The Battalion — October 12, 2023 by The Battalion

Freshman president elected Duncan Poling looks to increase first-year involvement on campus By Mia Putnam @MiaBatt25

Student Government Association criticizes city ordinance By Ayden Castillo @ayeitsayden_ College Station’s “no more than four” ordinance has been restricting more than four unrelated individuals from living in a single-family household since 1940. For weeks, Texas A&M’s Student Government Association, or SGA, Executive Cabinet and Student Senate have been work-

ing to inform students about the rule while also speaking with city officials to reform it. This comes after 180 violations were reported in 2022, compared to 13 in 2021. “The City has limited the number of unrelated persons who are permitted to reside as a single-housekeeping unit in a residential district to a maximum of four since the adoption of its first zoning ordinance in 1940,” College Station’s website reads. On Wednesday, Oct. 4, Former-Speaker of the Student Senate Andrew Applewhite called a special session to discuss SGA’s plans to advocate for the student body. At the meeting,

three speakers addressed the senate and discussed the economic impact of this ordinance and how the student body should go about advocating against the policy. Economics professor Jonathan Meer started by breaking down the economic effects the ordinance will have on the housing market if strict enforcement of the ordinance continues. “If you reduce occupancy, there will be the same number of people looking for housing, and there will be fewer available housing slots,” Meer said. “Something’s gotta give, either some people will end up without housing and there are more people looking for housing

than there are housing slots, or prices rise until some people drop out of the market and find some alternative way of finding shelter.” Meer said reducing the supply of houses in Bryan-College Station would increase prices. “When we reduce supply by taking units off of the market, what we should expect is fewer units being rented at a higher price — that is, fewer units with more rent,” Meer said. “One way that people may adapt to these higher prices is by living further away, which increases the amount of traffic you might exORDINANCE ON PG. A3

Graphic by Nikhil Vadi

Yearbook welcomes new editor in chief Emily Escebedo works to revitalize program, provide fresh start By Abby Jarrett @AbbyJarrett The Aggieland Yearbook has turned a new page in leadership with hospitality, hotel management and tourism sophomore Emily Escobedo taking her place as editor-in-chief. With over 130 years of history, the Aggieland Yearbook is one of the longest standing traditions in Texas A&M’s history, Spencer O’Daniel, the Student Media adviser, said. Covering everything from senior class portraits to monumentous sporting events, the yearbook includes all things relating to the A&M school year. With a new staff and new editor-in-chief, or EIC, HEAT ON PG. A3

The Aggieland is looking to rebuild from their struggles in the past, Megan Williams, former Aggieland EIC and anthropology junior, said. Williams said she is looking forward to a fresh start for the team. “We didn’t have an adviser during the year that I was EIC,” Williams said. “It was very stressful. It was quite a challenge to navigate all of the aspects of building a book with no guidance. I’ve been doing this since high school, but I’ve never had to do everything on my own. It was quite an adventure.” With more support from O’Daniel and Escobedo taking her place as EIC, The Aggieland is ready for a new chapter, Williams said. “I’m really looking forward to seeing what she can do with a staff,” Williams said. “I didn’t have a staff. I built the whole book by myself, so I’m really excited to see where she takes the book. The book has good bones, but to take it to the next level in terms of content and

things we’ve covered I think she’s going to bring it to the next level.” O’Daniel said from the start, Escobedo was the clear choice for the new EIC. “I am excited about her energy,” O’Daniel said. “I know I have really high expectations of what I want to do to rebuild this staff and it feels like she believes in that vision and is committed to putting in the time from now until the end of the book.” Escobedo said high school was when she was first introduced to working on a yearbook. She found her passion in being able to write, take photos and design pages all in one place. By her senior year, Escobedo was editor-in-chief. While she is excited about the semester and the chance to get the yearbook off the ground, the change of pace and different structure is something she is still learning how to manage, Escobedo said.

“It’s such a different experience than running a yearbook that was 100 pages, compared to this yearbook which is anywhere between 300 to 400 pages,” Escobedo said. “There are 70,000 kids on this campus. It’s a lot to cover. It’s very intimidating. I’m excited to create these new relationships and hopefully get comfortable with the staff and building relationships.” With the bones of the Aggieland standing strong from what Williams created, Escobedo said her main focus right now is establishing connections with the new staff. “There are so many people that seem really excited about this and dedicated, and we haven’t even started anything yet,” Escobedo said. “Just seeing their attitudes about it was really exciting. Obviously, the yearbook is always exciting, but the staff is what we’re really focused on this semester.”

