It’s Year 6 of the Jimbo Fisher regime and outside of the 2020 COVID season, we know what we’re going to get with it. In the first 4 seasons under Fisher, the Aggies posted 7 or 8 regular-season victories. Then last year they slipped to a 5-7 record, breaking a 13-year streak of bowl-eligible seasons.
Each year, expectations are raised only to have Aggieland deflated by the end of October. This season seems to be falling in line with the others. The Aggies, who were idle on Saturday, are 4-3 after consecutive losses to Alabama and Tennessee that dropped them to 2-2 in conference play and out of the SEC West title race.
Five games remain on the schedule. Here’s how the Aggies will finish the 2023 season.
Week 9: vs. South Carolina
Skinny: The Gamecocks broke through last season for their first-ever win over the Aggies. A 17-point 1st quarter keyed Carolina’s 30-24 victory. The Aggies had come out on top in all of the previous 8 meetings, including 4 games at Kyle Field.
This season, South Carolina has been a bigger disappointment than Texas A&M. Like the Aggies, they have their share of injuries, and they haven’t been able to build on the success of the end of the 2022 season. After Saturday’s loss to Missouri, the Gamecocks have won just twice overall and only once in conference play.
They just haven’t been very good. At the midway point in the season, Carolina was last in the SEC in total defense and 13th in rushing offense. They were 13th in scoring defense and 12th in scoring offense.
About the only bright spot has been the play of quarterback Spencer Rattler. But that one-man show hasn’t resulted in many wins this season. And that trend should continue when the Gamecocks travel to Kyle Field.
Prediction: Texas A&M 37, South Carolina 20
Week 10: at Ole Miss
Skinny: The Aggies lead this streaky series by an 8-5 margin but have lost the last 2 meetings with the Rebels. After winning the first 5 games between the 2 teams, Texas A&M dropped the next 3 only to come back and win the following 3 leading up to the last couple of seasons, losses of 29-19 in Oxford and 31-28 last season at Kyle Field.
Texas A&M’s road woes are well documented, but oddly enough they’ve had some success as the road team in this series, holding a 5-2 advantage.
However, those 5 wins have come by the slimmest of margins, twice winning by 7 points and 3 times winning by a field goal. And until the Aggies overcome their recent road misfortunes, it’s difficult to imagine they’ll add to their win total.
Prediction: Ole Miss 27, Texas A&M 24
Week 11: vs. Mississippi State
Skinny: The Bulldogs have won the last 2 meetings over Texas A&M, but this isn’t the same program since the passing of Mike Leach. Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers, the 2-time SEC passing leader, ranked no better than 8th in the conference in passing at the halfway point of the 2023 season. And the Bulldogs split their 6 1st-half games, winning all 3 of their non-conference games and losing all 3 conference games.
Plus, this game will be played at Kyle Field, and the Aggies hold a 4-3 edge over the Bulldogs when playing them at home. The Aggies should enter the game as prohibitive favorites and shouldn’t have much trouble earning a potential 6th victory to become bowl eligible.
Prediction: Texas A&M 28, Mississippi State 14
Week 12: vs. Abilene Christian
Skinny: The Wildcats and the Aggies meet for the 1st time ever. The WAC cupcake finished 3-3 at the halfway point this season, claiming victories over Northern Colorado, Prairie View and North Alabama. They also lost to North Texas, Central Arkansas and Incarnate Word.
We won’t spend much time trying analyze this one. It should be a blowout.
Prediction: Texas A&M 56. ACU 7
Week 13: at LSU
Skinny: In a series that began in 1914, the home team has won the last 6 games. That doesn’t bode well for the Aggies because this year’s game will be played at Tiger Stadium. The Aggies are just 10-26-1 in games played at Baton Rouge. And we’ve already acknowledged Texas A&M’s recent problems on the road.
Can Texas A&M’s solid pass defense contain LSU star QB Jayden Daniels? After 7 games this season, the Aggies ranked 2nd in the SEC against the pass, allowing an average of 172.7 yards per game. During that same time, Daniels was passing for a SEC-best 327.7 yards per outing, which also ranked 3rd nationally.
When the Aggies’ pass defense is good, it’s really good. But when it’s bad, it can be very bad. In 5 of the Aggies’ first 7 games, they’ve held opponents to 132 passing yards or less, including 3 games of 100 yards or less.
However, Miami threw for 374 yards and Alabama piled up 321 passing yards. So, which pass defense shows up will go a long way in determining the outcome.
Prediction: LSU 38, Texas A&M 20
Final prediction … 7-5
The Aggies will secure a bowl bid but hardly enhance fans’ faith in the embattled Fisher.
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
