After so many years of disappointment and November collapses, Texas A&M Football has a new head coach. What is “good enough” from Jimbo this season?
Jimbo Fisher is surrounded by high expectations in 2018. He has proven himself to be a strong and seasoned head coach, but can he turn Texas A&M around as quick as people want?
Looking at the schedule, I can see Jimbo bringing the Aggies to at least 9-3 and possibly up to a 10-2 record. I may be asking a lot or going bold in this prediction. Let’s go through what would be required for this to happen and for fans to be happy with the outcome of the season.
Strong, dominant wins over lesser opponents
Texas A&M faces Northwestern State, Louisiana-Monroe and UAB at Kyle Field. These three should be big time, dominant wins for Texas A&M. This past season, the Aggies struggled with the likes of ULL and Nicholls State. That won’t be acceptable with Jimbo Fisher at the helm.
Fans were not exactly happy with either of those. The Aggies should be expected to hold them to 14 or less. They should also win by at least 20 for each of these games as well. These games will be important for the team’s confidence.
Clemson and Alabama
For any head coach, playing Alabama and Clemson within the first four games of the season is daunting. It is even more daunting when your team has a new head coach and is made of almost entirely freshman and sophomores.
It would be expected from Jimbo Fisher, a seasoned head coach, to be competitive in both games. I am not by any means expecting both to be Aggie wins. However, I do expect that Jimbo will play Clemson closer than Alabama as a result of familiarity between him and the opponent.
I don’t think wins are expected by many fans here, but they would be happy with close games.
Arkansas, Kentucky and South Carolina
These three are expected to be wins for the Aggies. Texas A&M has yet to lose to Arkansas since joining the SEC. Their talent level outscores that of Kentucky. South Carolina also hasn’t beat Texas A&M yet. Those aren’t supposed to change and it will be expected that Fisher’s Aggies out-do all three in the middle stretch of the season.
Mississippi State
The last two seasons, Mississippi State has made the Aggies look like they never played defense before. That can’t happen in 2018. With the defensive staff that Fisher has brought in, they will be expected to contain Nick Fitzgerald and company.
Mississippi State is a talented team with a strong head coach. Though, Moorhead has never been a head coach. Fisher’s expertise should win out in that one.
Playing in November
Texas A&M is notorious for fast starts and November collapses. That will not be acceptable from Jimbo Fisher. The November slate includes Auburn, Ole Miss, UAB and LSU.
UAB should be an easy win for the Aggies. They will travel to Auburn and if the tradition rings true, will win as the road team. Ole Miss will come to town under Matt Luke and should be an easy victory over a team that has virtually nothing to play for.
Next: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for Texas A&M football
However, the one the Aggies are circling on their calendar is the end of season match up against LSU. This is a team the Aggies have never beaten since joining the SEC. A loss wouldn’t be the end of the world, though many will expect a win. I will be happy with a close, competitive loss though.