Texas A&M football blew a huge lead against Josh Rosen and the UCLA Bruins in what could end up costing Kevin Sumlin his job.
Texas A&M got a wake up call in the second half of their matchup with the UCLA Bruins in a 45-44 loss. The Aggies held a 44-10 lead at one point and managed to blow it. A lot of that was due to the almost heroic-like play of UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen in the last two quarters. Aggie head coach Kevin Sumlin needed this one and didn’t get it.
Each team had a very different gameplan entering the match. UCLA has a solid running back in Soso Jamabo but he did not get that much work. Texas A&M has a deeper stable of running backs than UCLA does. Trayveon Williams and Keith Ford led the way in the first half.
One of the biggest storylines entering the game was the hot seat that both team’s coaches were on. UCLA’s head coach Jim Mora needed to find a way to keep Rosen upright and healthy and finally get the Bruins back in a bowl game.
Sumlin just needs to finish seasons as well as he starts them. Texas A&M seemingly got steadily worse over the past few years. Sumlin also had a real test of his coaching ability with the quarterback battle that the Aggies have faced since Trevor Knight got injured and ultimately ran out of eligibility.
There’s a lot that needs to happen for Sumlin to be able to be confident about his job security. First thing is, he needs to find a consistent quarterback. Nick Starkel got the nod as the starter but did not finish the game. True freshman Kellen Mond could be the long-term answer.
Now, let’s take a look at a few reasons why Kevin Sumlin should no longer be the coach of the Texas A&M Aggies.
Texas A&M needs a shake up before the start of SEC play
This loss was an ironic sum up of Kevin Sumlin’s era at Texas A&M. A combination of high expectations, long and drawn out winning and losing streaks, and rotating quarterbacks, have cost the Aggies any shot at staying at the top of the SEC standings.
The SEC West is an unforgiving division for any team not named the Alabama Crimson Tide. Sumlin and the Aggies got the best of the Crimson Tide one year, but that is it. And the biggest reason why Texas A&M was able to beat Alabama once was because of Johnny Manziel.
Whether it be naming a starter that stays behind center for a few games in a row or finding a new coach entirely, something needs to change within the Texas A&M program. They have a tough schedule ahead and can’t get caught staying stationary.
It’s been a brutal weekend for numerous programs in the state of Texas. The Aggies could not hold a huge lead over UCLA. The Texas Longhorns got upset by the Maryland Terrapins. And, the Baylor Bears lost to an FCS team. Seeing Sumlin go is the next tragic event that could and should happen.
Good coaching prospects on the market
The next wave of head coaching prospects for Power Five programs is about to emerge. A few names to watch include Tulsa’s Phillip Montgomery, Appalachian State’s Scott Satterfield, and UCF’s Scott Frost. Who will be this year’s Tom Herman?
Texas A&M is a premier coaching destination. They would have no problem finding a top tier coach from a Group of Five team or a coordinator from another Power Five team. That makes it even harder for the Aggies to keep him around.
It remains to be seen which of the recent Group of Five hires will pan out. Herman has not started out well at Texas. Matt Rhule did not start out well at all with Baylor. However, Minnesota’s P.J. Fleck did start out his tenure with a big win over Buffalo.
Next: Rosen leads 34-point comeback for UCLA over Texas A&M
Texas A&M needs to find a guy like former Memphis head coach Justin Fuente with Virginia Tech. Fuente turned around the Hokies immediately and beat West Virginia this weekend. The Aggies need a difference maker that can keep them at the top of the SEC West.