College Station, Texas ? Texas A&M running back Jorvorskie Lane waited impatiently on the sideline as he watched the Aggies’ 42-14 loss to Iowa State on Saturday at Kyle Field.

The freshman wondered, like many others, why he wasn’t called on to help more after rushing for a combined 237 yards in A&M’s previous two games, both victories. He finished with four carries for 22 yards.

“I was just like, ‘Man, what happened? What did I do?”‘ Lane said.

Lane’s disappearance from the game plan is one on a growing list of questions swirling around the Aggies (5-3 overall, 3-2 Big 12 Conference) as they head into this weekend’s game at No. 16 Texas Tech (7-1, 4-1).

And all the little questions lead to one big one: Why aren’t the Aggies better?

“Well, that is a long answer, and there’s a lot of components to that answer, not just one or two,” coach Dennis Franchione said Tuesday.

With all-purpose quarterback Reggie McNeal and nine defensive starters back from last season, the Aggies were ranked 17th in the preseason and expected to duel Texas and Oklahoma for Big 12 supremacy.

Injuries have touched almost every position, and 11 have ended players’ seasons. But injuries can’t be blamed for all the problems.

Texas A&M quarterback Reggie McNeal

The offense has struggled since the opener, the heavily hyped McNeal has been off as much as he’s looked good, and A&M’s defense is one of the worst in the country, giving up 426 yards per game.

After today’s game at Tech, the Aggies finish against Oklahoma and Texas, casting serious doubt on the prospects for a winning record and a bowl berth.

But not much else worked against Iowa State in Saturday’s 42-14 loss. The Aggies finished with 347 yards, their lowest total in three games, and a season-high three turnovers.

And now they face the Red Raiders, who are outscoring opponents by an average of 46-19. Tech beat A&M, 59-28, the last time the Aggies went to Lubbock.

“Everybody’s got to be on the same page,” McNeal said. “If not, it could get ugly.”