Rather than Missouri gradually revealing their flaws, Texas A&M forcefully uncovered them.

Missouri breezed through the offseason and early September as a top contender for the College Football Playoff.

However, that illusion shattered on Saturday in College Station, Texas.

The No. 9 Tigers turned out to be impostors.

Texas A&M, ranked No. 21, dismantled Missouri with a punishing 41-10 victory, leading me to ponder if a genuine playoff contender emerged. Spoiler alert: it was not Missouri (4-1), who saw their eight-game winning streak come to a halt amid the noise of Kyle Field.

Fans at the stadium waved towels and cheered as points accumulated, while the song “Mo Bamba” blared repeatedly. By the final quarter, the home crowd chanted, “Overrated! Overrated!”

And who could argue? After such a poor performance, it would be generous for the Tigers to remain ranked.

Texas A&M, Not Missouri, Steps Into Playoff Discussions

After suffering a loss to Notre Dame in their season opener, Texas A&M (5-1) looked like a revitalized squad. Their defense showcased playoff-level talent while consistently penetrating Missouri’s backfield.

The lingering query for years has been whether Texas A&M’s offense would finally rise to the occasion.

Quarterback Conner Weigman started to display the NFL potential that analysts have always highlighted.

During Weigman’s time off recovering from a shoulder injury, the Aggies relied on backup quarterback Marcel Reed, who helped lead the team to three straight wins with a run-focused strategy.

When Mike Elko handed the starting role back to Weigman on Saturday, it showed he had faith in Weigman’s potential to elevate the Aggies.

Weigman impressed, throwing for 276 yards and rushing for an additional 33. My only note would be that, considering his injury history, he should consider sliding more when scrambling.

With solid protection, Weigman delivered precise throws, and his receivers consistently made plays, even when passes weren’t perfect.

“This is what we anticipated from him today,” Elko, in his first year as head coach, shared with ABC regarding Weigman.

After Missouri’s close call against Vanderbilt last month, I had mixed feelings about them, but I never expected such a disappointing display. Missouri had mastered winning in dramatic fashion in the previous year before this sharp drop-off.

Brady Cook connected with Luther Burden III for a 27-yard gain on the opening play, but that success was short-lived. Missouri’s offense struggled afterward, often finding penalties to derail any good efforts.

The Aggies dominated, outpacing Missouri in offensive production by a wide margin.

“This is our game plan for the rest of the season,” Weigman declared to ABC.

If that holds true, the Aggies might just find themselves vying for a playoff spot.

Silver Lining for Missouri: Eli Drinkwitz’s Stock Takes a Hit

Weigman’s return bolstered the Aggies’ offensive versatility, while running back Le’Veon Moss added to the success with a 75-yard touchdown run on the very first play of the second half, barely touched by a Missouri defender.

By that point, it was clear that Missouri had deceived everyone with their undefeated September, while poll voters mistakenly ranked them in the top 10.

As Moss crossed the goal line, one Missouri fan in the stands could only laugh in disbelief at the mounting 34-0 score just 13 seconds into the third quarter.

Another Tigers fan sunk his face into his arms, unable to bear witness to a team falter in their first real challenge on the road.

Take note, Missouri supporters. There may be a silver lining.

No Florida official watching this game should contemplate hiring Missouri’s coach Eli Drinkwitz for a lucrative contract during their upcoming coaching search.

Drink up, Missouri. He’s your problem now.

As the Tigers leave with their reality check, the Aggies step confidently into the playoff discussion.