2013 Texas A&M Aggies football schedule: Record projections

texasamgamedayr | January 20, 2013 at 11:07 am | 1 Comment

Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel is introduced against the Florida Gators at halftime at Reed Arena. (Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)

The Texas A&M Aggies stormed into the SEC under first year head coach Kevin Sumlin, compiling a 10-2 regular season record (11-2 overall) in a year that resulted in a Heisman Trophy for freshman Johnny Manziel.

What was meant to be a rude welcoming party for the Aggies turned out to be quite the opposite, as the boys from College Station ran circles around some of the best defenses in the country.

The lone blemish on national champion Alabama’s schedule from 2012 belongs to the Aggies and a Johnny Football performance that will go down in history as one of the greatest of all time.

Texas A&M would cap off its 2012 campaign with a Cotton Bowl beat down of former Big 12-rival Oklahoma, 41-13. The Aggies finished in the top 5 for the first time since 1956, and just the fourth time in program history, earning Kevin Sumlin a contract extension through 2017.

All of those accomplishments, however, are in the past now. What’s on the slate for this year, and can the Aggies improve upon the last?

With Johnny Football returning for just his sophomore season, the offense will surely keep ticking. The Aggies lose arguably the best offensive lineman in the nation in Luke Joekel, but future top 10 pick Jake Matthews will be sliding to the left to protect Manziel’s blindside.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Aggies lose first round pick Damontre Moore, along with his 12.5 sacks and 21.5 TFL.

As far as the schedule goes, the Aggies have a more than favorable road to navigate next season. Eight of their games will be in the comfy confines of Kyle Field, including the highly anticipated rematch with Alabama.

Home schedule:

Aug. 31 – Rice
Sept. 7 – Sam Houston State
Sept. 14 – Alabama
Sept. 21 – SMU
Oct. 19 – Auburn
Oct. 26 – Vanderbilt
Nov. 9 – Mississippi State
Nov. 16 – New Mexico

The road schedule sets up quite nicely as well, with just one game that could go either way (LSU), and one against a team on the rise (Ole Miss).

Away schedule:

Sept. 28 – Arkansas
Oct. 12 – Ole Miss
Nov. 23 – LSU
Nov. 30 – Missouri

Also weighing in the Aggies’ favor is that they do not have to face any of the big boys from the SEC East (Florida, Georgia, or South Carolina).

The SEC West should come down to Texas A&M and Alabama, with LSU having an outside shot at making it to Atlanta. The two road games (LSU and Missouri) to end the season will be tough. However, the Aggies will field the better team in both cases.

With Alabama traveling to College Station and one more year under Manziel’s belt, A&M has a legitimate shot at competing for the SEC Championship in just its second year in the conference.

Worst Case Scenario: 9-3

Best Case Scenario: 12-0

Projected: 11-1 (Loss coming against Alabama or at LSU)

How will the Aggies finish next season? Sound off below!

Five early SEC Heisman contenders for the 2013 college football season

Rating: 4.0/5 (2 votes cast)

What do you think Gamedayrs?

Larry Heitman

Perceptive article. Here’s more insight. A&M wins not only because of talent but because of a “winning attitude” instilled by Coach Sumlin and players like Manziel, because of great coaching, and because of Coach Larry Jackson’s strength and conditioning program. That attitude plus smart, hard-nosed football makes for a winning combination. Reviewing the talent on teams A&M will play in 2013, Alabama and LSU are the Aggies main competitors. Based upon pure talent, Alabama should win. But the intangibles of a team that thinks they can win every Saturday, the amazing play of JF and playing in front of the 12th Man will make this a real “dog fight” and one of the best games of the year. I also believe that A&M has an edge in that it will have one more game to get its new players valuable experience. Remember that Alabama lost 6 starters off the offense and 6 off of the defense. Whoever has the greatest “will to win” and a combination of fewer turnovers, fewest turnovers and best 3rd down conversions will win this game. In regards to LSU, they lost a tremendous amount of talent to graduation and (12) players leaving early. Because A&M and LSU play late in the year, Les Miles will have the Tigers ready to play at a very high level. If Zach Mettenberger improves greatly at QB, A&M will have a tough time beating LSU in “Death Valley”. The intangibles mentioned above and a 6-0 road record in 2012 including a victory over #1 Alabama at Bryant-Denny stadium give A&M a better than even chance of pulling out another victory. It will be tough to go 12-0 for the Ags. But this is their best chance. We will have a better idea of how their year will go on September 14th.

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