Aggies Projected To Finish Third In SEC West In Preseason Poll
The only thing that will get in Texas A&M's way of being one of the top teams in the SEC West is the program itself. Even voters agree with that sentiment following SEC Media Days.
The Aggies are projected to finish third in the SEC West standings for the 2023 regular season behind Alabama and LSU. The Aggies received one first-place vote, while Alabama received the most in the division at 165.
Changes are expected to come to College Station after the 5-7 fiasco known as the 2022 season. A&M will have to make up for loss production in the run game with the departure of De'Von Achane. The Aggies will also need to stabilize the quarterback position, an area of concern since the 2020 9-1 Orange Bowl season.
Sixth-year coach Jimbo Fisher controls the outlook for this season. After firing offensive coordinator Darrell Dickey, Fisher elected to bring in former Louisville and Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino to take over the play-calling. At least that's the hope from Fisher entering a prove-it season.
“Hopefully, he’ll call the game,” Fisher said in part about Petrino during SEC Media Days Monday.
Two-time national champion Georgia surpassed Alabama as the favorites to win the conference title with 265 first-place votes. The Tigers, who defeated Alabama in overtime last season, finished third in preseason voting with a resounding 117 votes.
A&M kicks off its season with a road trip test in Week 2 against Miami. Two weeks later, the Aggies start SEC play against Auburn, perhaps the biggest wild card of the conference. Conference play begins with a rigorous four-game stretch against the Tigers, Arkansas, Alabama and Tennesee heading into the bye week.
While A&M will look to recapture that 2021 magic against Alabama at Kyle Field, the Southwest Classic remains in Arlington against the Hogs. Tennessee, which finished with the fourth-most first-place votes, will place host to the Aggies at Neyland Stadium on Oct. 14.
The Aggies close out the year with matchups against South Carolina, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and LSU. Last season, Conner Weigman dazzled in his debut against the Rebels with a four-touchdown outing, but came up short in a 31-28 loss. Weigman rebounded and led A&M to a 38-23 upset win over then-No. 5 LSU to close out the season with its third-ranked victory.
Five Aggies were named to the All-SEC rosters for the 2023 preseason. Ainias Smith, A&M's most reliable offensive weapon, was named a first-team selection on special teams as an all-purpose performer. Smith also was a second-team return specialist and a third-team receiver.
Defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson, safety Demani Richardson and punter Nik Constantinou were all named to a second-team selection entering their senior seasons. Layden Robinson, a consummate on the offensive line for two years, was named to the third team.
The Aggies begin play on Sept. 2 at Kyle Field against New Mexico.
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