Projecting Texas A&M football's ranking ahead of initial AP poll release

Where will Texas A&M football land in first AP top 25 poll of 2024 season?

It's getting real, Texas A&M football fans. As the longest offseason in sports dwindles to a close and games get closer and closer, the trappings of a college football fall begin to slowly reemerge, one by one.

One of the most oft-discussed of these trappings, of course, is the AP top 25 poll. Until November, these polls function as the official rankings used by most media outlets that cover the sport. An amalgamation of rankings from different people who cover the sport.

Since the poll is made up of individuals, you sometimes get some wacky votes. It's not uncommon to see a reporter associated with a specific team be more inclined to have their local squad a few spots higher than most others around the nation would.

That's human nature, of course, and it tends to come out in the wash anyway. The poll still retains its significance for most of the season; come November, the CFP rankings take precedence, but since there are no official final CFP rankings, it is the final AP poll that determines a team's actual finish.

So, where will the Aggies be ranked in the initial AP poll? Perhaps just as importantly, where will their opening opponent, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, be ranked?

The Ags have been slotted as the no. 20 team in the Coaches' Poll, released last week. This reflects a jump in the rankings from where things were in the spring and summer, as some subtle hype is building around Mike Elko's squad.

However, I think the national media is likely to be a little more skeptical—at least, they won't be higher on the Aggies at first. I'd predict Texas A&M football to land at either no. 21 or no. 22 in the initial rankings, and would be flat-out surprised if they make their way to 19 or higher.

The Fighting Irish, on the other hand, are a squad that I think the AP voters will have a little bit higher on their ballots. I'd be shocked if they're not a top-10 team—I think they're most likely to open the season at no. 8 or no. 7. This will cement the opening weekend's matchup in Kyle Field as a top-25 bout, with all the attendant prestige that you'd expect.

We'll keep track of the Aggies' position in the rankings from week to week, as that really tells the story of their national perception as games go on. If you see A&M knock off the Irish in week one, we could see a big jump, likely into the top-15. Lose, and you're probably out. Just one more thing to add to the already high stakes for the Aggies' opener.