The 2016 season is rapidly approaching and as with every new season fans, players, and coaches alike eagerly await the start, playing games of “what if” along the way.

Let’s take a look then at a couple of realistic (and we may use the term loosely) dream and disaster scenarios for the upcoming season at Texas A&M.

First, let’s dream

1. Knight shines: Oklahoma graduate Trevor Knight picks up Noel Mazzone’s new scheme and runs with it. The Aggies’ quarterback has proven he can do the job. Although he hasn’t proven he can do it on a consistent basis, he doesn’t need to. He just needs to produce for one season, because that’s all the eligibility he has left.

Knight threw for 2,300 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2014 for Oklahoma. He completed 32-of-44 passes for 348 yards and four touchdowns in a 45-31 Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama to end his freshman season. That’s what he’s capable of. A year like that would bring a smile to Aggies fans, teammates and coaches alike.

2. N-Zone finds the end zone: Noel Mazzone’s up-tempo offensive scheme clicks in College Station and Texas A&M returns to the top of the SEC in offensive production. The Aggies brought with them a new way of doing things on offense when they joined the SEC, and for those first two seasons (2012, 2013) led the conference in total offense and scoring with a fast-paced attack that ran opposing defenses ragged.

It could happen again. Knight has a plethora of talented receivers with which to play pitch and catch. If the offensive line jells and provides running lanes for juniors James White and Keith Ford, it could remind Aggies fans of those good old days when the Aggies burst onto the scene in the SEC.

3. Linebackers stop the run: The Aggies linebackers have career years and solidify an otherwise outstanding defense. This may be the biggest dream of all, but is it really that far-fetched? Shaan Washington is the leader, and a good one. He’s the most experienced of the group. Fellow senior Claude George must step up in the middle. If he can, it could take some of the pressure off of sophomores Richard Moore and Dwaine Thomas on the strong side.

Having that group come through in 2016 and effectively help stop the run could make Texas A&M’s one of the strongest defenses in the conference. And that’s something the Aggies haven’t been able to say since joining the SEC.

The disasters

1. O-line fizzles: The line does not jell and all the hype surrounding a new leader at quarterback and new fast-paced, up-tempo style offense from the new offensive coordinator goes out the window. Seniors Avery Gennesy and Jermaine Eluemunor are going to have to lead, because there are only sophomores and one freshman behind them on the two-deep depth chart.

As goes the Aggies offensive line, so goes the Aggies offense. If they can’t produce, another mediocre season at best is all that can be expected from the 2016 team.

2. Stars fall: Injuries are always devastating, but when key players are sent to the sidelines it can seriously impact on the team and the season. (See: Nick Chubb, Georgia.) For Texas A&M to have a chance at a successful season, three players have to remain healthy. And that starts with Knight at quarterback. Backup Jake Hubenak has all of one start in his career, a decent performance in a loss to Louisville in last season’s Music City Bowl.

In addition, bookend sack artists Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall must remain on the field. The two wreak havoc on quarterbacks. Being without one would hamstring the Aggies defensively. Without both would be devastating.

3. September blues: The schedule is pretty tough to open the 2016 season. The Aggies open at home with UCLA. Should they lose that one it could shake their confidence as they play the first three SEC games away from Kyle Field. The Aggies open SEC play at Auburn before facing Arkansas at a neutral site (Arlington) and then travel to South Carolina.

The Aggies have been good on the road in recent years, but no team can be expected to dominate away from home. It would be disastrous for Texas A&M to open the season 2-3 or 1-4 especially considering that the Aggies’ first SEC home game is with SEC East favorite Tennessee. And then a road trip to Tuscaloosa follows.