Projecting where Texas A&M football will land in the AP top 25 after defeating Arkansas to move to 4-1
It wasn't without a lot of undue stress, but Texas A&M football has now won four games in a row after their disappointing opening loss to Notre Dame. That matches their longest win streak since the midpoint of the 2021 season, when they defeated Alabama, Missouri, South Carolina, and Auburn all in a row.
The Aggies have rebounded nicely since falling to the Irish on August 31. They have yet to face another challenge like Notre Dame posed, but at the same time, they've been having to operate with a backup quarterback.
Every facet of this Aggie team has had to step up at one point or another during this streak. For yesterday's game, more than anything else, it was the A&M defense—and Le'Veon Moss late.
Now that the Aggies have reached this point, and as fans await the AP top 25 rankings later today, where can we expect to see A&M ranked?
Well, when you get wins like this—close ones over unranked opponents, even if they are P4 teams—it's not likely to make you rise in estimation in and of itself; more than anything, you pretty much hold position. The Aggies, currently at 24, may not jump any teams ahead of them who also won, but there are a few squads ahead of them who took an L yesterday.
19 Illinois lost to 9 Penn State by two touchdowns, and could be a prime candidate to drop out of the rankings. 20 Oklahoma State suffered a decisive loss to 23 Kansas State, as well, so the Aggies wil be moving up at least two spots—unless Boise State, ranked right behind the Aggies, jumps A&M.
15 Louisville lost to 16 Notre Dame, and 10 Utah lost to an unranked Arizona, but I don't know that either will fall far enough for A&M to jump them. I think we see A&M move up to 22 this week, setting up a ranked showdown at home with Missouri next Saturday.