A reporter for USA TODAY believes that Texas A&M’s football team “can’t be counted among the best” in the SEC

In the fiercely competitive landscape of college football, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) is widely regarded as one of, if not the, premier football conferences in the nation. With powerhouses like Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and others consistently contending for national titles and SEC championships, it’s no surprise that teams within the league are under constant scrutiny. Texas A&M, a team that made its way into the SEC in 2012, has long been seen as a team with potential—capable of competing at the highest levels. However, some observers argue that despite the resources, talent, and facilities, Texas A&M’s football program has yet to prove it belongs among the conference’s elite.

One such critic is a reporter for USA TODAY, who recently suggested that Texas A&M “can’t be counted among the best” in the SEC. This assertion raises questions about the Aggies’ standing in a conference teeming with talent and tradition. Is Texas A&M truly lacking the necessary qualities to contend for championships, or has the program simply faced tough competition? Are the Aggies suffering from a gap between potential and results, or are they failing to capitalize on the advantages that come with being an SEC team? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at these questions, analyzing Texas A&M’s place within the SEC, their recruiting efforts, their coaching staff, and their recent performance to determine whether they can be considered a legitimate contender in the conference.

A&M’s SEC Journey: From Promise to Underachievement?

When Texas A&M made the decision to join the SEC in 2012, the move was seen as a bold statement of intent. The Aggies were leaving behind the Big 12, a conference where they had experienced both success and struggles, to join the SEC, which has long been considered the gold standard in college football. Texas A&M was expected to bring a new level of competition to the SEC, contributing to the growing narrative of the conference’s dominance. The Aggies were entering a conference with a rich history, full of perennial contenders, and they seemed primed to make an immediate impact.

However, from the outset, Texas A&M’s journey in the SEC has been marked by inconsistency. While the team has had some success, including a notable 11-win season in 2012, they have yet to break through as a true championship contender. Over the past decade, the Aggies have consistently failed to challenge the SEC’s elite teams for conference championships. Despite moments of brilliance, including some standout wins against top-ranked opponents, they have often faltered when faced with the most significant challenges.

This inconsistency is a major point of contention for critics. If Texas A&M truly has the resources and talent to compete in the SEC, why have they failed to make a sustained push for the conference title? To answer this question, it’s important to examine the key factors that contribute to the Aggies’ struggles in the SEC.

Recruiting: The Foundation of Success

One of the primary reasons for Texas A&M’s struggles to become a consistent contender in the SEC is their performance in recruiting. Recruiting is the lifeblood of college football, and it’s the foundation upon which championships are built. The SEC is known for attracting top-tier talent, and the schools at the top of the conference—such as Alabama, Georgia, and LSU—consistently bring in elite recruiting classes. While Texas A&M has had some success on the recruiting trail, they’ve often failed to land the same caliber of players as the SEC’s traditional powerhouses.

Take Alabama, for instance. The Crimson Tide has been able to recruit at an almost unprecedented level under head coach Nick Saban, consistently securing top-ranked classes year after year. Similarly, Georgia and LSU have been able to do the same under their respective coaches. While Texas A&M has certainly recruited well and brought in some highly touted players, they’ve struggled to land the elite prospects that other SEC programs have built their success around. This has often left the Aggies with talent that, while strong, doesn’t quite measure up to the sheer dominance seen in other programs.

Additionally, there is a gap in how Texas A&M has been able to develop its recruits. Programs like Alabama and Georgia have mastered the art of developing their talent into NFL-caliber players, and their sustained success at the top of college football is often attributed to their depth of talent. The Aggies, on the other hand, have frequently fallen short of developing players to the same extent. They may have a few standout players, but the lack of overall depth and development at crucial positions has kept them from being able to compete on the same level as the SEC’s elite.

Coaching: The Road to Consistency

Another key factor in Texas A&M’s inability to break through as a consistent contender in the SEC is their coaching. Jimbo Fisher, the head coach of the Aggies since 2018, was brought in with high expectations. Fisher, who won a national championship at Florida State, was seen as the perfect leader to elevate Texas A&M into the ranks of SEC supremacy. His arrival was supposed to mark a new era for the program, one in which the Aggies would regularly challenge for conference titles and playoff berths.

However, while Fisher’s tenure has been marked by some positive moments, it has also been filled with frustrating inconsistency. Texas A&M has shown flashes of brilliance under Fisher, such as their stunning win over Alabama in 2021, but they have often struggled against lesser teams in the conference. The Aggies’ inability to maintain a high level of play on a week-to-week basis has raised concerns about Fisher’s ability to build a truly elite program.

In college football, consistency is key. The SEC is full of teams that can beat you on any given Saturday, and a lack of preparation or focus can lead to disastrous results. Fisher has yet to prove that he can get Texas A&M to consistently play at a championship level, particularly when it comes to big games. Whether it’s losing close matchups against teams like Ole Miss or LSU, or failing to win the games that matter most, the Aggies have consistently come up short when it comes to the SEC’s biggest challenges.

Performance on the Field: Close But No Cigar

While recruiting and coaching are undeniably important, the Aggies’ performance on the field ultimately determines their standing in the SEC. Despite their wealth of talent and potential, Texas A&M has struggled to consistently compete at the highest level in the SEC.

One of the key issues for the Aggies has been their performance in big games. Texas A&M has had a number of opportunities to make a statement, but they have often faltered when the spotlight is on them. In 2021, for example, the Aggies recorded a stunning victory over Alabama, handing the Crimson Tide their first regular-season loss in years. This win had many thinking that Texas A&M had finally arrived as a legitimate SEC contender. However, they followed it up with a loss to Arkansas and failed to win the games that would have propelled them into serious playoff contention.

This trend has continued throughout Fisher’s tenure. Texas A&M has often been competitive in big games, but they have failed to capitalize on those opportunities. They have shown that they can compete with the best teams in the SEC, but they have not been able to consistently get over the hump and win when it matters most.

The SEC’s Increasingly Competitive Landscape

The SEC is one of the most competitive conferences in college football, and it only seems to be getting tougher. With teams like Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and others recruiting at elite levels and consistently fielding championship-caliber teams, the margin for error in the SEC is razor-thin. Texas A&M, despite having a strong recruiting class and an experienced coach, has struggled to break into the upper echelon of the conference.

With the SEC expanding and new programs like Oklahoma and Texas joining the league, the competition will only intensify. For Texas A&M to be considered among the best in the SEC, they will need to find a way to separate themselves from the pack and show that they can consistently compete with the conference’s elite teams.