A South Carolina football loss could change the way some view Texas A&M.

However, the picture hasn’t changed for the No. 15 Aggies.

A&M (7-1, 5-1) remains atop the SEC standings with No. 7 Tennessee, and the Aggies still control their destiny in a quest to reach the SEC Championship Game and College Football Playoff.

Even during an open week, their approach did not change. It won’t change either when they return from that open week and meet New Mexico State (2-7) Saturday night at 6:45 at Kyle Field.

“I think it’s business as usual, with maybe a little understanding that the urgency needs to be increased,” A&M coach Mike Elko said earlier this week. “Everyone in our building understands that these opportunities don’t always present themselves. We have a special opportunity. We are at this point in the season and we have everything under control.

“We certainly want to take advantage of those opportunities when they arise. We have no margin (for mistakes). We have to go. It’s time to go.”

The question is: how far can A&M go?

That could be determined by how the Maroon & White replace injured running back Le’Veon Moss and how much they improve the tackling, which was abysmal in the 44-20 loss to South Carolina.

“We’ve got to figure out how to replace Le’Veon and all his loads and all his yards,” Elko acknowledged. “You look, and you try to figure out, ‘This is what we have now. How are we going to get football moving effectively?'”

They start by promoting Amari Daniels in the featured back role. Daniels averaged nearly 5.0 yards per carry while rushing for 466 yards as Moss’ understudy.

Quarterback Marcel Reed also wants to be incorporated more into the running game.

Defensively, the tackle hadn’t been a major problem since the season-opening loss to Notre Dame. But after missing 25 tackles against South Carolina, A&M certainly needs to refocus.

New Mexico State seems like a perfect opponent for sharpening the running game and working on tackling skills.

The visiting Aggies (yes, New Mexico State is also known as the Aggies) – who upset Auburn last season – lost more than thirty players to the transfer portal.

One of the losses was star quarterback Diego Pavia, who is now at Vanderbilt. He led the Commodores to a victory over Alabama.

Without Pavia, New Mexico State has had problems at that position. Three quarterbacks have started this season. Santino Marucci, who has thrown for 439 yards, will start against A&M.

Quarterback issues are just one factor in New Mexico State’s only overtime wins over Southeast Missouri, 23-16, and Louisiana Tech, 33-30.

Still, Elko said New Mexico State is not without talent. He’s especially impressed with running backs Seth McGowan and Mike Washington, who have combined for 1,172 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

Elko also warned that receivers TJ Pride and PJ Johnson III have the ability to make big plays.

However, New Mexico’s defense was problematic. It ranks 127th in the nation in points allowed. Eight opponents have scored at least 30 points.

But Elko said NMSU’s multiple looks could cause problems for A&M.

“They get three-down and four-down (sets),” Elko said. “They’re playing on a lot of different reports, so they’re going to challenge us to identify fronts, identify shots and make sure we’re operating at a level that we need to.”