Under the care of coach Mike Elko, Texas A&M football is healthier than it’s been in years. The Aggies are unbeaten and ranked No. 6 in the latest Associated Press poll.
Alas, a No. 6 ranking may cause some hypochondri-Ags to feel effects of Battered Aggie Syndrome, the fan-demic that has plagued Texas A&M for decades.
Why is that, you ask?
Well, A&M opened the 2021 season No. 6, but the Aggies finished 8-4 and unranked. A&M was No. 6 when losing to Appalachian State in 2022. Back in 2014, A&M was unbeaten and No. 6, but the Ags lost at Mississippi State. The Aggies were also No. 6 before falling to Alabama in 2013.
BAS could be a Six-ually Transmitted Disease.
However, a cure seems within reach. Progress certainly has been made.
Under Elko, the Aggies ended a 10-game streak of road losses last year. Earlier this season, A&M’s 41-40 victory over then-No. 8 Notre Dame ended an 11-year road losing streak against ranked opponents. Furthermore, it was A&M’s first non-conference road win over a ranked opponent since 1979.
“It’s been a rough go for the kids who have been in this program for four, three years,” Elko said. “They went through some losing. They went through some close games. They went through some heartbreaking losses down the stretch. We certainly experienced our fair share of them last year as well.”
But the come-from-behind win at Notre Dame and a Southeastern Conference victory over Auburn suggest this year’s Aggies might be immune to the ills of past disappointments.
“They’re learning that they have the ability to control the outcomes of the games, and that’s a powerful mindset,” Elko said. “To know that you can go out there and make the plays that you need to make down the stretch to win football games. I think every time that happens, it adds a little confidence to what we’re capable of doing.
“It doesn’t guarantee you results moving forward, for sure, but I think when you get in those situations, you feel a little bit more comfortable and a little bit more confident that you can get the job done.”
Obviously, more has to be done. So far, though, the Aggies look like a legitimate SEC championship contender.
Mario Craver and KC Concepcion have already combined for 14 passing plays that have covered at least 20 yards. Running back Le’Veon Moss just amassed a career-high 139 rushing yards in the victory over Auburn. Quarterback Marcel Reed is among the SEC leaders in total offense.
The defense has been miserly against the run of late. The Aggies have allowed an average of 88.6 rushing yards over the last three games.
Meanwhile, the pass rush has posted 14 sacks. Three opponents have passed for 172 yards or less.
The Aggies must reduce penalties and force more turnovers, but otherwise, they’ve demonstrated championship qualities.
That has been the case before, but disappointment typically followed.
Under Elko’s guidance, this season feels different. We’ll see.
The Aggies aim to break the No. 6 jinx on Saturday against Mississippi State. Next comes Florida, Arkansas and a trip to LSU, where A&M hasn’t won since 1994.
Then looms November — the month BAS outbreaks are most common.
It’ll be a week-to-week challenge, but if A&M can emerge relatively unscathed, BAS finally may be eradicated.
And Elko will be the Jonas Salk of Aggieland.
Heisman watch (If my ballot was due today)
1. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M, QB: Reed had his first pedestrian showing of the season in a 16-10 victory over Auburn. He was largely victimized by penalties, which nullified some nice plays, including a 22-yard touchdown pass. Reed passed for 207 yards and had an interception. He is still ranked 15th in the nation in total offense. Reed has passed for 1,076 yards and nine touchdowns. He has also rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown.
2. Dante Moore, Oregon, QB: The wait for Moore to play a respectable opponent came to an end with a 30-24 overtime victory over Penn State. Moore passed for 248 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed for another 35. The strong showing raised his totals to 1,210 passing yards with 14 touchdowns and 122 rushing yards.
3. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss, QB: The transfer from Ferris State has only started three games, but he has been spectacular. Last week, he passed for 314 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 71 yards in a 24-19 win over LSU and its vaunted defense. Chambliss has exceeded 300 passing yards in every game he has started. Overall, he has passed for 1,033 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 266 yards and two touchdowns.
4. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana, QB: He followed up a spectacular performance in a 63-10 victory over Illinois with a solid showing in a 15-10 win over Iowa. He passed for 233 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 26 yards. Overall, Mendoza has passed for 1,208 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns.
5. Haynes King, Georgia Tech, QB: He keeps making plays to keep Georgia Tech winning. Last week, King rallied the Yellowjackets from a 20-3 deficit to a 30-29 overtime victory over Wake Forest. He passed for 243 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns. That raised his season totals to 758 passing yards and three touchdowns and 380 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
Predicted playoff participants (Alphabetical order)
Alabama: Defeating Georgia signals Alabama’s demise was greatly exaggerated.
Georgia: The Bulldogs may lose again. But two more losses are doubtful.
Indiana: Even if Hoosiers lose at Oregon and later at Penn State, a 10-win season is promising.
Memphis: Tigers look like the best bet to get the Group of Five bid. but keep an eye on…North Texas?
Miami: Hurricanes appear to be the class of the ACC, but they have to prove it at Florida State.
Notre Dame: Yeah, the Irish are just 2-2, but there are no currently ranked teams remaining on the schedule.
Ohio State: Defending national champions have allowed just 22 points in four games.
Ole Miss: Beating LSU sets the Rebels up for a 10-win season. Georgia and Oklahoma are the only ranked teams on the schedule.
Oregon: The Ducks are seventh in scoring offense and 11th in scoring defense.
Penn State: Perhaps in the most precarious situation. They’re 4-1, but big games remain vs. Ohio State and Indiana. And the Nits seem to fade in big games.
Texas A&M: No team has a better resume so far.
Texas Tech: Still appears to be the class of the Big 12. Red Raiders are averaging 52 points.
Games to watch
No. 16 Vanderbilt at No. 10 Alabama: Yes, it’s Vanderbilt that’s undefeated, and the Crimson Tide is hoping to avenge last year’s loss.
No. 3 Miami at No. 18 Florida State: The two best teams in the ACC. This could be the first of two clashes. The next, of course, would be for the ACC championship.
No. 11 Texas Tech at Houston: Tech looks powerful, but the Coogs are also unbeaten.
No. 9 Texas at Florida: The outcome likely decides whether Texas’ Arch Manning or Florida’s DJ Lagway gets the dubious tag of most disappointing quarterback.
Mississippi State at No. 6 Texas A&M: Aggies look to remain undefeated, but Mississippi State’s only loss was in overtime to No. 15 Tennessee.
