Joel Klatt makes case for Texas A&M as Top-25 team entering season

Texas A&M had a decent debut season under Mike Elko, despite losing four of its last five from November on. That has the Aggies ranked again going into next year, per Joel Klatt.

Klatt ranked his Post-Spring Top 25 during his show earlier this week. He proved he doesn’t dislike the Aggie program like some in the fan base might think, as he had A&M just inside the Top 20 coming into year two for Elko.

“At 19? Here’s a team that I have been accused of ‘hating’ for a long time – Texas A&M at 19,” Klatt said. “Some don’t have them ranked. I have them ranked.

“Mike Elko is getting this program back on track. I really like Mike Elko a lot. I like his approach. I think that he fits there, which is important because that’s a unique culture. It’s a unique fanbase, it’s a unique culture and there’s something really special about that…That’s a special place and a special fanbase.”

Texas A&M went 8-5 last fall, which was an improvement from the previous three records in the final seasons under Jimbo Fisher. That’s with a 7-1 start with the lone loss coming at home in the opener to last year’s national runner-up in Notre Dame. The Aggies did lose four of those five final games but three of those were respectable with a four-overtime loss at Auburn, a low-scoring loss against Texas, and then a comeback allowed to USC in the Las Vegas Bowl. They were competitive through the first half of their loss at South Carolina too before going scoreless in the second.

That all said, the Aggies are bringing back several players from that last season, while adding a Top 10 recruiting class and a Top 20 portal class, which was in contention for a spot in the SEC Championship and, with that, the College Football Playoff. That’s on both sides of the ball too with Klatt seeing what Texas A&M will have on offense and seeing what it could have on defense.

“You look at this team and their roster?” Klatt started. “Marcel Reed is coming back. He took over last year and I think he showed that he can be a dynamic player for them, in particular athletically. They’re bringing back their entire offensive line…Bringing back the entire offensive line in College Station. They’ve got two really good running backs – Le’Veon Moss, Reuben Owens. Both got hurt last year. They’re going to be back. They added North Carolina State (WR) KC Concepcion. He was in the portal. He was the number five wide receiver in the portal. Elko knows defense.”

The schedule, though, is a lot for all of the teams in the Southeastern Conference. The Aggies will play the Fighting Irish again in South Bend this time before opening conference play on a slate that includes Auburn, Florida, LSU, South Carolina, and Texas. It’s not necessarily among the worst ones in the league, but it’s also not easy for the Aggies.

“Like, the schedule is an SEC schedule, so the schedule is going to be tough,” Klatt said. “They’ve got three tough road games against what I would consider to be, like, top competition – Notre Dame, at LSU, at Texas. You’re going to see every one of those teams inside my Top 10. So, that’s going to be tough for A&M.”

Texas A&M wants to continue to best position its program, especially with last year already being the result of moving on from Fisher to Elko. The Aggies will now at least be starting next season in a similar or better position as a ranked Top 20 team, depending on who you listen to.

“I’ve got them right there at 19,” Klatt said.