Mike Elko said his Texas A&M team is focused on Saturday’s game with Auburn and not the big showdown looming with Texas.

Then again, his hilarious slip up Tuesday would seem to indicate otherwise.

“When you’re in the situation we’re in, it’s easy to focus on the task at hand,” he said. “You know, I think those big games earlier in the year, maybe you look ahead, and if we didn’t have what’s at stake, maybe you would worry about it.

“Our focus is single-handedly on Texas, I mean, Auburn right now and locked in on what needs to get done.”

Texas A&M (8-2, 5-1) needs to win the last two regular-season games to earn a berth in the SEC Championship Game, with a chance of making the CFP.

The first step, however, is a date Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium against Auburn (4-6, 1-5 SEC). The game will air on ESPN.

Marcel Reed threw two touchdown passes and ran for a third score in less than three quarters to help No. 15 Texas A&M cruise to a 38-3 win over New Mexico State. It was a bounce-back performance for Texas A&M, which was handed its first SEC loss after being shut out in the second half of a 44-20 defeat at South Carolina.

Meanwhile, Cam Coleman caught three of Payton Thorne’s career-best five passing touchdowns, and Auburn defeated Louisiana-Monroe 48-14. Thorne threw for 286 yards. KeAndre Lambert-Smith had 104 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Jarquez Hunter added 102 rushing yards.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.