Debbie Downer’s Final Act: A Win, but Will It Be Enough? Texas A&M Closes the Season with a Wild 38-35 Victory Over Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Well, well, well… the Texas A&M Aggies finally showed up when it counted—sort of. After a season of ups, downs, and full-on collapses, Coach Gonzales’ crew clawed out a 38-35 victory over Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl, closing the season at 9-4. But while the scoreboard showed a win, the story behind the numbers paints a more complicated picture.
This game was a microcosm of the Aggies' season—moments of brilliance tangled with head-scratching mistakes. Rueben Owens, who has carried this team on his back all year, put on a masterclass with 31 carries for 148 yards and a jaw-dropping five touchdowns. He was everywhere, punching through defenders, catching passes, and dragging A&M toward relevance one play at a time. Owens wasn’t just the engine today; he was the entire train.
And then there was Marcel Reed—Coach Gonzales’ midseason QB change who might have salvaged what little dignity this season had left. Reed wasn’t perfect, throwing two costly pick-sixes, but he battled. Completing 15 of 20 passes for 263 yards and adding 53 yards on the ground, Reed showed enough grit to make you think, “Maybe there’s something here after all.” But for every beautiful throw or timely scramble, those turnovers linger like a sour taste.
The Aggie defense deserves a medal—or at least a week at a spa. Despite the Wolverines putting 35 points on the board, the A&M defense only surrendered 14 points themselves. Michigan’s other 21 came courtesy of two defensive touchdowns and a 97-yard kick return. When it came down to it, the defense held firm, forcing Michigan to punt late in the game and giving the Aggies the lifeline they desperately needed. Nic Scourton led the charge, snagging a momentum-shifting interception off a TE screen—just the kind of chaos A&M needed to stay alive.
But let’s not sugarcoat this: the Aggies made it hard on themselves.
For a team that managed 26 first downs and controlled the ball for nearly 19 minutes, how do you only win by three points? Turnovers, bad field position, and some sloppy play nearly undid what should’ve been a comfortable victory. Michigan ran just 40 plays all game, but big plays—like a 59-yard Donovan Edwards scamper—kept the Wolverines in it far longer than they should have been.
When the final whistle blew, it was Rueben Owens barreling into the end zone with 15 seconds to play, putting a bow on the game and his stellar season. A&M’s defense shut down Michigan’s last-gasp effort, and Coach Gonzales walked off the field knowing his team escaped this one by the skin of their teeth.
So What’s Next?
That’s the million-dollar question.
Coach Gonzales, candid as ever, didn’t shy away from addressing his uncertain future. “I think they’d say I underachieved this season… I let a couple games get away, and we didn’t show up at all in others,” he admitted postgame. He’s not wrong. Blowout losses to LSU and Texas and an embarrassing performance against Arkansas left fans questioning whether Gonzales can really hang in the brutal SEC.
But here’s the other side of that coin: Gonzales’ team showed fight when it mattered. Wins over South Carolina, Michigan, and Missouri proved the Aggies can play with anyone when they care to show up. Rueben Owens has been a revelation, and if Marcel Reed can continue to grow, the offense might finally find some balance next season.
Yet, Gonzales is far from safe. An 9-4 record might get you a pat on the back in the Sun Belt, but in the SEC? It gets you a meeting with the athletic director and an awkward “we’re looking at other options” conversation. And if A&M decides to go “big coach hunting,” as Gonzales suggested, don’t be surprised to see him coaching somewhere in the AAC next year.
The Season in a Nutshell
Texas A&M’s Season 30 campaign was one of inconsistency and frustration. A team that could beat the #3 team in the nation and dominate a bowl game still somehow laid eggs when the lights were brightest. The defense did its best to keep the Aggies afloat, but Gonzales’ offense was a mess far too often.
Rueben Owens will go down as the hero of this season, dragging his team through the mud when no one else could. But for a program that expected to compete for SEC titles and playoff spots, this was another year of unmet expectations.
What’s Next for Aggie Football?
If Coach Gonzales stays, he’ll need to clean house—new schemes, new discipline, and a fresh start. If he goes, the Aggies will likely set their sights on a splashy hire to revive their hopes. Either way, big changes are coming to College Station.
For now, Aggie fans can at least take solace in this: they went out on a high note. A gritty win over Michigan, a 9-4 finish, and a glimpse of what could be.
But is that enough? If you ask me… probably not.
Debbie Downer NDL Media and Associated Press, Beat Writer
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