Aggies Land In Top 25 Of Preseason Coaches Poll
Texas A&M is ready to prove the 2022 season was a fluke. Voters agree that on paper, the Aggies belong among college football's Top 25 programs.
The Aggies were ranked 25th in the American Football Coaches Association’s preseason Top 25 poll released Monday. A&M opens the season at Kyle Field on Sept. 2 against New Mexico.
The Aggies are expecting promising results on offense with a more veteran roster and balanced offense, led by new coordinator Bobby Petrino. Petrino, who spent the past three seasons at Missouri State, is expected to call plays, a change for the offense since sixth-year coach Jimbo Fisher arrived in College Station in 2018.
Last season, the Aggies finished 93rd in total offense and 101st in scoring (22.8 points per game). Experience on the offensive line, plus at receiver, should provide a competitive upside for either sophomore Conner Weigman or redshirt junior Max Johnson, who currently are vying for the starting quarterback position.
"My job is now I'm a teacher most,” Petrino said at his introductory press conference Sunday. “First and foremost, my role is to teach and learn and get to know how they learn, which I'm truly enjoying. Being in the classroom with the quarterbacks and teaching and being there every day has been a lot of fun.”
A&M received 196 points, just four behind former Big 12 rival Texas Tech. Last season, the Aggies ranked No. 6 nationally in the preseason poll, but finished unranked after a 5-7 finish. In 2021, A&M ranked No. 6 nationally to begin the season, but finished 25th following an 8-4 campaign.
The Aggies were one of six SEC programs to begin the season ranked. Two-time national champion Georgia claimed the top spot after garnering 61 of the 66 total first-place votes. Alabama, which finished 11-2, ranked third, while SEC West division winner was tabbed at No. 5.
Tennessee, which made headlines following its 11-2 record, rounded out the top 10 behind USC, Penn State, Florida State, and Clemson. Ole Miss was pegged at No. 22, three spots ahead of A&M.
Vanderbilt was the only SEC school not to receive a vote from the coaches on the committee.
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