The first season without Johnny Football started fine for the Texas A&M Aggies, as they won all of their first five games in 2014. But once they got into the heart of their schedule, the Aggies weak defense reared its ugly head, causing them to lose three-straight games against ranked opponents, capped by an absolute annihilation at the hands of the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Aggies did end their season on a positive note though, as they beat West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl.
Right now, the Aggies are in a semi-transition with quarterback Kyle Allen ready to assume starting duties and a new defensive coordinator in town. Will the Aggies be able to finish with a better record than their 8-5 overall slate last year?
Read on for an overview of Texas A&M’s key player this coming season along with the team’s key game, best and worst scenarios and a complete list of the Aggies’ 2015-2016 schedule.
For more about college football, click here for a preview of Oregon’s season and here for the early Heisman Trophy candidates.
[sc:”NCAAF Articles” ]2015-2016 Texas A&M College Football Preview
Overview
[sc:NCAA240banner ]Kevin Sumlin is hoping that the Aggies’ offseason changes would amount into success in the SEC. Following a season wherein Texas A&M finished 77th in the nation in scoring defense (28.1 points) and 104th in total defense (450.8 yard per game), the Aggies finally had it with defensive coordinator Mark Snyder and asked him to go find a job somewhere else. As Snyder’s replacement, Texas A&M brought in former Tennessee and LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis, who now has the task of transforming the Aggies’ D into becoming one of the best again in the conference. Expect Chavis to make full use of defensive end Myles Garrett, who set a conference record last season with 11.5 sacks.
Along with linebacker Otaro Alaka, safety Armani Watts, Garrett, and senior cornerback De’Vante Harris, the Aggies’ defense is primed to experience an improvement under Chavis. The offense, on the other hand, is less of a problem with quarterback Kyle Allen ready to take over as a full-season starter. Allen took over Kenny Hill (transferred to TCU) late last season, capped with a sterling performance (294 passing yards and a four touchdowns) in the Aggies’ 45-37 win over West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl. There’s no shortage of talent in the receiving corps, which features the likes of sophomore Speedy Noil (583 receiving yards, five touchdowns) and junior Josh Reynolds (842 receiving yards, 13 touchdowns).
Key Player – Kyle Allen
The departure of Hill over the offseason immediately meant that Allen now gets the ball under center. Sure, Allen has some competition with freshman Kyler Murray to overcome, but based on his MVP-performance in the Liberty Bowl, it would be rash for Sumlin to relegate the sophomore into a backup role once again. Allen is a prototypical pocket passer, one that the Aggies’ talented receiving corps need more than a dual threat like Murray. It’s all on Allen now in College Station.
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Key Game – vs. Alabama (Oct. 17)
Anyone who wanted to see a high-profile football massacre last season got what they wanted when the Crimson Tide ripped Texas A&M apart in a 59-0 win back in October. This time around, the Aggies host Nick Saban and his crew in College Station, where a supposedly better Texas A&M offense and defense will meet them. The Aggies are 1-2 SU and 2-1 ATS in their last three games against Alabama.
Best/Worst Case Scenario for the Season
Best Case Scenario
The Aggies take advantage of a favorable schedule that features just three real road games (and two neutral location contests). The team’s offense remains high scoring, while the defense improves to the point that it keys the Aggies into winning at least one home game against Alabama and Auburn. Texas A&M, which is +1,500 to win the SEC, finishes the regular season with a 10-3 overall record and goes 6-2 in conference play.
Worst Case Scenario
Kyle Allen’s superb Liberty Bowl performance last year turns out to be nothing less of a mirage, as he suffers a debilitating sophomore slump. Murray, on the other hand, plays like a lost freshman on the field, thus failing to unlock the potential of the team’s wide receivers. The defense bumbles in Chavis’ first year as defensive coordinator, causing the Aggies to lose most of their games against ranked foes. The Aggies finish with an 8-5 overall record (3-5 slate in the SEC).
Complete Schedule
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, September 5 | vs Arizona | 7:00 PM ET |
| Saturday, September 12 | vs Ball State | 7:00 PM ET |
| Saturday, September 26 | vs Nevada | 12:00 PM ET |
| Saturday, October 3 | vs Arkansas | TBA |
| Saturday, October 10 | vs Mississippi State | TBA |
| Saturday, October 17 | vs Alabama | TBA |
| Saturday, October 24 | @ Ole Miss | TBA |
| Saturday, October 31 | vs South Carolina | TBA |
| Saturday, November 7 | vs Auburn | TBA |
| Saturday, November 14 | vs Western Carolina | TBA |
| Saturday, November 21 | @ Vanderbilt | TBA |
| Saturday, November 28 | @ LSU | TBA |
Writer’s Prediction
Texas A&M finishes with an overall record of 7-6, while going 4-4 in conference, good for fourth in the SEC West.
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