triple overtime thriller against Charlotte in Week 2. Despite four losses on its resume, The Citadel has the coaching staff and talent to give the Aggies headaches in Week 7.

Here is a preview of what The Citadel brings to Kyle Field on Saturday:

The Citadel offense

Three players to watch: Quentin Hayes (QB), Nick Billoups (QB) and Gavin Garcia (RB)

Tale of the tape: Like the Aggies, this offense has struggled to find its identity so far. The Bulldogs rotate between Quentin Hayes and Nick Billoups at quarterback, while Gavin Garcia has received many carries at running back. Hayes has a strong arm, but struggles with his accuracy, completing just 49.2% of his passes. However, the junior from Enterprise, Alabama, is dangerous in the open field and ranks second on the team with 292 rushing yards.

Still, this group has much to be desired in 2026. The Citadel offense put up just 16 points against ETSU, 14 at Wofford and eight points against Chattanooga.

The Citadel defense

Three players to watch: Zyion Brown (LB), Jalen Wright (LB) and Maurice Bonneau Jr. (DL)

Tale of the tape: Texas A&M can't let the scoreboard deceive them about the talent the Bulldogs' defense possesses. Defensive coordinator Raleigh Jackson's unit is gritty, physical, and solid at the point of attack. Athletes like Maurice Bonneau Jr. have found success getting to the quarterback and making opposing offenses feel the heat, and the unit has notched 14 total sacks this season.

The Citadel also boasts an impressive linebacking corps led by leading tackler Zyion Brown, who has recorded 51 total tackles, four sacks, one pass deflection, one interception and one forced fumble. Brown and senior Jalen Wright will provide a massive challenge for Texas A&M's offense, including junior quarterback Marcel Reed.

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Previewing Texas A&M football's home matchup against The Citadel