It’s all just preseason hype until the teams take the field.

That’s especially the case for the Texas A&M defense. The potential for great improvement has been talked about all offseason after the Aggies added key players such as junior college transfer safety Justin Evans and a new coordinator in the greatly respected John Chavis.

But at the same time a lot of the same players who were on the field when A&M gave up more than 450 yards per game last year will be back out there this season. Is all the talk about significant improvement simply hopeful hype and preseason spin? Or could the Aggies really be good enough on defense to compete for an SEC West title?

Here are three moments in the upcoming season when we will figure out just where the much-discussed Texas A&M defense stands:

The Opening Possession vs. Arizona State

The first time the No. 15 Sun Devils snap the ball in the season opener they will start to go after the Texas A&M defense and make it prove it has gotten better. Arizona State has had a Top 20 scoring offense each of the last three seasons while the Aggies finished No. 82 in the nation in scoring defense last year.

Quarterback Mike Bercovici got three starts in place of an injured Taylor Kelly last year and played quite well in victories against Southern Cal and Stanford. D.J. Foster has been a playmaker for the Devils in the past and is moving from running back to wide receiver.

Don’t be surprised if they decide to test the unproven Texas A&M secondary from the earliest moments. If defensive ends Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall get the kind of pass rush they are known for it could be a huge boost.

Arizona State would like to establish the run with sophomore Demario Richard and junior college transfer De’Chavon Hayes making a nice pair in the backfield. Defensive line and especially pass rush is a strength for the Aggies, but expect the Sun Devils to size up A&M’s linebackers and run defense early.

When Dak Prescott Takes the Field

Despite going 10-3 and making the Orange Bowl last year, Mississippi State was left out of the preseason Top 25 thanks in large part to having just four starters returning on offense. But one of them happens to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country, senior Dak Prescott.

Last year, Prescott completed 79 percent of his passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns in a win over the Aggies. His 188.9 quarterback rating versus A&M was his second highest against an SEC opponent, behind only a 200.5 rating in a 51-0 rout of Vanderbilt.

But as a sophomore in 2013 Prescott had one of his worst games of the season in a 51-41 Texas A&M victory, completing just 54 percent of his passes for 149 yards with a two touchdowns and an interception.

Whether the Aggies can force Prescott into some mistakes when they meet in College Station on Oct. 3 could hinge largely on Garrett. He was a bright spot in the loss last year, recording 10 tackles with a sack. If he can take advantage of an offensive line that returns only two starters perhaps the Aggies can do a better job forcing turnovers, or at the very least keep the completion percentage closer to 60 percent than 80.

The Start of the Second Quarter Against Alabama

As the Oct. 17 game against the Crimson Tide approaches just about everyone will have something to say about the 59-0 thrashing the Aggies suffered in Tuscaloosa last year. Not many people are expecting a Texas A&M victory in this rematch, but a stronger showing would be important for the Aggies as they enter the second half of the season.

Alabama has enough size, strength and depth to eventually wear down most teams, but a test for Texas A&M will be to see how long they can hang with the Crimson Tide. Last year the answer was only one quarter. Alabama reeled off an incredible 35 points in the second period making the game an absolute embarrassment.

The Tide offense also managed to score in just about every way it could. Quarterback Blake Sims had a 43-yard touchdown run and touchdown passes to Amari Cooper and Derrick Henry. Henry also had an eight-yard touchdown run of his own and T.J. Yeldon punched one in from a yard out.

Alabama isn’t going to forget Johnny Manziel’s 2012 coming out party against the Tide any time soon and will gladly run up the score if the Aggies allow it. Getting run off the field again could shake a lot of people’s confidence in this truly being a turnaround season for A&M.