Texas A&M football: 5 reasons Aggies can run the table

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The defense is fresh

One of the biggest reasons Texas A&M would falter down the stretch was their defense would be gassed after having been on the field so often with Sumlin. His offense was one of the fastest in the country and even the longer touchdown drives would be three to four minutes.

Things have changed under Jimbo. The Aggies have gone from 86th in time of possession on offense a year ago to third overall this season. They are No. 1 in that category in the SEC by about four minutes (prior to Week 8’s games). It has led to this:

Jimbo Effect: A year ago, Texas A&M was 86th in time of possession.

This year, 3rd.

Last year's Aggie defense defended 72.5 plays per game. This year's, 54.4
— Zach Barnett (@zach_barnett) October 16, 2018

If you pace that out for an entire season, that is about 215 snaps fewer than in 2017, which is the equivalent to almost four fewer games played based on the average number of plays faced in 2018. That difference is astronomical. It will mean the defense, which is much improved under Mike Elko, will be as fresh as anyone else in the country.