Texas A&M captured an unenviable crown posting the most disappointing season in college football in 2022, free falling from the preseason No.6 ranking to a six-game losing streak and 5–7 record. The losses didn’t end on the field, however, as over 30 players transferred from the program, including a handful from the Aggies’ coveted 2022 recruiting class.

The numbers reveal Jimbo Fisher hasn’t brought Texas A&M more success than Kevin Sumlin, his predecessor, through their respective first five years. Fisher has a worse record, 39–21 compared to 44–21, and missed a bowl game last season, which Sumlin never did. Sumlin was fired at the conclusion of his sixth year, but if Fisher can’t right the ship it’ll cost A&M far more to terminate him at year’s end ($76.8 million, that is). For comparison, Ed Orgeron was owed $16.9 million when he was fired two years after leading a perfect season at LSU.

But there’s plenty of reason to believe Texas A&M is due for a bounce-back year in 2023, and it all starts with five-star signal caller Conner Weigman. The 6-foot-2-inch quarterback tossed eight touchdowns to zero interceptions in limited action, and now he’s the apparent starter in new coordinator Bobby Petrino’s offense. Sprinkle in speedster Evan Stewart at receiver and a bevy of former top-ranked recruits on the defensive side, and Texas A&M has an opportunity to surge through an SEC schedule which handed them plenty of tough road trips.

Texas A&M Aggies

2022 record: 5–7
2023 record prediction: 8–4

BIGGEST GAME: vs. Alabama on Oct. 7

Texas A&M has to travel to Miami, Tennessee, Ole Miss and LSU in their 2023 slate, but the Aggies lucked out getting Alabama at Kyle Field. They have the home field advantage, and they’ve also already gotten a crack at the Crimson Tide without departing Heisman quarterback Bryce Young.

Last year, the Aggies held one-game starter Jalen Milroe to 111 yards passing and had Alabama on the ropes until the final second when a length-of-the-field drive in the final two minutes fell short. Texas A&M couldn’t overcome the 326 rushing yards they surrendered in a 24-20 defeat, but this year they won’t have to worry about first round NFL Draft pick Jahmyr Gibbs.

A win over Alabama could silence any hot seat murmurs surrounding Fisher and propel Texas A&M into SEC contention. They took the Crimson Tide the distance in a down year, and that was the team that’ll most closely resemble this year’s version of Alabama.

TRAP GAME: vs. Mississippi State on Nov. 11

Mississippi State is undergoing a full identity makeover after the shocking death of head coach Mike Leach. New head coach Zach Arnett, who served as defensive coordinator last year, has hinted the Bulldogs will shift to a more balanced attack rather than the Air Raid that produced the nation’s tenth-ranked passing offense and second-to-last ranked rushing offense.

These unknown variables make Mississippi State a dangerous team heading into 2023. Texas A&M will be a week removed from a road trip at Ole Miss and could be looking forward to a cakewalk game against Abilene Christian the next week. Mississippi State, on the other hand, has a front loaded conference schedule with LSU and Alabama in the first two weeks to forge their identity.

Mississippi State also has the returning production to hurt A&M if they sleepwalk. Quarterback Will Rogers has tossed 71 touchdowns to just 17 interceptions in the previous two seasons, while linebackers Jett Johnson and Nathaniel Watson finished first and second, respectively, in the SEC for total tackles.

POTENTIAL UPSET: at LSU on Nov. 25

Texas A&M has not beaten LSU in Baton Rouge since the 1994 season, but the Aggies could walk out of Death Valley with a win in the final game of the regular season if they repeat the formula from last season. The Aggies toppled the sixth-ranked Tigers 38-23 behind a rushing attack that piled up 282 yards on 50 carries. Sure, Texas A&M won’t have running back Devon Achane in the backfield, but they do return two offensive linemen in Bryce Foster and Reuben Fatheree II who can anchor the line of scrimmage.

This matchup has been a toss up in recent years. While Texas A&M won last season, they dropped a 27-24 game against a 6–6 LSU team in 2021. In 2018, these two competed in arguably the craziest college football game ever when Texas A&M won 74-72 after seven overtimes.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels is getting some dark horse Heisman buzz, but A&M held him to 189 yards last year with zero touchdowns. The Aggies’ defense returns plenty of key pieces from that secondary, namely veteran safety Demani Richardson and cornerback Tyreek Chappell.