Is Texas A&M the best team in the SEC?I will not spend the next 1,500 words trying to figure that out, though I’m sure some of you will do so in your head, but the answer to the question isn’t what’s important here. You can ask this question without getting sideways looks in return. The Aggies scored 49 points against LSU on Saturday night at Death Valley. In the fourth quarter, they led by 31. The Tigers were physically beaten. As ESPN’s Holly Rowe conducted a postgame on-field interview with the victorious quarterback Marcel Reed at the conclusion of the game, it was clear that the LSU supporters who stayed for the final moments of the game were chanting “Fire Kelly”.
Texas A&M snuffed out whatever little optimism remained regarding Brian Kelly’s tenure with LSU, and caused me to ask myself the question I asked you at the beginning of this story.I don’t know if the Aggies are the best team in the SEC, but they’ve got a legitimate case for it. Obviously, with an 8-0 record, they are the only undefeated squad in the SEC. It’s a team that is not elite but has no obvious flaws. That might be what you need in the current era of College Football.
Also, they’re headed for college Football Playoff regardless of whether or not they win the SEC. I can’t help but believe the insides of Aggies fans everywhere were twisted into knots when Jhase Thomas blocked an Aggies punt for a safety to cut A&M’s lead to 14-9. It’s not a surprise that this program has a bad history of beginning seasons well, only to fall apart in the second half. The blocked punt seemed like “here we are again”. When A&M’s next two offensive possessions ended in interceptions and allowed LSU to take an 18-14 lead into halftime, my heart sank a bit for Aggies fans. Fortunately for everybody on the Aggies sideline, they didn’t flinch.A&M took the game over in the third quarter, scoring 21 points to take a 35-18 lead that quickly let everybody know these aren’t the same ol’ Aggies. This team is faster, stronger and tougher (both mentally and physically) than anyone else. This team isn’t going anywhere. No disaster is coming.
Check out the schedule. The Aggies have a bye week next week and then a road match against a Missouri squad that has lost its starting quarterback Beau Pribula at least for the remainder of the regular-season after losing to Vanderbilt. Before facing Samford, they will host a South Carolina team with a 1-5 record in SEC play. The season will end with a matchup against Texas, a team that had to pull off a miraculous comeback in order to beat Mississippi State. Arch Manning was forced to leave the game due an apparent concussion. Oh, that team also has to face Vanderbilt, Georgia and Arkansas. The team could be destroyed by the time this game arrives. They could lose two games and miss the SEC Championship Game. But they’re getting into the playoffs at a minimum, and look likely to be in Atlanta with a shot to win their first conference title since winning the Big 12 in 1998.So is Texas A&M the best team in the SEC? We’re still a few weeks away from the answer.
When I think of SEC clubs with punched ticket, I do not question if Ole Miss has the best team. It’s 7-1 and is one of the best teams in conference but spends too much time in tight games. Ole Miss won’t have won any of its four SEC victories by more than eight points, which is what they did against Oklahoma on Saturday. This team will still be in the College Football Playoff. This is essentially done with the Oklahoma win. The Rebels’ schedule is now a much easier one, with just one loss. Now they have home games against South Carolina and Florida before the Egg Bowl in Mississippi State. They can afford to lose a game. Ole Miss, with a record of 10-2, will be in even if their wins over Oklahoma or LSU do not look so good at the end. The win over LSU isn’t looking great at all!
The CFP will lose if a SEC 10-2 team is not included in the field. It’s not fair to exclude a SEC 9-3 team. The league may scream and shout about it but they know it. If the SEC is replaced by a 10-2 team from the ACC or Big 12 the league may decide to secede.
Trinidad Chambliss’ performance in Saturday’s victory over Oklahoma was impressive. The final stats were not impressive. His final stat line was not impressive. Chambliss completed five passes of at least 25 yard in the game and two for more than 40 yards. No one has done that this year against Oklahoma. If only Lane Kiffin hadn’t had a strange obsession with throwing Austin Simmons in key spots, the Rebels might have won by at least two scores.
