Texas A&M comes in at 4th overall in the latest AP Poll, matching the highest they've ever been in that ranking at any point since joining the SEC. They are also the top SEC team in that poll, marking the first time that has ever been true of them in that same span of time.
The last time the Aggies were ranked as the 4th overall team in the AP Poll was the final poll of the 2020 season, after they became the Orange Bowl champions with a win over North Carolina. They never got this high in a poll even in the Johnny Manziel era, as in both of those seasons, they suffered early losses that set them back.
The Aggies have separated themselves from the rest of the SEC pack, putting some distance between themselves and the now-fifth-ranked Ole Miss Rebels, with whom they were nearly tied last week. With a subpar showing for the Rebs against the Washington State Cougars, they fell behind the Aggies by more than 100 points.
AP Poll fallout as Aggies continue precipitous rise, now atop the SEC
This is the result that we predicted earlier today, so it's something that was expected, but it's still something that should be appreciated. This is a big moment for this program, and yet another milestone for Mike Elko's team.
After the surprise in Red River, Oklahoma tumbled down to 14th overall. However, the Longhorns clearly didn't convince the voters that they're a better team, as they are down at 21st in the poll.
The Aggies' win over Notre Dame continues to age like fine wine, as the Irish rise to 13th in the poll. LSU moved up one spot as well, meaning that— absent a loss at Vanderbilt this week for the Tigers or in Fayetteville for the Aggies— that will be a top-10 showdown in Baton Rouge on the 25th.
Missouri only fell a couple of spots after their loss to Alabama, as they looked pretty competitive for the majority of that game. That could be back to back ranked road games for the Aggies, though they'll have a bye week in between.
The road ahead is tough for Texas A&M, but this is more and more looking like a team that can weather it. The road trip to Arkansas will kick off a key stretch next weekend.