Texas A&M football disrespected by low placement in early top 25

ESPN shows disrespect to Texas A&M football by ranking them 25th for 2024

In case you missed it, ESPN released their early top 25 for the upcoming year recently, and Texas A&M football came in at 25th overall. In the previous poll, put out right after the national championship concluded, the Aggies didn’t make it; however, after recent events—coaching changes around the sport, the portal window closing, etc—they have moved into that top group.

It’s nice that ESPN amended their previous blunder. But they are still underselling the Aggies.

Texas A&M football’s ceiling is sky-high this year. Coming off a disappointing last two seasons, the Aggies are older, wiser, and returning massive amounts of production—the most in the SEC, as a matter of fact.

It’s this last piece that is a key reason that ESPN’s Bill Connelly had Texas A&M football projected as the 13th-best team in the country in his first round of SP+ projections—twelve spots higher than where the Aggies were slotted in the top 25 put out by the same outlet.

Now, Connelly makes mention of this disparity; however, he says it’s “hard to blame” anyone for “refusing to buy in” after the record of the previous two years. Even so, though, what isn’t pointed in the right direction for the Aggies?

After all, they still retain a huge amount of talent. The main reason that that talent was not being developed—the coaching staff—has been almost completely turned over, exchanged for a head coach that has gotten more out of less during his time in head positions. 

The Aggies’ luck should reverse with QB injuries after three straight years where their starter went down. Perhaps we can even expect a regression to the mean when it comes to their terrible record in one-score games, now that a new decision-maker is in town.

Even if your reasoning is the ultimate in effect-to-cause sophistry, and you point out that the Aggies could well finish with only eight wins given their schedule, I’d have to counter with the fact that all four of their toughest games are at home. Everything is set up well for the Aggies to make a huge jump this year.

Some outlets may be content to sleep on the Ags. That could be their speed. But when it comes to the potential of this Texas A&M football team, I’ve got my eyes wide open.