Texas A&M Football: Why Aggies can make first playoff appearance in 2021

3 of 4

Jan 2, 2021; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Devon Achane (6) runs the football for a touchdown against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the fourth quarter of the game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports /

The Texas A&M Football team earned respect in 2020

The most important takeaway from the 2020 football season isn’t the actual results that the Aggies saw on the field. Rather, this team will reap the benefits of having earned respect throughout the year.

They’ll earn the privilege of having the benefit of the doubt when it comes time to assign them to a bowl game or pick teams for the College Football Playoff. After a handful of seasons of mediocrity, they were forced to be on the outside looking in during the 2020 playoff.

This was particularly difficult considering they had to watch Notre Dame, who got in above them, get blown out by an Alabama team that had beaten them earlier in the year.

But this wasn’t the only scenario where they got disrespected by a committee. They would feel slighted once again when assigned to play against the 13th ranked North Carolina Tarheels for their bowl game. This was risidual damage from the selection of Notre Dame into the playoff, as the highest-ranked non-playoff team in the ACC plays in the Orange Bowl.

Texas A&M would have none of this. After a close three quarters, the Aggies would shift into drive, completely dismantling the Tarheels in the fourth quarter.

This win, in many eyes, gave the Aggies the respect that they had been begging for all year. They proved that they belonged, and the committee may see things differently next season with 2020 in mind.

But there’s one more part of the puzzle.