Once again the season didn’t pan out as hoped for. Yet another 8-5 season left many questioning whether Kevin Sumlin can ever get the Aggies over the hump.

Despite the sour ending, punctuated by Wednesday night’s Texas Bowl loss to Kansas State, and pending departures of several stars, there are some things to look forward to in 2017. Here are a seven that should give Texas A&M an optimistic feel for next season.

1. Trayveon Williams is just a freshman: Tied for eighth in SEC rushing this season, Williams finished with 1,057 yards as a true freshman. Williams ranked sixth in the conference with a 6.97-yard average per rush. He will be featured again next season in OC Noel Mazzone’s offense, which should only improve with a year of implementation.

2. Key SEC games at Kyle Field: While an SEC West schedule is among the toughest in the country, the bigger SEC games will be played at Kyle Field in 2017. Alabama and Auburn, which finished at the top of the SEC West standings in 2016, visit Kyle Field for early October and November games respectively.

3. Christian Kirk returns: The all-everything sophomore receiver and return man will come back to lead the Aggies’ attack again next season. The SEC leader with 77 pass receptions during the regular season, Kirk piled up 842 yards and nine touchdowns after a 1,000-yard freshman season. But he is equally dangerous when returning punts, taking three to the house during the 2016 regular season. He will be perhaps the Aggies’ biggest weapon again next fall.

4. Offensive line will be experienced: While both tackles will need to be replaced, freshman left guard Colton Prater and freshman center Erik McCoy gained valuable experience as did sophomore right guard Connor Lanfear. That should help in keeping the Aggies’ next quarterback upright.

5. Armani Watts is coming back: The Aggies’ leader in the secondary made it known that he will be back for his senior season. The team leader in tackles his sophomore season (126), Watts recorded 56 tackles during the 2016 regular season, including 6.0 for loss and 1.0 sacks. He picked off two passes during the regular season to increase his career total to six. Watts returning for his senior season is a huge boost to the Aggies’ pass defense.

6. ILB Anthony Hines top recruit: Some consider him the top LB prospect in the country. Hines recorded more than 100 tackles for loss, including 28 sacks, during his high school career in Plano, Texas. He should carry on the tradition of harassing opposing quarterbacks.

7. Continuity in coaching: Two seasons of his system in place, DC John Chavis will continue to improve the defensive side of the football while Mazzone adds to his system of fast-paced run-oriented football following his first year in College Station. Of course head coach Sumlin will be entering his sixth season at Texas A&M.