Through three seasons in the SEC, Texas A&M is 13-11 against league competition, including a disappointing seven losses in 11 games at cavernous Kyle Field.

There’s no way to sugarcoat the Aggies’ average showing thus far, an up-and-down period defined by the attention-grabbing Johnny Manziel, flashy uniforms and horrific defenses.

The 2012 season was special, a ‘look at us, we’ve arrived’ moment engineered by a Heisman quarterback. But the last two years have humbled coach Kevin Sumlin who inherited a program — largely irrelevant — under Mike Sherman.

Where does Sumlin, who’s known for his offensive prowess as a Mike Leach disciple much like Art Briles and Dana Holgorsen, need to finish in the West this fall to repair some of the perception that he may be in over his head?

He doesn’t have to win the division, but it starts with more impressive showings against ranked. Last year’s 59-point drubbing in Tuscaloosa was the Aggies’ third consecutive loss to a Top 25 team in as many weeks and sucked the life out of season that started in memorable fashion.

RELATED: Realistic expectations for Texas A&M’s defense

Many thought Texas A&M would compete for the West after the underdog Aggies humiliated preseason Top 10 South Carolina and snapped the Gamecocks’ 18-home winning streak during the SEC Network opener.

Texas A&M would win its next four games including an overtime thriller against Arkansas to rise to No. 6 in the nation behind Kenny Hill’s historic start at quarterback.

Then, the floodgates opened.

Glaring defensive issues were magnified against quality teams and Hill’s collapse well-documented. A second straight finish at the bottom of the SEC in total defense led to Mark Snyder’s firing and generated some December buzz on who the Aggies would hire as a replacement.

Sumlin’s counting on longtime SEC great John Chavis to reverse Texas A&M’s fortunes on his side of the ball, turning this team into a legitimate, well-balanced contender.

At Houston in 2011, Sumlin’s fourth season was his most special, a sparkling 12-0 regular-season that would’ve led to an at-large BCS bid had the Cougars not been upset by Larry Fedora’s Southern Miss Golden Eagles in the Conference USA title game.

Houston beat Penn State in its bowl game to finish with 13 wins, a program record.

Will Year 4 be as special for Sumlin in College Station?

The schedule’s quite a challenge with as many as seven games against ranked team’s include the Power 5 opener against Arizona State, but the Aggies have a favorable stretch — by SEC standards — prior to their bye week pre-Alabama on Oct. 10.

If Texas A&M wins the opener and gets past Arkansas and Mississippi State, the Aggies will head into their home showdown with the Crimson Tide at 5-0 and likely ranked inside the Top 15. The winner of that game then determines the midseason Western Division frontrunner.

Realistically, even a 4-1 start (1-1 in league play) by the open date would be a momentum-builder for the Aggies. After the Alabama game, contests against South Carolina, Western Carolina and Vanderbilt are must-wins. Then, winning 2-of-3 against Ole Miss, Auburn and LSU would assuredly put Texas A&M in a premiere SEC bowl game.

A respectable finish would be an eight-win regular season in college football’s toughest division, but seven wins or worse would bring immediate backlash and some disdain from top-level boosters. Vegas oddsmakers currently have the Aggies’ over-under at 7.5 wins.

Texas A&M feels it has the talent to win big now and it’s up to Sumlin to prove that’s the case.