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Ryan Tannehill had a perfect Big 12 record as a starting quarterback, right up until last weekend.
The senior will have to get back on track personally while helping his teammates forget about the second-half collapse against No. 5 Oklahoma State as the Aggies prepare for Saturday's game against No. 18 Arkansas in Dallas.
''We are looking to rebound from last week,'' Tannehill said. ''We know we didn't finish like we needed to in the second half. We are excited to get on that field and prove that we can finish.''
The 14th-ranked Aggies had a 17-point halftime lead before numerous penalties and four second half turnovers, including three interceptions by Tannehill, helped the Cowboys rally for a 30-29 win in the Big 12 opener for both teams.
It was a sour loss in particular for Tannehill, who came off the bench to help A&M to a win over Kansas last year that broke a three-game losing streak. He led the Aggies to six straight wins after taking over as starter.
One of the reasons Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman benched Jerrod Johnson in favor of Tannehill last season was because of Johnson's excessive turnovers. The three interceptions Tannehill had Saturday equaled the number he threw in all his regular-season games combined last season.
Sherman isn't concerned about Tannehill in that area.
''We had three interceptions, and the one where he got hit while throwing is only one I'll put on him,'' Sherman said. ''The other two we didn't run the route. We weren't where we were supposed to be when we were supposed to be there, and Ryan is a precision quarterback. I'm not worried about Ryan he's a great competitor and will be ready to lead the team in this ball game.''
Receiver Jeff Fuller, who was the target on two of the three interceptions and who slipped on one of them, seemed to take the loss harder than anyone on the team.
''I was there for the picks and both of them I take the blame for,'' Fuller said. ''Slipping is uncalled for. I'm a senior. It didn't happen last year and it shouldn't happen this year. It's just rough to be such a huge part of what happened.''
Part of Tannehill's task is making sure Fuller, a fellow senior, shakes off the loss so the younger players follow his lead.
''We talked and he told me everybody's going to be looking around and we've got to be upbeat and ready to work ... and forget about last week,'' Fuller said.
Johnson was still the quarterback when the Aggies played the Razorbacks last season. He was intercepted in the end zone, one of four Texas A&M turnovers that day, and Arkansas won 24-17.
Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino can see a difference in Texas A&M with Tannehill in charge.
''He's brought a real calming, confident effect to their offense,'' Petrino said. ''When we played them a year ago, they were a little out of sync and I think their quarterback was frustrated and he threw the ball away a lot against us ... since Tannehill's been in there, they've been very calm. He operates the offense, he can make plays running the ball which is a concern.''
Tannehill was unhappy that the Aggies had just 15 yards rushing in the second half against Oklahoma State and knows they have to run the ball better for the offense to do well this week.
''We want to be a balanced offense,'' he said. ''We have good running backs and a good offensive line. We want to get those guys their carries and establish the run game.''
It's fitting that the Aggies will face a team in the Southeastern Conference this week after it was announced on Sunday that Texas A&M will leave the Big 12 to join the league next season. Tannehill doesn't see any significance in the matchup falling in the same week as the announcement.
''Arkansas is on our schedule even if we were staying in the Big 12,'' he said. ''It's just a game, it doesn't matter what conference you're in. Once you're on the field it's just like any other game in the nation.''
