FanAtLarge

The Aggies don't need "exciting" at this point. Their last two hires were considered "exciting" (at least by their fan base) and that didn't work out. Both Stoops and Elko would have been or are good hires, but Elko knows the school, knows how to recruit Texas - including having a hand it recruiting some the current team, and is liked by the fan base. And he is a good coach. I'm not an Aggie, but he will have his grace period with the fan base just like at any other school.

Anyone involved in negotiating and approving that extension needs to sit the next one out. I'd say fired, but I suspect it is big money boosters and regents. This had to have gone higher than Woodward. He might have been AD at the time, but he ultimately couldn't have made that decision. They can afford it, but A&M is rightly a laughingstock on this one.

"No, I am trolling TAM fans because of how arrogant some of them were when Bobby Petrino was hired." Good lord, if arrogance is the motivator, you will have a target rich environment with Texas fans. Having said that, Texas actually actually backed it up for a change tonight at Bama.

Well, I agree that pre-season polls are nothing more than a fun "parlor game" to give everyone something to talk about. But in the end, you still have to play the games. A&M started off #6 or so in last years preseason poll. Things got sorted out after that......

A&M may eventually be top 25, but they need to prove it.

I like those groupings and think they make sense but there will be a lot of pressure for A&M and Texas to be permanent rivals. I can't imagine they won't be.

Well, I'm not an Aggie, but A&M, Missouri, Nebraska, and Colorado all left the Big 12 for similar reasons. They were tired of Texas' outsized influence in the conference and the fact that it was able to have its own network deal to the detriment of others in the conference. I also think A&M got a recruiting advantage over Texas by joining the SEC which is why they were pissed at Texas coming into the SEC. Now to the point at hand: This hire reeks. Jimbo is desperate and could not attract a quality OC (in character and ability) because I suspect nobody thought he would actually let go of the offensive steering wheel. A&M is locked into Jimbo with an idiotic contract extension. I disagree that A&M was dumb in thinking they could compete in the SEC. It might be comforting to think that, but they have the resources to win if they will ever use them wisely. They will get it right at some point. But I wouldn't count on that happening with Jimbo.

Yep. Petrino wasn't his first (or second or third.....) choice from what has been reported. I imagine the better OC prospects wouldn't touch the job.

I feel for the kid. As someone who also used to kick (more than a few years ago), my guess is that he got out of his rhythm and over-kicked it (akin to trying to crush a tee shot a little too much). He is obviously has talent or he wouldn't be kicking for OSU, much less in that situation. I hope people remember that he is a student athlete at the end of the day.

I agree that touchdown should have stood, but it never should have reached that point. The interception that set up that drive should not have stood because of a no-call pass interference. Go back and watch it. The officials were garbage. You'd have to unwind numerous bad calls that favored both Michigan and TCU at various points. The roughing call against TCU was total garbage.

That was a hell of an entertaining game. And it was great to see TCU pull it off.

Bottom line is that A&M has the talent but they have underperformed, woefully underperformed in the case of App State. I agree that they have improved each week, but the Aggies don't get the benefit of the doubt at this point. They are dogs to MS State for a reason.

I feel for Arky. That was a tough loss. When I saw the line favoring A&M, I was wondering what teams they were looking at. You can say Arky gave it away and that A&M was lucky. True, but the Aggies hung around and took advantage of it. Another article captures it best for A&M: This win is more important for 2023/24 for A&M than this season. Jimbo needs the young talent to keep the faith and stay out of the transfer portal.

Agreed. I think it is more like A&M patched a hole, but that is just a temporary fix. They also need an OC.

Agree with that take. I will say this: As someone with no dog in that hunt, it was fun to watch.

I actually didn't think it was a bad take by Glenn. It's early, I think most get that. And yes, they were likely working on specific things as you indicate. But on its face based on what we saw in that game against a lesser opponent, it wasn't a bad take. Let's see where they go from here.

It is early, though the lack of a running game against Sam Houston has to give the Aggie faithful at least some pause.

