To remind those who might’ve forgotten, it was Auburn football, after all, that pulled off the wild four-overtime thriller last fall to crush Texas A&M’s playoff hopes. Hugh Freeze snagged his only win over a ranked team on the Plains that day, and the sting of that loss still lingers in College Station. Fast forward, Mike Elko has the Aggies back near the top of the conversation again, and he isn’t shying away from reminding folks how brutal life in the SEC really is, and just highlighted exactly how and who AU needs to defeat A&M on Saturday.

On his weekly Aggie Football Hour, Mike Elko laid it out plainly. “Unbelievably talented team. The NFL tells you how talented these SEC teams are each year. We beat each other up, so maybe all our records aren’t 10-2 or 11-1 like other leagues. You don’t play an SEC game and not feel it after. Their back is against the wall so they’re going to come out fighting.” That’s the sound of a coach who knows that rankings, hype, and projections mean little when helmets start colliding in this conference.

One challenge for the Tigers will be their defense will need Keldric Faulk to contain contain the chaos that is Marcel Reed. The Aggie quarterback isn’t just a dual-threat, he’s a weekly nightmare for DCs. Experts are already penciling Faulk in as a first-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft. The Auburn defensive star has already piled up 15 quarterback pressures, a couple of sacks, and more than a handful of run stops through four games. Oklahoma were the ones who saw him wreck havoc last weekend So ferocious their QB left with a broken hand courtesy of his relentless pressure.

Freeze should be counting on Faulk to be the answer to Reed’s mobility, because if Reed escapes that first wave, the Aggies’ explosive receivers are waiting downfield to turn small openings into big gains. That’s Aggies arrive at Jordan-Hare brimming with confidence. At 3-0 and fresh off a marquee win over Notre Dame, Mike Elko’s crew is starting to look like a program that could muscle its way into the playoff picture.

Their QB1’s magic with the ball, a wideout group that can stretch the field, and a defense that bends but rarely breaks. Auburn, though, is licking wounds from their loss to Oklahoma. The Sooners exposed just how thin the margin for error is, and now the Tigers must rebound against an even more dangerous opponent.

Mike Elko was feeling generous enough to give not one, but two hints to his permanent rivals

If Hugh Freeze wants Auburn’s offense to find its rhythm, this next step is simple courtesy of his rival coach. Keep feeding Cam Coleman. Why? Because the sophomore wideout is too good to be anything other than a focal point. Jackson Arnold’s rough showing against the pass rush last week made it painfully obvious where he missed Coleman wide open multiple times, including what should’ve been walk-in touchdown plays. Even when the targets weren’t landing in the bread basket of the WR Cam, he has been one of the best men for AU in the field.

But that’s not a reason to shy away from him. At 6’3”, 200 pounds, Coleman is the complete package, blending speed with sharp route-running that constantly gives him separation. When asked about the young stud Mike Elko, about his OU display, he was direct: “I thought we saw [the incredible talent] last year too. Yeah. I just think he’s gotten more and more comfortable with SEC play,” Elko said. “His body looks a little bit more mature… and certainly one of the best in the country.” With more than five targets per game already, it’s clear: Auburn’s offense runs best when Coleman runs the show.