Engineering freshman Duncan Poling was elected as the freshman class president on Sept. 29 with 37.72% of the vote. He is a member of the Corps of Cadets, enjoys the outdoors and has been a College Station resident his entire life. Poling said his Aggie story started with his grandfather back in 1986. “My dad was an Aggie, Class of [19]90,” Poling said. “His dad was an Aggie, Class of [1969] and was in the band. My dad was also in the Corps, and I have lived in College Station my whole life, right on Dexter Drive. It’s only a 10-minute walk from where I live on campus now.” Inspired by his grandfather and father’s legacies at Texas A&M, Poling said being an Aggie was in his blood. “I have lived in the shadow of Aggieland my whole life,” Poling said. “It has been awesome [and] the culture that A&M brings to this town is amazing. I have had some really cool college students in my life before I came to A&M, so I really fell in love with the culture here and the Aggie family that it fosters.” Poling said he wanted to run for freshman class president because he grew up loving Aggieland and wanted to serve it in a new way. “My dad is so passionate about A&M, and he has introduced me to all of its culture from a young age,” Poling said. “I have grown quite an understanding of what it means to be an Aggie and about what makes this university great. I am really passionate about keeping those positive aspects of the Aggie culture going and improving the Aggie experience that I have always heard of growing up.” After launching his campaign, Poling said he focused on three initiatives that were important to his platform: a commitment to core values, more opportunities for freshmen and a stronger connection between students and Aggie culture and traditions. He said he chose these initiatives because of how important fostering a good experience for freshmen is. Creating opportunities for freshmen is an extremely important topic to him, Poling said. “I think it is sad when I see freshmen that didn’t get any opportunities to serve or find a community,” Poling said. “They only go through their freshmen year as a student with nothing else. I want to help freshmen find what their niche is at A&M and help them have the best Aggie experience that they can.” Poling said he can solve this issue by helping create a better website for freshmen to find information on clubs or activities they may want to join. “We want to make it easier to navigate different categories, interests and hobbies so they can find a place that they can fit in,” Poling said. Poling said he also wants to help improve communication between the university and incoming freshmen. “I think that there should be an increased communication from the university to incoming freshmen POLING ON PG. A3

NEWS

The Battalion | 10.12.23

Christmas comes early

File Photo by Abbey Santoro

A joint sponsorship between Santa’s Wonderland and College Station signals increased tourism and economic growth this winter.

City renews sponsorship, continues holiday festivities By J.M. Wise @j_m_wise25 Christmas began in February in Bryan-College Station when a sponsorship negotiation was initiated for Santa’s Wonderland. On Sept. 28, the College Station City Council agreed to renew a $75,000 sponsorship between the city and Santa’s Wonderland, a Christmas-themed amusement park located off Highway Six. The deal included joint advertisement, family activities and a month of festivities. This three-year agreement, an idea born out of a need to preserve tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic, is refocusing to include neighboring businesses in Bryan-College Station as well. City of College Station Tourism Manager Jeremiah Cook said the emphasis on Christ-

mas comes at a time when the economy is slow in College Station. “[Santa’s Wonderland] is the cornerstone of an entire campaign we run throughout December,” Cook said. “We’re really trying to get people to not only come to Santa’s Wonderland but come into College Station and spend their money locally.” The sponsorship includes shuttles and overnight parking from Post Oak Mall to Santa’s Wonderland and is a part of the Christmas in College Station campaign, an advertisement campaign marketing Santa’s Wonderland as the largest outdoor Christmas attraction in the Southern U.S. In a statement released Sept. 28th, Santa’s Wonderland said the sponsorship previously had a significant effect on the local economy. “Over 80% of guests traveled from over 50 miles away to come to College Station and experience the magic of Santa’s Wonderland,” the statement reads. “Twenty-one percent of Santa’s Wonderland guests, equivalent to

66,732 individuals, chose to stay overnight in local hotels during their Christmas in College Station experience.” The funding for the $75,000 sponsorship comes from hotel occupancy taxes, which serve the dual purpose of increasing revenue for local businesses as well as allowing for increased funding for tourism in local communities. The Christmas in College Station campaign, run by Visit College Station, places Santa’s Wonderland in the center of multiple events held during the holiday season, from Nov. 12 to Dec. 31. The events include artisan markets, a Christmas parade, the St. Nick’s Fun Run and themed event weekends. The heart of the campaign is found in hotels and signage across College Station, Cook said. Marketing junior Natalie Overend, the marketing director for Dovetail Ink in Austin, said the festivities will be the most exciting part.

