Aggies receive a first-place vote but remain No. 3 in AP's Week 10 poll

They’ve done it again.

The Fightin’ Texas Aggies keep finding ways to blow your mind time and time again.

That’s what happened on Saturday night in Death Valley, and for that monumental and cathartic 49-25 victory over LSU, Texas A&M is still ranked No. 3 in the Week 10 edition of the Associated Press poll.

Additionally, A&M received a single first-place vote from Pat Welter of WRAL-TV in Raleigh, North Carolina.

At 8-0 and 5-0 in conference, Mike Elko’s Aggies are also No. 3 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, earning two of the 64 first-place votes.

The initial College Football Playoff rankings do not come out for another nine days, but after this week’s bye, it’s a safe bet the Maroon & White will be among the committee’s top five on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

And why wouldn’t they be?

• A&M’s “Strength of Record” is tops in the country, ahead of both Indiana and Ohio State, according to ESPN’s College Football Power Index. The unblemished resume features three road victories, including two inside of the game’s most beloved cathedrals in South Bend and Baton Rouge.

• Further, the Aggies are the only remaining unbeaten in college football’s premier conference (Offense intended, Big Ten).

• When it comes to starpower, Marcel Reed — a Heisman contender — leads A&M’s offense, and Cashius Howell — the SEC Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner — dominates on defense...not to mention the roster’s other standouts like KC Concepcion, Mario Craver, Rueben Owens II, Taurean York, Daymion Sanford and about 20 other contributors.

• A&M’s offense ranks 21st nationally at 459.3 yards per game and 14th in scoring at 37.8 points per game, while the other unit ranks 30th nationally in total defense (321.5) and LEADS the country in sacks (32).

The committee will undoubtedly be impressed. AP voters obviously already are.

This represents the first week all year that A&M’s ranking has not improved, though staying at No. 3 is nothing to scoff at.

Once again, SEC-leading A&M is the highest-ranked of the nine SEC teams to appear in the Week 10 poll, as No. 4 Alabama, No. 5 Georgia, No. 7 Ole Miss, No. 9 Vanderbilt, No. 14 Tennessee, No. 18 Oklahoma, No. 19 Missouri and No. 20 Texas follow behind.

The Maroon & White are idle next weekend, but when the Ags return to the gridiron in Columbia, Missouri, on Nov. 8, it’s reasonable to expect they’ll resume blowing our minds.

Associated Press Week 10 Poll
 

OUT: No. 18 South Florida, No. 20 Louisiana State, No. 23 Illinois, No. 24 Arizona State
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Navy 86, Tulane 59, Washington 46, Iowa 27, South Florida 22, San Diego St. 14, LSU 11, James Madison 9, North Texas 4, Illinois 3, Pittsburgh 1

Italics denotes Southeastern Conference member