Texas A&M · SECMario Craver’s status tests Texas A&M at Missouri
Craver is questionable with an ankle injury, while Blake Ivy is out and Terry Bussey remains unavailable for Saturday’s SEC game.
OCT 8, 2026
Texas A&M’s SEC record entering the game
Missouri’s record entering the game
Missouri yards against Florida
01 · The NewsCraver’s Status Tests Texas A&M
Texas A&M’s offense took another hit, when the Aggies listed receiver Mario Craver as questionable with an ankle injury and ruled out offensive lineman Blake Ivy. Receiver Terry Bussey also remains unavailable after a season-ending lower-body injury.
Craver carried the same designation before Texas A&M’s 34-7 win over Arkansas on Oct. 3. No replacement has been identified for Craver or Ivy.
Mike Elko pointed to the physical standard after the Arkansas victory ended A&M’s two-game losing streak.
“We challenged the guys to come out and play physical and control the line of scrimmage,” Elko said.
Ivy’s absence adds pressure against a Missouri defense that stifled Florida’s rushing attack in a 45-17 win on Oct. 3. The Tigers also gained more than 500 yards in that game, raising the cost of another slow start from A&M’s offense.
Missouri has its own availability concerns. Starting offensive tackle Cayden Green is questionable, while running back Ahmad Hardy remains out as he recovers from an offseason gunshot wound.
Texas A&M and Missouri kick off at noon ET Saturday at Faurot Field.
02 · The StakesThe Stakes
The Aggies enter at 3-2 overall and 1-2 in SEC play against a 4-1 Missouri team. A&M needs the game to stay in the conference race; a loss would be a serious setback, particularly with Craver’s availability uncertain and more help missing up front.
03 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineWhat Most People Are Missing
Texas A&M’s 1-2 SEC start has already produced more conference losses than the Aggies took during a 7-1 league season in 2025. A defeat on Oct. 10 would leave A&M 1-3 in the league before the Oct. 24 trip to Alabama. The Oct. 17 game against The Citadel separates those road assignments, but it cannot repair the conference record. Craver’s status therefore lands at the point where one missing explosive option can shape the Aggies’ path into the second half of the SEC schedule, not merely Saturday’s plan.
“We challenged the guys to come out and play physical and control the line of scrimmage”
Mike Elko04 · The Open QuestionsQuestions to Be Answered
Who gets Craver’s receiving work against Missouri?
Texas A&M has not identified a replacement, and Bussey’s season-ending absence removes another option from the receiver group. Craver supplies vertical and yards-after-catch ability. The answer will show in the starting lineup and early receiver snap distribution on Oct. 10, when A&M faces a defense that smothered Florida’s rushing attack one week earlier.
05 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching
Will Mario Craver play?
Craver is listed as questionable with an ankle injury, as he was before Texas A&M’s win over Arkansas.
Can Texas A&M control the line of scrimmage?
Ivy is out, while Missouri stifled Florida’s rushing attack and gained more than 500 yards in its last game.