“The most visible part of this campaign is all of the attractions, the Christmas lights, Santa’s Wonderland and other parts of the winter season,” Overend said. Overend said the positive effects on the economy would outweigh any disruptions in traffic the event might have. “A lot of this is marketed for the time period where college students are on winter break,” Overend said. “I see it having more of an effect on the permanent residents of Bryan and College Station.” With most college students gone during the campaign window, Cook said the need for an effective partnership between Santa’s Wonderland and College Station is important. “At the end of the day, we need visitors in town, so that our restaurants stay open, so that our retail stays open,” Cook said. “So much of that is attributed to us as local community members, but also tourists coming to visit. They play a very important role in our community.”

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The Battalion | 10.12.23

POLING FROM PG. A1 before they arrive at A&M,” Poling said. “It could be through emails or through the New Student Conference. I think that a breakout session could be good, where students could see different areas of involvement at the university.” Along with being freshman class president, Poling is also a member of the Corps of Cadets. He said this gave him a unique viewpoint while running for freshmen class president. “I would say being in the Corps gives me a unique perspective because the Corps is only 2-3% of the entire university,” Poling said. “I grew up here for the past 19 years, being friends with many A&M students. So, I have the Corps lens and the lens of being an Aggie. It’s unique in that I can see both sides.” Poling said he also enjoys spending time with friends and being outdoors. “I love road trips with friends, and I have started backpacking,” Poling said. “I love the outdoors, playing spikeball and fishing.” Poling said his advice for other freshmen at A&M this year would be to keep an open mind. “Be open to making friends with Aggies from all across campus, regardless of where they came from, regardless of their culture, because the family that doing so fosters is a more powerful bond than you will find anywhere else,” Poling said.

Kaili Gaston — THE BATTALION

Freshman Class President Duncan Poling poses in front of the Corps Quad on Oct. 4, 2023. The engineering freshman was elected with a 37.72% vote on Sept. 29, 2023.

ORIDINANCE FROM PG. A1 pect … so more congestion, more potential for accidents [and] greater wasted time.” According to Rent Data’s website, the fair market rent of houses in Bryan-College Station is more expensive than 89% of the state and 84% of the country. Joint Center For Housing Studies data shows this can be difficult for 39% of A&M students who come from families with a household income in the bottom two income quintiles. Political science professor Todd Kent spoke next, giving the student leaders advice on how to better advocate for students. He said students need to have facts, good relationships, a clear message and a platform to spread the conversation about “no more than four.” “What you find when you do campaigns of any sort is that people don’t pay attention,” Kent said. “So what I suggest is to have your

winning message and keep saying it over and over again.” Kent said as student leaders, the senate should paint a clear picture for the student body of what they are advocating for. “It’s up to us to connect the dots for the public,” Kent said. “It’s so clear to us what we are trying to do when we are advocating for a certain position, but we have to take the person that is listening to us and get them from here to there so they can understand why it’s a bad idea.” Kent said there will be challenges when advocating to city officials about what changes need to be made to the ordinance that can serve both students and College Station residents. “Public advocacy is hard work, but that’s what makes it valuable,” Kent said. “There is no silver bullet. You’re not gonna find one little message that you can shoot out there and win the day with.” Real estate agent Chad Hovde said the heavy enforcement of “no

more than four” only started recently. “The ordinance of no more than four unrelated [individuals] has been on the books for decades,” Hovde said. “It was dormant and not particularly enforced during that period of time, and about two years ago it became quite enforced.” Hovde said the ordinance makes it harder for students to find housing and could possibly spark a crisis. “We have a housing shortage,” Hovde said. “If we further restrict the areas that student housing can go then we’ll create more of a housing crisis.” At the end of the special session, the senate passed S.R. 76-01. The resolution encourages students to comply with city laws in order to uphold Aggie values, but also wants the city council to consider reform. “The Student Senate asks the city of College Station to support rezoning expansions that promote affordable housing benefiting students and other students alike … the Student

Senate fully supports the rezoning of areas that already have high concentration of students and over occupancy to middle housing,” the resolution reads. The resolution concluded by wanting to keep an open line of communication with city officials and the student body. “The Student Senate remains committed to partnership and meaningful relationships between students, administration, local government, and the community at large,” the resolution reads. Student Senate Vice President of Municipal Affairs Ben Crockett said reforming no more than four will serve the entire community positively. “We are in a rental affordability crisis,” Crockett said. “Expanding occupancy to [the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development] recommendation of two per bedroom keeps city council electable, rent down and students off the streets.”

This change cannot be completed without the help from and support of the student body, Crockett said. “Don’t wait until it impacts you,” Crockett said. “Then, it may be too late to make a difference. Sign petitions, speak to city council, vote …. There’s little difference between the student who can’t speak and the one who never uses their voice.” Crockett said advocating for fellow Aggies and all the residents of College Station falls under the Aggie Core Values. “How can I contribute?” Crockett said. “With Respect, with Excellence, with Loyalty to my fellow Aggies, with Leadership, with Integrity and with Selfless Service …. Public service is a noble calling and that makes it an Aggie calling. Will you answer the call? Or will you allow your classmates to be fined and forced out of their homes? Live by the Aggie Values.”

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OPINION

The Battalion | 10.12.23

Ticket pulling changed my mind

Ishika Samant — The Battalion

Hotel management senior Kyleigh Weikel watches Johnny Manziel’s 2012 Alabama game against Texas A&M in the ticket pull line for the 2023 Alabama game on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023.

Opinion writer says ticket pull tradition is about more than simply standing in line By Maddie McMurrough @MadsMcMurrough When I pitched this piece, I was prepared to verbally eviscerate the ticket-pulling system. Armed with my paper and pen, I was going to blow this popsicle stand — but now, I’ve realized that maybe the ticket pulling system isn’t that bad. It’s far from perfect and not as efficient as it could be, but maybe, just maybe, it does a lot of good for the comradery of the student body. Previously, my experience pulling tickets has generally been one of sweat-stained clothes, incredibly long lines and only a mediocre ticket as my reward. With 75,000 students, the 12th Man Box Office is best described as a university-approved warzone that countless students are expected to dutifully serve their time in. And yet there are those whose dedication to the time-honored ticket tradition is nothing less than admirable — but also clearly

strange. A week before ticket pull even began for the Alabama game, students were camped outside the ticket windows in their pop-up tents with 100-foot extension cords powering their computers and personal cooling fans. Surely there are better places to be, such as class, than outside Kyle Field in the sweltering College Station weather. What exactly makes these ticket-pulling enthusiasts tick? This is the question I set out to answer. So, as a true investigative journalist would, I took to the ticket-pulling line and asked the devoted students what they thought. With the 90-degree heat, I figured the students would be frustrated with the inefficiency of the system. But much to my disbelief, everyone was in high spirits. Economics freshman Caden Andarsio said that being there shows dedication, and the main goal of camping is to get tickets but also “to make memories doing it.” After asking if online ticket-pulling would be preferable, economics freshman Brady Peters said it would take away from the tradition and pose its own set of problems. “For the sake of tradition, it should stay the same,” Peters said. “If the website crashed, [it’d be] crazy.” These dedicated fish make a good point.

They’re here to make memories and to enjoy the traditions that came before them. If that means enduring the elements, then hey, at least they are having a blast doing it. For some, it’s all about the sense of community within the ticket-pulling line. Biology senior Noah Franklin said the competitive aspect makes it all worth it because of the friends he makes during the experience. “There’s a reason we do this, and it’s so we can make friends and be competitive,” Franklin said. “At this point, it’s more than a tradition.” When I asked if the student base was too big for this type of system, Franklin rebutted, “If you want to worry about the student base being too big, that’s what makes this competitive and fun.” Although all of the students in the pulling line disagreed with my online pulling proposal, accounting junior Adam Anderson offered a compromise between the two extremes. “We can still keep the physical pulling-system, but for those who aren’t wanting to stay outside all night or for a whole week even, they can just do it online, and the people who want to stick with tradition, they can do it the traditional way,” Anderson said. “I think it’s a good balance.”

An interesting idea. A hybrid system could keep all parties happy while still ensuring the traditional system stays intact. A win-win between the professional pullers who crave that ticket-pulling high, and more of the skeptical people like me who feel the monetary costs of a sports pass should be the primary sacrifice to getting into the stadium on Saturday. After all of these interviews and countless conversations about tents and pulling schedule Excel sheets, I wondered if maybe this system is doing some good for the university. I know. I just did a complete 180. But these testimonials gave me a new perspective to the time-honored tradition of ticket-pulling. Despite the inefficiencies of the system, every student there had a smile on their face, and that should be worth a thousand words. Maybe the next time I’m in line for the coveted Aggie football ticket, I’ll use it as an opportunity to meet new friends and connect with my fellow Aggies who are suffering alongside me. Maddie McMurrough is an agricultural communications and journalism junior and opinion writer for The Battalion.

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SPORTS

Ishika Samant — THE BATTALION

Junior LB Edgerrin Cooper (45) sacks Alabama QB Jalen Milroe (4) during Texas A&M’s football game against Alabama at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.

Rocky Top redemption

Football looks for first true road game win since 2021, to get back in win column By Hunter Mitchell @HunterM1001

After a hectic week of hype, hope and heartbreak, Texas A&M football has no time to wait for the smoke to settle. In fact, there ain’t no smoggy smoke on Rocky Top. There ain’t even any telephone bills. After a disappointing 26-20 loss to Alabama in which many Aggie fans felt like they had the chance to win, the Maroon and White are now tasked with going on the road to Neyland Stadium to take on No. 19 Tennessee. One of the most glaring issues for A&M last game was the struggles on the offensive line. In the second half, the Aggies’ offense could not generate any rhythm, as sophomore quarterback Max Johnson had seemingly no time to settle down and throw. In the game, the Crimson Tide’s defense had five sacks and seven QB hurries. To say this unit has to be better for A&M to have success going forward seems like a nodoubter, but it won’t get much easier for the O-line. In fact, it’s about to get much, much harder. The Volunteers are the country’s best in total team sacks, coming in with 22 sacks in just five games. Sophomore defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. is tied for fifth in the nation in sacks per game, and senior DL Tyler Baron is not far behind, tied for 21st. Offensively, the Maroon and White rank a middling 64th in sacks allowed. Luckily for the Aggies, they’re not far behind Tennessee defensively. It’s not often you have the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in a statistic square off against one another, but the Maroon and White follow right behind the Volunteers in team sacks. Junior linebacker Edgerrin Cooper is also tied for fifth in the country in sacks per game, with seven Aggies having over one sack this season. Expect to see QBs for both teams sitting on the ground this game. A lot. Other than the offensive line, the secondary was brutally exposed against the Tide. Sophomore QB Jalen Milroe torched the Aggies, throwing for 321 yards and three touchdowns. There may be some relief for A&M, however, as the Volunteers’ passing offense is a shell of what it was last year.

Chris Swann & Ishika Samant — THE BATTALION

Texas A&M fell to Alabama 26-10 during the Oct. 7 matchup at Kyle Field. The Aggies led in the first half 17-10 but were unable to secure the lead by the end of the game. A&M will travel to Tennessee to play the Volunteers on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.

“Sometimes, we’ve got to get the ball out,” coach Jimbo Fisher said. “It’s a combination. We had some protection [issues], but we had some of those balls that should have been out and had places to go with it and we’ve got to get rid of it.” After finishing the season ninth in passing yards last season, Tennessee’s passing offense comes into the weekend 69th in the country. Senior QB Joe Milton commands the Volunteers’ offense, but has not matched the production of his predecessor, Hendon Hooker. Milton ranks 14th in the SEC in yards per attempt, and the offense as a whole is 74th in the country in pass plays over 30 yards, a category it was first in last year. This is not to say there’s nothing the Volunteers do well offensively, as they have pivoted from the air to the ground this year. Tennessee ranks seventh in college football in rushing offense, averaging 230 yards per game. Junior RB Jaylen Wright is 11th in the country in rushing yards per carry and tied for 29th in rushing yards per game, while sophomore RB Dylan Sampson is tied for 24th in rushing touchdowns. “They’re a very good team,” Fisher said. “They’ve got a three-back system, [Wright, senior Jabari Small and Sampson], the running backs can all have juice. They’re strong. You think of them as fast, but they’re 210-15 pounds. Those guys are all really good players up there.” Luckily for the Aggies, their strongest defensive unit has made their living stopping the run. A&M comes in eighth in rushing defense after holding the Crimson Tide to just 23 yards on the ground last week. “[A&M] is good at stopping the run,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said. “They’re good at getting after the QB too. First of all, they’ve got really good skill. When I say that, I’m talking about their big skill up front too. They’re physical, they’re dynamic, they’re thick … you’ve got to do a great job in communication, you’ve got to win some one-on-ones when you’re in a one-on-one. Your double team’s got to be good enough to change the way the line of scrimmage looks.” For the Aggies, a win would mark the first time A&M has won a true road game since beating Missouri in 2021. It would also be the first time Tennessee has lost a home game since playing Georgia that same year. But, it will be a rocky road for the Maroon and White to reach that summit.

SPORTS

The Battalion | 10.12.23

PLAYERS TO WATCH: A&M vs Tennessee

that should be utilized on offense. Aaron Beasley and Elijah Herring, Tennessee linebackers Texas A&M football won’t get much rest Look out for the linebackers on Saturday. after a loss to No. 11 Alabama at Kyle Field While A&M is tied for first in the country last week, as a road matchup with No. 19 in tackles for loss per game with 9.5, TenTennessee sits on the horizon. The Aggies nessee is right behind with 9.4. Opposite the will look to right the ship against the VolAggies’ duo of junior Edgerrin Cooper and unteers on Saturday, Oct. 14, in Knoxville, freshman Taurean York is the Volunteers’ Tennessee. tandem of Beasley and Herring. This marks only the third meeting beBeasley leads the way with a team-high tween the two teams since A&M joined the 33 tackles after pacing the Volunteers in that SEC in 2012, with the Maroon and White stat a year ago. The senior is a force behind coming out on top in 2016 and 2020. Here the line of scrimmage with 8.5 tackles for are some players to keep an eye on at Neyloss, two of which were sacks for a loss of land Stadium this weekend. 19. Beasley has two pass breakups as well, Dylan Sampson, Tennessee running demonstrating a huge threat to opposing back quarterbacks. The sophomore Herring is Sampson is at the forefront of the conferright behind him with 30 tackles, including ence’s top rushing offense with six touchtwo for a loss, plus a quarterback hurry. downs on the ground and one through the A&M sophomore quarterback Max Johnair this season. Tennessee leads the SEC with son was sacked five times by Alabama while 231.2 rushing yards per game, a mark that’s the Aggies’ running backs picked up just 74 good for seventh in the nation as well. yards. Both the run game and the offensive With 36 carries, the sophomore isn’t one line will need to show improvement against of the Volunteers’ most-used running backs. Tennessee, but that won’t be an easy task That would be junior Jaylen Wright and with Beasley and Herring manning the desenior Jabari Small, with 61 and 53 carries, fense. respectively. However, Sampson is the one Fadil Diggs, A&M defensive lineman that Tennessee will turn to when it needs to Diggs represents one of many key comscore, as evidenced by his touchdown toponents to the Aggies’ powerful defensive tal. For comparison, Wright and Small have front. Alongside the likes of sophomore Walcombined for just three touchdowns. ter Nolen and junior Shemar Turner, Diggs Maybe more impressive than Sampson’s has racked up 18 tackles, including five for average of 6.9 yards per carry is the fact that loss and two sacks. In spite of his 6-foot-5, he has not lost yardage on any of his 36 car260-pound frame, the junior plays with great ries this season. He also averages 16 yards per athleticism in navigating around opposing catch, making him a dynamic piece of Tenoffensive linemen. nessee’s offense. The Volunteers will present arguably Moose Muhammad III, A&M wide the top rushing attack the Aggies will face receiver all season behind the trio of Wright, Small It seems like A&M fans are waiting for and Sampson. Thankfully for A&M, it brings Muhammad to truly arrive this season after the No. 8 rushing defense in college footleading the Aggies with four receiving touchball to the table, holding opponents to 84 downs in 2022. The junior showed what yards per game. That effort has stepped up in he was capable of in A&M’s final game of conference action, with the Aggies’ oppothe season, a 38-23 upset win over No. 6 nents managing just 69.7 rushing yards per LSU, with five receptions for 94 yards and a game. In the past two matchups, Arkansas touchdown. That included multiple acrobatand Alabama ran for just 42 and 23 yards, ic one-handed grabs that caught the attention Chris Swann — THE BATTALION respectively. of the college football world. If it wants to come out on top this weekThis season, though, Muhammad hasn’t Texas A&M played Arkansas in the annual Southwest Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, end, A&M can’t afford for its defense to take been able to match that same level of pro- Texas. The Aggies beat Arkansas 34-22 during the matchup on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. the day off. The good news is the Aggies duction. He’s had at least one catch in each have a score of playmakers on the defensive game to total 12 receptions for 119 yards. His ented receivers, including graduate Ainias able that Muhammad may not have the same line, highlighted by Diggs. His presence is only touchdown of the year came in the sea- Smith, sophomore Evan Stewart and sopho- number of catches as last season given the in- felt beyond the box score, as he is a veteran son-opener against New Mexico. more tight end Jake Johnson. It’s understand- creased depth, but he’s still a valuable option on the line with leadership and experience. The Maroon and White boast many tal-

By Luke White @LukeWhite03

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SPORTS

The Battalion | 10.12.23

AROUND THE SEC A LOOK AT THE CONFERENCE FOR WEEK 7

By Justin Chen

Georgia 54

@chen_justin_

1839

6-0

–

Michigan 17 1786 5-0

–

No. 1 Georgia @ Vanderbilt

Arkansas @ No. 11 Alabama

Saturday, Oct. 14 — 11 a.m. on CBS FirstBank Stadium — Nashville, Tennessee

Saturday, Oct. 14 — 11 a.m. on ESPN Bryant-Denny Stadium — Tuscaloosa, Alabama

A tale of two teams takes place bright and early between the juggernaut that is Georgia taking on a struggling Vanderbilt team. The Bulldogs have been unstoppable with an undefeated record that stretches from last season and have experience beating down the Commodores. In the last two meetings, Georgia has

shut them out while putting up 55 and 62 points. Vanderbilt has found itself in another struggling season, dropping its last five games. With the second half of the schedule filled with conference opponents, it looks like its Week 1 win over Alabama A&M may have been its last for the season. Prediction: Georgia 52, Vanderbilt 3

After initial struggles, Alabama seems to have regained its footing as it hosts a struggling Arkansas team. Sophomore quarterback Jalen Milroe led the Tide’s offense and had his best game last week against Texas A&M with the first 300-yard game of his career. Alongside Milroe in the breakout game was senior wide receiver Jermaine Burton.Though he’s been quiet this season, Bur-

ton torched the Aggies’ secondary for 197 receiving yards. Against the Razorbacks’ defense that ranks in the middle of the pack, the pair may be poised for another offensive explosion. Facing an Alabama team that is hitting its stride is not ideal for Arkansas, who has struggled. Arkansas has dropped its previous four matchups with problems on both sides of the ball.

Ohio State 1 1659 5-0 

Florida State 2 1609

5-0

 1

Penn State 1555 5-0  1

Washington 1 1507 5-0



Prediction: Alabama 34, Arkansas 21

T-7

Oklahoma 1417 

T-7 Missouri @ No. 24 Kentucky Saturday, Oct. 14 — 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network Kroger Field — Lexington, Kentucky Wrapping up the last SEC game of the day is a tangle between Kentucky and Missouri. Both teams have mirrored each other, winning the first five games and dropping its previous one. Though it lost its ranking after losing to LSU, Missouri’s season has been one of the program’s best in a while. Its offense has been consistently good, both through the air and on the ground. Junior quarter-

back Brady Cook has lived up to his last name, throwing for 13 touchdowns and has passed for over 300 yards in all but one game. Kentucky has also had a pleasant start to the season, led by senior running back Ray Davis. He’s gotten at least 50 rushing yards per game and his breakout came against the Florida Gators, where he ran for 280 yards and three touchdowns. Prediction: Kentucky 31, Missouri 28

6-0

Oregon 1417 5-0

 2

Auburn @ No. 22 LSU Saturday, Oct. 14 — 6 p.m. on ESPN Tiger Stadium — Baton Rouge, Louisiana Kicking off the late window of conference games, LSU finds itself in yet another catfight, tangling with an Auburn team that has struggled recently. LSU’s identity is split. On one hand, its offense has been near perfect, ranked as the thirdbest in the country in yards per game. Led by one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in senior Jayden Daniels, his numbers and play have been the main reason why LSU is 4-2.With 19 passing touchdowns to two interceptions as well as being the team’s second-leading rusher, Daniels

has been a sleeper candidate for the Heisman trophy. On the other hand, LSU’s defense has been terrible. It sits near the bottom of the rankings for yards given up per game and has allowed an average of 32.3 points per game. The visiting Auburn Tigers have dropped their last two games. After a strong start to the season, conference play has been Auburn’s downfall as it’s lost to A&M and Georgia. While the defense has held up its end, the offense has yet to be found. Prediction: LSU 45, Auburn 31

