College Football Rankings: Way-too-early Top 25 projections for 2018
By Zach Bigalke
Texas A&M dropped a high-scoring Belk Bowl to Wake Forest in Charlotte, falling 55-52 with a fourth-quarter comeback by the Demon Deacons. Nick Starkel threw for 499 yards and four touchdowns, offering a solid starter at quarterback to build around in 2018. The ground game left piled up two rushing touchdowns but only 115 net yards.
In that game, the Aggies defense struggled to contain Wake Forest when they had the ball. Youth played a part in that inconsistency on defense throughout the 2017 season, though, and that could translate to better results with a year of muscle memory.
That is especially true given the biggest change in College Station. Kevin Sumlin is out as head coach of the Aggies. Taking his place is Jimbo Fisher, formerly of Florida State. Texas A&M backed up the Brinks truck for Fisher, signing the coach to a 10-year deal worth $75 million.
The Aggies might have lost their bowl game and finished 2017 just 7-6 in the final standings. But the end result of a disappointing season was the irrational excitement of a new era at a sleeping giant of the sport. Signing a coach of Fisher’s stature will by itself boost Texas A&M from those also receiving votes into a spot in the preseason AP Top 25.