Preview: Texas A&M vs. Clemson

COLLEGE STATION - Texas A&M is looking for redemption. After nearly coming back in the fourth quarter, the Aggies fell short to the Clemson Tigers at Kyle Field, losing 28-26.

But it's a new season for A&M and with a full year in Jimbo Fisher's system, the offense is expected to be more dynamic moving forward. Still, dethroning the defending national champions is no easy task. All eyes will be on the Aggies at kickoff on Saturday afternoon.

Here's everything you need to know come game time.

When: 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C.

Broadcast: ABC National

Line: -17.5 in favor of Clemson

Records: Texas A&M (1-0, SEC 0-0); Clemson (1-0, 1-0 ACC)

Clemson on offense

Trevor Lawrence is one of the game's top pocket passers right now. Following a slow start in 2018, the freshman would lead his team on a 10-game winning streak and to the National Championship. He is currently the favorite to take of the 2019 Heisman Trophy come December.

Lawrence played in final snaps against the Aggie defense last season. Splitting time with Kelly Bryant, he would go 5 of 9 for 93 yards and scored a touchdown. Now in control, the sophomore has a quality arm, great vision downfield and the ability to evade pressure to continue drives.

Clemson will also have two dominant weapons in Lawrence's arsenal against the Aggie secondary. Tee Higgins last year made three catches for 123 yards and scored a touchdown while Justyn Ross led the team with 1,000 receiving yards. Both look like future NFL stars from "Wide Receiver U" if they continue to dominate defenses.

A&M will need to eliminate either the pass or the run game. Last year, the front seven held star running Travis Etienne to a season-low 44 yards. He'll look to dominate once more after setting a career-high 205 yards last week against Georgia Tech. If A&M can limit Etienne's rushing, Lawrence will be forced to pass.

Despite being one of football's top gunslingers, Lawrence looked sluggish against the Yellow Jackets. Although the Tigers picked up the victory, their quarterback threw a pair of interceptions. Mike Elko's unit collected four interceptions against Texas State, two coming from Myles Jones in coverage.

Forcing Lawrence to rely on his targets could be a test for the Aggies defense. Against a top-caliber passer, A&M can see if their secondary will be a blessing or a liability this season. Perhaps one turnover could be the deciding factor of the outcome.

A&M on offense

The attention will be on Kellen Mond, and for a good reason. Last year, the then-sophomore threw for 430 yards and three touchdowns against Brent Venables' secondary. In the season opener, the junior from San Antonio looked to be one of the top quarterbacks heading into the season.

Mond will rely on his receivers to keep drives alive. Against the Bobcats, both Quartney Davis and Jhamond Ausbon caught six passes and scored a touchdown. Ausbon will likely be used a deep threat for his speed while Davis could be a possession receiver and targeted frequently.

KELLEN. MOND. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gbuspX7EFo
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) August 30, 2019

The run game however could be the difference maker for A&M on offense. Last year, the Tigers front seven held the Aggies to 71 total rushing yards and SEC-leading rusher Trayveon Williams to 31. With a new defensive line, Jashaun Corbin will have the opportunity to break free into the second and third level of defense. Last week, the sophomore rushed for 103 yards and broke free for three 10-plus yard runs.

The x-factor is going to be on Kendrick Rogers. The junior played minimal snaps against Texas State after dealing with a leg injury all of fall camp. Expected to be healthy, he now will have the ability to become the team's top target and a factor in the red zone. When the two met last year, Rogers led the way with seven catches for 120 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns. Should he do that again, the Aggies will have a three-headed monster in their receiving corp.

Clemson wins if they: their defense stays strong in the second half.

The Tigers had a 28-13 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Poor communication in the secondary and lack of pass rush allowed the Aggies to nearly complete the comeback. Forcing A&M to rely on their defense in the second half could give Lawrence enough time to run down the clock. If the Aggies start making a late push, Clemson could run out of luck this time.

A&M wins if they: protect Kellen Mond

Texas State did not record a sack last week. That was more because of Mond and not the offensive line. The Aggies offensive line allowed consistent pressure up the middle, forcing their quarterback to throw on the run. Clemson might have replaced their front unit, but they're still one of football's top pass rushers.

What's at stake

A&M is the first team since 1975 to face the AP top three preseason teams in a single season. On top of that, the Aggies will now play five of the current top-10 teams this year. The SEC West is one of the hardest divisions in football, making a loss challenging to overcome. Setting the tone as one of the top teams in the division starts with a win on the road. If A&M loses close, the positive is it was against a non-division opponent.

The Tigers probably will not face a tougher opponent for the rest of the season. The only remaining ranked team on their schedule at the moment is No.21 Syracuse, which they'll meet next week. Should Clemson lose, they still control their destiny to return to the playoff. A win keeps them in first place, but a loss doesn't move them that far down in rankings due to A&M's preseason hype.

Prediction

Games like this are always tough to predict. A&M is riding high following a great outing against a lower opponent. Clemson is No.1 in the rankings for a reason following their recent success. This time around, the Aggies know what to expect.

.@CoachNeuheisel calling an UPSET on Inside College Football!

#12 Texas A&M over #1 Clemson 👀 pic.twitter.com/B3I4vfqEAj
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) September 4, 2019

If Mond can duplicate his success from last season, A&M will have a legitimate chance to upset the Tigers. The defense will have to eliminate Etienne's production or shine in coverage to match the offensive success. With seven new members on the Aggies' unit, it seems like this game will be a test for their in-division schedule.

A&M will keep it close since they are one of the best teams in the country. The problem is, Clemson is slightly better. No upset this week, but the Aggies still look promising moving forward.

Final: Clemson 42, Texas A&M 38