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Texas A&M Football: Aggies have clear path to New Year’s Six Bowl

By Andrew Miller

COLUMBIA, SC - OCTOBER 13: Kellen Mond #11 of the Texas A&M Aggies reacts after a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SC - OCTOBER 13: Kellen Mond #11 of the Texas A&M Aggies reacts after a touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Led by a resurgent Kellen Mond and Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M football is finding more success in the SEC with a new head coach in College Station.

Much of the chatter surrounding the SEC (particularly the West division) at this point in the 2018 campaign comes to the possibility of two teams in the College Football Playoff for the second straight year. