For as improved as this Texas A&M football team will be in the upcoming season, the schedule they have been given could completely counteract it. The Aggies may avoid Alabama and Georgia in their SEC slate, but all of their toughest games are on the road this fall, being a reversal of last year's set of games.
While most Aggies expect a substantial improvement on the offensive end thanks to a very senior and talented offensive line, upgraded OL, returning QB, and extremely deep stable of running backs, the defense is the place where an upgrade is sorely needed. A&M was able to address some issues through the portal, of course, but it's the coaching maneuvers— Elko's further investment and the addition of Lyle Hemphill— that give A&M fans the most hope here.
Looking at this slate, the Aggie defense had better be upgraded, as they'll be facing down some high-powered offenses. A&M's slate is loaded with opposing firepower, so fans will find out quickly just how real this step the defense is taking is.
Texas A&M faces fourth-toughest schedule for defenses in nation
Kelley Ford of KFordRatings put together this graphic to show just how difficult the Aggie defense will have things in 2025:
Average power rating of all opposing FBS offenses faced during the Regular Season
— Kelley Ford (@KFordRatings) August 19, 2025
Arkansas’ defense will face opposing FBS offenses with an average power rating of 78.6 (0-100 scale), while Buffalo’s defense will face opposing FBS offenses with an average power rating of 18.7 pic.twitter.com/axRq2TLH0L
This shouldn't be too much of a surprise, given that the Aggies have the ninth-hardest schedule overall, but it's still pretty eye-catching to see like this. It's also no surprise that the top four teams are all from the SEC, either.
The Aggies even have a tough offense in what many would consider a cupcake opponent in week one, when UTSA comes to town. They have a legitimate NFL talent at QB in Owen McCown, and a very experienced unit on that side of the ball overall.
Point being, we'll find out quickly just what this A&M defense is made of. They had better be pretty significantly improved, or else the Aggies' playoff hopes will go down the drain quickly.