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Texas A&M Football: LSU makes a stand in another wild week in the SEC

By Mary Catherine McCord

BATON ROUGE, LA - OCTOBER 14: Head Coach Ed Orgeron of the LSU Tigers smiles on the sidelines during a game against the Auburn Tigers at Tiger Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The LSU defeated the Auburn 27-23. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA - OCTOBER 14: Head Coach Ed Orgeron of the LSU Tigers smiles on the sidelines during a game against the Auburn Tigers at Tiger Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The LSU defeated the Auburn 27-23. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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1. Texas A&M kicks its way to the cusp of the Top 25

In seven weeks Texas A&M (5-2, 3-1) went from the sky falling down, to competing with No. 1 Alabama (7-0, 4-0) closer than anyone all season and started the second half of the season off with a win – and a gutsy win at that. The Texas A&M team of the last three seasons wouldn’t have pulled out a win against Florida (3-3, 3-2) at the Swamp.

Even a Johnny Manziel-lead Aggie team couldn’t even take down Florida at home. The 2017 Gators are certainly very different from the 2012 Gators, and are actually rather similar to the 2017 Aggies. Both teams are starting freshman quarterbacks in Kellen Mond and Feleipe Franks.

Neither quarterback had a stellar day through the air, going a combined 25 for 50 for 309 yards, three interceptions, and no touchdowns.

RELATED: What we learned about Texas A&M in Week 7

But the Aggie defense, which has been remarkable this season (barring the collapse at UCLA), has been the real superheroes of the 2017 season. After putting up 5 sacks on Saturday the Aggies lead the NCAA with 28.

The defense – and special teams (what an effort the last few weeks by punter Shane Tripucka and place kicker Daniel LaCamera!) – are the reasons the Aggies are sitting at 5-2 rather than 4-3 or 3-4 right now.

After seven weeks of hard work (and a crazy week 6 and 7 of college football) the Aggies have fought their way into the Coaches Poll, coming in at 24. They remain unranked in the AP Poll, but sit just outside of it in 27th with 46 votes.

This week, the Aggies have a bye before three straight home games. It’s safe to say things are trending up for the Aggies. Finally.