SEC Mike highlights A&M's consistency halfway through 2025 season

Key notes from Michael Bratton interview

• No, I think Billy Napier won’t get fired this weekend. I believe Georgia hates Florida so bad that they will give him an opportunity to knock off Georgia. I really don’t think it’s that crazy to think that Florida can’t beat Georgia. Florida went toe-to-toe with A&M at Kyle Field for a little while. Florida is a little bit better than we suspect, and Georgia is not as good as we suspect. So I think they give him until, at least, the Georgia game. 
   
• Keep in mind, my SEC Power Rankings are very fluid. Teams can jump up and down. It is about the consistency. I think it’s the balance. A&M is getting better on defense. They are scoring consistently on offense. Just for example, I keep getting people asking me, at what point is LSU’s offense going to turn it around? Is this the week? Or Tennessee’s defense? Heck, we are halfway through the season at this point. I think you are who you are at this point. It doesn’t mean you can’t get a little better here or there. But to believe LSU is going to flip a switch on offense, or Tennessee on defense, is not going to happen. So, we have to go off what we are seeing.
   
• When I see the Aggies play, the defense gives up a big play or a drive or two right out the gate, but then they completely clamp down. Then they have an offense that can go down and score in two plays. They are consistent on both sides of the football. They can beat you on both sides of the football. The defense is getting better and better. Now, I think it is going to be a lot harder to be consistent, going on the road for the next three games. I've been getting into fights with Aggies all week, because I guaranteed they were not going to be undefeated over this away stretch. It is a big ask to go on the road and win them all.
   
• The Aggies would earn a No. 2 AP Poll ranking if they won all of these games. I think at Missouri is the toughest test, I really do. Even though LSU has a better environment, I think Missouri is the better team.
   
• The $11.6 million per year is just a number to push Florida to offer Curt Cignetti $12 million a year. I was just kidding with those Gator fans. Please don’t jump off a ledge after that. Cignetti is not coming to Florida. Quite honestly, it is good for college football. I’ve heard that college football is different. We need to start judging it after the COVID-19 year. We are in a different landscape. These stupid people are saying A&M can’t win because they haven’t since 1939. It doesn’t matter. I think Ole Miss and Missouri are top-five programs in the SEC. Does it mean they will be there annually? I am not suggesting that. With the rules and landscape of college football, that is how you get an Indiana. Why go to Florida when you can accomplish what you want at Indiana? If you are at a power school, do not get your coach plucked. Now these idiots are saying Mike Elko is from Jersey, will he go to Penn State? He has a better job than Penn State. I think it is good for college football that your coach doesn’t just get yanked from you once you start to have success.
   
• If I could throw out a name, there is an SEC coach who would jump for Penn State. We have to watch it this weekend. I like Vanderbilt to beat LSU. How about Brian Kelly getting out of town before the angry mob comes for him? I think he is a much better fit for Penn State.
   
• I would not be surprised if you hear Clark Lea, but he is Vanderbilt through and through. Vanderbilt is a unique school in the SEC. He is a closer to Tim Corbin, the outstanding baseball coach. Every time his name gets attached to something, he gets a little something extra from Vanderbilt to stay. That is the path you will see. I think Lea’s name will be in coaching searches. I don’t think he’ll leave Vanderbilt, but he will get more each time this comes around. Certainly, Eli Drinkwitz. I think that is one to watch. I think he is going to be the next Florida coach.
   
• I think Lane Kiffin stays at Ole Miss over Florida. That seems to be bubbling up the more people I talk to. Kiffin’s name always comes up. Unless it’s Alabama or Texas, I think he is staying at Ole Miss. I really do.
   
• I really think this is going to be a fun game on the road. I think the Aggies are overlooking how difficult this is going to be on the road. I know they got it done against Notre Dame. I don’t respect Notre Dame as a home-field environment. I respect SEC stadiums as home-field environments. So, I think this is going to be an insane environment. Bobby Petrino is trying to land the job. I was wildly impressed with them last week. If Arkansas hadn’t turned the ball over last week, it would have beaten Tennessee. They are perhaps the best offense in the SEC. I like Petrino to ride again to another close loss. A&M wins, 34-31.