Report: Texas A&M football shuts down bowl prep, operations due to COVID-19 outbreak

It looks like Texas A&M isn’t going to make it to the 2021 finish line without a major hiccup along the way.

On Tuesday, Billy Liucci of TexAgs.com reported multiple sources have informed him the Aggies have shut down all operations and bowl preparations since Saturday as they deal with a COVID-19 outbreak. Liucci added the outbreak is among mainly vaccinated players, and certain position groups have been “hit particularly hard.”

The team has been meeting via Zoom as they prepare for a Dec. 31 Gator Bowl appearance against Wake Forest. Despite an overall record that is a disappointment in College Station this year, they are seeking their third nine-win season in four years.

Elko-less Aggies to face explosive Wake Forest offense

Should everything go as planned (a lofty assumption for sure), the Gator Bowl will feature a high-octane Wake Forest offense against a stout Texas A&M defense. The Aggies allowed just 15.9 points per game this season, which is third in the nation. Of note, former Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko is no longer with the team, as he took the head coaching job at Duke.

Wake Forest is in the midst of their second season with double-digit wins in school history. The fifth-best scoring offense in the country is led by quarterback Sam Hartman who is likely to eclipse the 4,000 passing yards mark in the game. Hartman has thrown for 3,924 yards and 36 touchdowns, but his 14 interceptions jump off the page as a potential major problem against a good defense.

The Aggies have 10 interceptions this season, and eight different players have a pick. In other words, the Texas A&M defense is good across the board, and Hartman will need to avoid hasty mistakes in Jacksonville if he wants to win an 11th game.

Texas A&M will be without star tight end Jalen Wydermyer, as he announced on Monday he will forgo the bowl and declare for the 2022 NFL Draft. He finished the season with 40 catches for 515 yards and four scores. Additionally, offensive line coach Josh Henson has moved on to USC to be their new offensive coordinator.

The game is a rematch of the 2017 Belk Bowl. The high-scoring shootout was won 55-52 by the Demon Deacons and had nearly 200 plays and 1,260 yards of total offense. It remains the only time the two teams have met.