Around CFB: It's alright to be optimistic in Aggieland

Painful years have taken a toll. Disappointment, dejection and demoralization are all-too-familiar emotions.

Such is the life of intensely loyal, yet long-suffering Texas A&M football fans. They’ve given so much and gotten back so little.

The arrival of a new football season is traditionally accompanied by new hope and optimism. But even at A&M, tradition can change.

The 12th Man Kickoff Team is now just one representative. Dearly departed Reveilles are now buried outside Kyle Field. The Aggies don’t even play Texas on Thanksgiving Day anymore.

Unfortunately, there is a sense that the traditional preseason optimism is fading, too. Blame a 28-22 record over the last four years.

Too many A&M fans I’ve encountered seem to have a pessimistic view of this season. It’s a defense mechanism to avoid getting hurt again.

The message here is that it’s OK for Aggies to be optimistic for this season. Indeed, optimism is warranted.

Expect these Aggies to rise above mediocrity. All-SEC cornerback Will Lee III certainly does.

“Everybody wants to win,” Lee said after a recent practice. “That’s the main thing. Everybody is tired of seeing us (rated) as an 8-4 team and stuff like that. It’s really disrespectful. Everybody has taken on the heart.

“Everybody is coming out here and every day working hard and just trying to be the greatest team we can be and change the history of A&M football.”

Lee’s definition of a good season?

“SEC championship and a national championship,” he said. “That’s a good season.”

Yeah. That would be pretty good. But pump the brakes just a little bit, Blanket.

First, aim for a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

For some of the downtrodden, that’s even too much to hope for. It shouldn’t be. The Aggies really aren’t that far away.

True, the Aggies were 8-4 again last year. But they were so close to breaking out.

They were tied with Notre Dame with less than three minutes remaining. Notre Dame played for the national championship.

They lost by 10 to Texas, which reached the playoff semifinals before losing a close game to national champion Ohio State.

Twice, the Aggies were denied on fourth-and-1 deep inside Texas’ territory. One more yard and that game could have ended differently.

A couple of dropped passes prevented A&M from avoiding an upset at Auburn. The Aggies might have even won at South Carolina had All-SEC running back Le’Veon Moss not suffered an injury early in that game.

This year’s team should be better than last year's.

Moss is back for another season, and so is running back Rueben Owens II, who missed all but two games last season. They will run behind one of the best offensive lines in the SEC.

Will Huffman, TexAgs

All-SEC running back Le’Veon Moss returns to the A&M roster after an injury cut his 2024 season short.

Quarterback Marcel Reed has star qualities. Transfer receivers KC Concepcion and Mario Craver provide a badly-needed influx of speed to the offense.

Coach Mike Elko is taking over the defense, which welcomes nickel back Tyreek Chappell from injury. Transfers Julio Humphrey and Jordan Shaw were brought in to bolster the secondary.

Linebacker Taurean York is a preseason All-American. Linebacker Scooby Williams is healthy after playing much of last season with a knee injury.

The Aggies went heavy in the transfer portal to boost the defensive line that will be led by veterans Albert Regis and Cashius Howell.

Just as important, the Aggies are in their second season under Elko. Teams typically are better in a coach’s second year just because they’re familiar with the system.

“Both sides of the ball, you’ve got a lot of veteran guys that have been really, really professional about how they handle their business,” Elko said. “That’s been really, really good to see. Hopefully, that continues as we go into the year.”

Of course, some among the long-suffering masses will be skeptical. They’ll decry that the Aggies have too many questions in the defensive line and secondary. They’ll also lament that injuries have plagued A&M quarterbacks in recent years.

Zoe Kelton, TexAgs

Mike Elko is 8-5 in his short tenure as Texas A&M’s head coach.

That’s all fair. A&M does have questions. So does every other team.

No. 1 Texas is replacing almost its entire offensive line from last year, much of its defensive interior front, first-round draft picks at cornerback and receiver and has a new starting quarterback.

Indeed, seven teams in the preseason top 10 have new starting quarterbacks.

Some teams have to overhaul their offensive lines. Some teams are rebuilding defenses. Some have to replace All-Americans who left significant holes to fill.

A&M has a few holes to fill. The Aggies are talented and experienced. This really could be the year A&M overcomes all the odds.

It’s OK to be optimistic.

Heisman Watch

1. Cade Klubnik, Clemson, QB: He’s looking to build on the breakout year he had in 2024. Klubnik passed for 3,639 yards and 36 touchdowns. He also rushed for 463 yards and seven scores. His young receivers from a year ago are expected to be better. The ACC defenses he’ll face aren’t.

2. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU, QB: The top returning passer in the nation, Nussmeier threw for 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2024. He has an explosive group of receivers, so those numbers could be matched or exceeded. A word of caution, though: He threw 12 interceptions. His protection doesn’t figure to be as strong this season.

3. Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame, RB: True, running backs rarely win the Heisman nowadays. A running back (Ashton Jeanty) should have won last year but was denied. However, Love has the advantage of playing for Notre Dame, so any success he has will be magnified by the national media. He’s good, too. Last season, Love averaged almost seven yards per carry while rushing for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns.

4. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina, QB: Perhaps the greatest dual-threat quarterback in the SEC. Last season as a redshirt freshman, Sellers passed for 2,534 yards and 18 touchdowns. He rushed for 674 yards and seven touchdowns. If he improves his passing numbers, he’ll be a strong contender. That will probably depend on whether his receivers are significantly improved.

5. Arch Manning, Texas, QB: The definition of a Heisman candidate is the quarterback of a national championship contender. Texas enters the season ranked No. 1. Perhaps the primary reason for that ranking is Manning’s potential. It has to be his potential because he doesn’t yet have the production. As a backup last year, Manning passed for 939 yards and nine touchdowns. He rushed for 108 yards and four touchdowns.

Sara Diggins/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

No. 1 Texas QB Arch Manning enters his first season as QB1 as a national championship contender.

Project playoff participants (Alphabetical order)

1. Alabama: In the second year under Kalen DeBoer. Hey, they get Vanderbilt in Tuscaloosa this year.
2. Arizona State: No Cam Skattebo, but the Sun Devils should still be good.
3. Clemson: Best bet to win ACC championship.
4. Georgia: Maybe not as talented as in recent years, but don’t bet against Kirby Smart.
5. Miami: Probable runner-up to Clemson in the ACC.
6. Notre Dame: The schedule screams 10 wins.
7. Ohio State: Just get the football to Jeremiah Smith.
8. Oregon: Ducks looking for fourth straight season with at least 10 wins.
9. Penn State: An experienced quarterback and two 1,000-yard rushers lead the offense.
10. Texas: Holes to fill, for sure, but still a lot of talent.
11. Texas A&M: Homer pick? Sure. But if not this year, when?
12. Texas Tech: Transfer portal additions could pay off big for the Red Raiders.

Games to watch

No. 1 Texas at No. 3 Ohio State: The Longhorns open vs. the defending national champion for the second consecutive year.

No. 9 LSU at No. 4 Clemson: Opponents with very real playoff aspirations and Heisman candidates at quarterback vie to determine which team’s stadium deserves the Death Valley moniker.

No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 10 Miami: A Sunday night clash. Notre Dame aims to answer questions about roster losses on defense and at quarterback.

No. 8 Alabama at Florida State: All disasters aren’t the same. Alabama aims to bounce back from a nine-win "disaster." Florida State hopes to bounce back from a 10-loss disaster.

Auburn at Baylor: Auburn is counting on transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold to lead a resurgence. But Baylor’s Sawyer Robertson may be the best passer in that game.