Texas A&M Football: 3 takeaways from win over Ole Miss in Week 12

For Texas A&M football’s head coach Kevin Sumlin, defeating the Ole Miss Rebels in Week 12 could have saved his job for the year.

Texas A&M football head coach Kevin Sumlin is on one of the hottest seats in the country. Meanwhile, the Ole Miss Rebels are looking to put together a good run to finish out the regular season, despite being ineligible to make it to a bowl game no matter what.

Ole Miss was coming off a win over ULL in Week 11 and was looking for the sixth win of the year against the Aggies. The Rebels could also use some momentum heading into the Egg Bowl against the in-state rival Mississippi State Bulldogs. Seeding at the bottom of the SEC West was also on the line for the Rebels.

For Texas A&M, confidence should have been carried over from the massive 55-14 crushing of the New Mexico Lobos in Week 11. However, Sumlin’s squad got off to another slow start against an SEC West opponent. The Aggies needed a big win since they still have the No. 20 LSU Tigers on tap in the final week of the regular season.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Nick Starkel got another start over true freshman Kellen Mond, looking to win his first start against SEC opposition. Starkel had a huge performance, with four touchdowns against New Mexico. It was by far the best game the year for him.

Meanwhile, JUCO transfer quarterback Jordan Ta’amu continued to get the nod under center for the Rebels in place of injured sophomore Shea Patterson. Yet, senior running back Jordan Wilkins sparked the Ole Miss offense in recent weeks.

Here are three takeaways from Texas A&M’s big win over the Ole Miss Rebels in Week 12.