Power ranking the SEC after week 8: 1 - Texas A&M
The Aggies continue their streak atop the SEC in the AP Poll and atop these rankings in particular. Texas A&M keeps finding different ways to win, no matter what— always answering the bell when they need to.
Despite the close final score, this was never a game that was truly in doubt. Texas A&M never buried Arkansas— they had a chance at the end of the first half, but ended that drive with one of the rare punts of the day— but the Hogs never had the ball with a chance to take the lead at any point after their second drive of the day.
The Aggies look like they have one of the best offenses in the nation— no matter what a defense tries to take away, they have answers. If you play one high safety and dare them to run, they can get it to Craver, Concepcion, and Bethel-Roman. If you look to take those guys away, they can get it to the tight ends or simply run the ball right at your face.
This defense will likely return to form against LSU in a similar fashion to what we saw the last time the Aggies gave up 40 on the road. After that game, Texas A&M came home and suffocated Auburn for four quarters, with the only touchdown allowed in that one coming off of a near pick-six that gave Jackson Arnold the ball with one yard to go until the end zone.
If Texas A&M can win on the road in Death Valley, they are true national championship contenders. With a teetering program right now under Brian Kelly, they may just be in the perfect spot to do so.