Let's compare A&M's schedule with predicted ranking.
Please note, almost always if A&M starts off in the Top Ten, we will finish unranked. The best A&M teams usually start off #18-25.
Beginning Rank #18
UTSA W #18 1-0
UTAH State (Gig 'em Aggies) W 2-0 #15
Notre Dame-Should be a solid L but as long as we hang tight we won't drop much. 2-1 #20
Auburn-I'd say toss up but we get them at home. 3-1 #18. This game will go a long way to defining the season.
Miss State. I hate to say it but they've beaten us far more in SEC play than I would have ever imagined. But not next season. W 4-1 back to #15.
Florida. This game will make or break the season. It really all comes down to what their record is when they come to Kyle. They were already calling for the coach to be fired. W here, you're 5-1 and probably ranked in the top 12. 5-1 #12.
Arkansas. I'm only saying this since we're literally like 15-2 vs them in SEC play and they will probably fire their coach this year but W. 6-1 #10. Now the schedule really heats up.
LSU at BR. Really tough, but we haven't won there yet, so let's just pencil in the L since we seem to trade Home W's. As long as the game is tight we won't drop much. 6-2 #15
Mizzou. Very tough one, but I think this one is a W. 7-2 #14
USCe Toss up at best right now. But Beamer seems to be a very qualified coach. Going with the L. 7-3 #18
Samford W 8-3 #18 unchanged
Texas @ Austin. No way we win this year, Texas will probably play for the CFB NC. L. 8-4 #22 or lower, depends on how close the game is and how other teams finish.
And this is how you have a decent team and finish out of the Top 20 in the SEC boys and girls. So if we enter the post season at #22, even if we win the bowl game we only have about 1-3 spaces we can finish in the final rankings. Lose the bowl game like last year, and we finish unranked.
8-4. It's what Aggies do.