Not exactly a bold take, Connor. The reality is that it is hard to pick any particular team that can knock off Alabama. But they likely will have an off/down game, maybe two. Nobody expected an A&M win last year. Did anyone anticipate the Iron Bowl to turn out the way it did? An Alabama win wasn't a surprise, but the way it unfolded certainly was.

Neutral observer as far as A&M and Alabama are concerned. People can legitimately take shots at the NIL mess. But, it is the world we have for now, at least. Save the comments about whether payments were made under the table in the past. As far as I have read, what A&M did was permissible. However, Nick isn't wrong in that A&M very likely signed on players it would not have otherwise signed. So, is it sour grapes by Nick? Sounds like it. He built a juggernaut on the old system and things changed. I get it. As for Jimbo, He played NIL well. He should have just said "I took the system they gave him and maximized it" and left it at that. Until someone can show where A&M broke the rules, that's it. College football has never had a level playing field in recruiting for a variety of reasons. Nick now needs to step up the NIL game.

This take is spot on. At what point will we see kids opting out in early November? October? I'm in favor of kids getting NIL in addition to scholarships. In return, they are getting experience, improving, and getting an opportunity to demonstrate the skills that put them in a position to be a high draft pick. I get it. Football is risky. But it is also a team sport and that team helped put them in a position to get exposure. Yes, easy for me to say. I'm not the one risking millions. Perhaps a broadened playoff structure will mean more games are "meaningful". Do away with the Bowls and put in place a true playoff - just like D-1 FCS and below.

I agree with your order. Out of that group, I think Aranda would be the best choice.

If Calzada can pass just enough to make LSU respect the passing game, A&M will win this one. If he can't, this will be an ugly slugfest.

I'm enjoying the back and forth with some LSU and Aggie fans here. I'm not an Aggie and I have no dog in this hunt. But arguments that A&M will never be more than a mediocre program is wishful thinking. They can outspend LSU if they so choose. They have the resources. LSU is a more storied program, to be sure. But be careful Tiger fans. The arguments about past championships sound a bit like Longhorn or Notre Dame fans living in the past, but that past success is more recent for LSU to be sure. I think LSU will get back to form, but it would be a mistake to think A&M can't compete with them going forward.

I agree that all Cincy can do it play the schedule in front of them. They are a perfect example of why the playoffs should be expanded. In an eight team playoff, they earn a spot. But when you look at their body of work this year, I don't think they deserve one of the four spots in the current playoff configuration. They aren't handling lesser teams the way they should as a top four playoff team. I just can't get around that.

They're on a mission from God.....

Well said.....

LSUSMC - I couldn't find the extension, but did find a copy of his original contract. If they are the same, what you say is correct. He could give notice and leave prior to the with no financial obligation to A&M. It is remarkably one sided, in that regard.

Isn't speculation fun? I don't know the terms of his existing contract, but contracts aren't a one way street. Most college head coaching contracts have restrictive covenants for just this reason. I'd have a hard time believing there weren't similar restrictions put in place, particularly in the latest extension for Fisher. Even if Fisher would want to take the LSU job - and we don't know that he would - , a) LSU's ability to approach him, b) his ability to speak with them, c) any non-compete terms in his current contract, and a host of other potential terms would pose a significant hurdle for both LSU and Fisher.

Not a Texas fan whatsoever. Half my family went to A&M. But this won't be a repeat of the Big 12 so long as the membership doesn't let Texas big-foot their way to what they want at the expense of others. Equal TV revenue, no LHN equivalent, etc. Can't see "Texas being Texas" happening in the SEC. Aggies have a legitimate gripe in that they lose a recruiting edge being the only Texas school in the SEC. Anyone that thinks they didn't benefit from that hasn't been watching. It will be interesting to see if the Texas alumni will have the patience to let Sark re-build the program. He will benefit from a few more years playing in the Big 12 while he tries to get his recruits in.

Recruiting advantage. A lot of Texas kids want to play in the SEC and Texas can’t offer that…..unless they join the SEC. I acknowledge there is more to it, but that is one big reason