Iowa has joined The Conversation
Iowa’s potential to reach the playoffs is not something I seriously consider, but it is still a possibility. The Hawkeyes beat the Gophers, 41-3, by going Peak Iowa. Their offense, defense, and special teams scored to improve their season record to 6-2 and 4-1 Big Ten play. Both Indiana and Iowa State, a team now at 5-3, have lost to them. It’s worth noting, however, that no one has had a harder time than Indiana this season (UCLA didn’t). The Hawkeyes will have two more chances to show their worth when they play their next two opponents. Next week, after the Hawkeyes’ bye, they welcome Oregon to Kinnick Stadium. Oregon is a heavy favorite, but they haven’t looked as frightening since beating Penn State. They may have thrashed Rutgers but they also lost to Indiana at home and looked unimpressive in their 21-7 victory over Wisconsin. Wisconsin’s injury list was as long as a Tolstoy book.
Iowa’s ability to cause problems for the Ducks isn’t that far-fetched. They gave the Hoosiers a lot of trouble at Kinnick. Can the Hawkeyes follow up that win with another road victory over USC next week? I doubt it.
Cincinnati Bearcats are the most underrated team in the nation. Since losing their season opener to Nebraska in a tight game, the Bearcats are averaging 38.3 points per game. The Bearcats have improved to 7-1 after a 41-20 win against Baylor. They are now averaging a whopping 38.3 points a game. Defensively, they’re improving as well. Baylor was the Big 12’s most potent passing offense entering the weekend. The team averaged 344.3 yards a game and Sawyer Robertson tied for the lead nationally in touchdowns with 21.
Cincinnati limited the Bears to just 137 passing yards on Saturday. The Big 12 is now a four team race, with Arizona State’s loss to Houston. BYU and the Bearcast are both 5-0, so they’re a little ahead. The two teams will face off on Nov. 22, in Cincinnati. I didn’t expect that game to have a major impact when I entered 2025. Memphis changed everything
Memphis beat South Florida, 34-31. This was a week following a loss to UAB who had fired their coach. Memphis blew past the Blazers in last week’s game, it is safe to say! This win over South Florida has changed the G6 picture drastically. There are now seven teams left in The American that have one or less conference losses. Navy and Tulane have yet to lose. You can’t tell which team will be the one to win the bid to the title game at the end of the scrum. Even so, I think that The American is still the favorite for the bid.
There’s no doubt that USF losing to Boise State opens up the Mountain West to teams like San Diego State, UNLV and Boise State. James Madison is also a big winner in the Sun Belt. Rest In CFPeaceThe teams below saw their College Football Playoffs end. Football Playoff hopes die this weekend. We honor their memory here, and do not expect to mention them in this column again until next season: Arizona State, California, Fresno State, Illinois, Iowa State, LSU, Minnesota, Northwestern, OklahomaCal (5-3 overall, 2-2 ACC): Loss to Virginia Tech slides it out of ACC Championship Game contention.Iowa State (5-3 overall, 2-3 Big 12): Home loss to BYU makes for third conference loss; eight Big 12 teams have two or fewer.Arizona State (5-3 overall, 3-2 Big 12): A three-loss Big 12 team is not making the College Football Oklahoma (6-2 overall, SEC 2-2): Ole Miss’ home loss gives Sooners SEC 2-2 record. Even with a 53 point loss, a 10-2 Illinois would have been a contender for the playoffs. After a 42-25 defeat at Washington, the Illini’s best scenario is a 9-3 record. Minnesota (5-3 overall and 3-2 Big Ten), the Golden Gophers are facing three losses, including a humiliating 38-point loss to rival Iowa. LSU (5-3 overall, 2-3 SEC): A lopsided home loss vs. Texas A&M gives Brian Kelly’s team a third loss — and a trip to Alabama looms in two weeksFresno State (5-3 overall, 2-2 Mountain West): A shutout vs. San Diego State gives Bulldogs loss No. Mountain West is facing a steep climb. Fresno State (5-3 overall, 2-3 Mountain West): A shutout vs. San Diego State gives Bulldogs their third loss. No, it’s no longer. Oklahoma is dead. I doubt it.Week 10-vibe shiftersAn overview of the five games next week that are most likely to have an impact on the playoff race
Navy at North TexasVanderbilt in TexasUSC in NebraskaOklahoma in TennesseeCincinnati vs UtahThis week’s CFP predictions1. Ohio State2. Texas A&M3. Indiana4. Miami5. Alabama6. Oregon7. BYU8. Georgia9. Ole Miss10. Notre Dame11. Georgia Tech12. USF
2025-10-26 15:23:39