Texas 1230 5-1  6

USC 1229 6-0  2

Alabama 1138 5-1

–

North Carolina 1025

6-0

 1

Ole Miss 852 5-1

 3

Oregon State 832 5-1

 1

Louisville 800 

6-0

Utah 708 4-1



Notre Dame 550 5-2  7

Tennessee 540

4-1 

Duke 510 4-1



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LSU 450 4-2

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 3

Washington St. 420 4-1  7

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UCLA 406 4-1 NR

Missouri 110 5-1

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Kansas 92 5-1 NR

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The SMP represents the top 25 teams in college football as voted weekly by student journalists across the nation New entrants: UCLA (22), Kansas (24), Wisconsin (25) Dropped out: Maimi (FL) (17), Kentucky (22), Fresno State (24) Receiving votes: Kentucky (86), Air Force (83), Wyoming (75), Miami (FL) (71), Clemson (67), James Madison (43), Maryland (27), Iowa (25), Kansas State (24), Tulane (21), Colorado (18), Texas A&M (16), Oklahoma State (12), Liberty (10), Georgia Tech (10), Fresno State (9), Florida (4), Arkansas (3), Toledo (2), West Virginia (1)

Student Media Poll is sponsored by Indiana University Student Media

SPORTS

The Battalion | 10.12.23

WEEK 7: STAFF PICKS

Texas A&M vs. Tennessee

Brought to you by

Saturday, Oct. 14 at 2:30 p.m. on CBS

Ishika Samant

Zoe May

Photo Chief @Im.samant

Editor-in-Chief @MayZoella

Our dog is cuter than yours.

I just hate all UTs on principle.

Luke White

Sports Editor @Lukewhite03

ZOE

Hunter Mitchell

Asst. Sports Editor @HunterM1001

ISHIKA

I don’t remember volunteering for anything.

Beating the Volunteers would be a Tenn/Tenn. Prediction record: 4-2

Kylie Stoner

4-2

Prediction record:

LUKE Pranay Dhoopar

HUNTER

Graphics & Video Editor @dahoopermedia

Asst. Sports Editor @Sportsbystoner

KYLIE

All hope is lost.

4-2

Prediction record:

Prediction record: 3-3

A&M is the only Tenn I see.

4-2

Prediction record:

Prediction record: 4-2

PRANAY Ana Renfroe

News Editor @aeoenia

What would the Aggies do for some Rocky Top? Prediction record: 4-2

Nico Gutteridge

Asst. News Editor @nico_gjc

ANA I give up.

NICO

KYLE

Anna Deardorff

Kyle Heise

Asst. Photo Chief @Kyleheisephoto

Life & Arts Editor @Annardeardorff

ANNA

Time to bounce back.

Kyle is my father, call me Mr. Field.

Prediction record:

Prediction record: 4-2

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PHOTO

The Battalion | 10.12.23

Junior M/D Mia Pante (13) heads the ball during Texas A&M’s game against Alabama.

Junior M/D Mia Pante (13) kicks a goal during Texas A&M’s game against Alabama.

Second in the SEC West The Aggies celebrate after making a goal during Texas A&M’s game against Alabama. The Aggies went on to upset No. 19 Alabama 3-1.

Senior F Jazmine Wilkinson (21) celebrates with graduate F Sammy Smith (11) after scoring a goal during Texas A&M’s game against Alabama

By CJ Smith and Chris Swann @cjsmith.photography @chrisswannphoto A&M soccer upset No. 19 Alabama 3-1, at Ellis Field on Sunday, Oct. 8, a stark contrast to its last game, in which the Aggies suffered a disappointing loss to Vanderbilt. “Tonight we finally showed … how we can play, and it was great for the girls to show themselves that they can finish off a match,” coach G Guerrieri said. Next, A&M will travel to Auburn, Alabama to face off against the Tigers on Friday, Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Auburn Soccer Complex.

The Aggies circle up before Texas A&M’s game against Alabama. They will travel to Auburn next to take on the Tigers on Friday, Oct. 13.

Junior F Maile Hayes (8) fights with Alabama defender Macy Clem (2) during Texas A&M’s game against Alabama.

Agricultural systems management senior Mallory Peoples sits in line with her dog Dixie while working on homework.

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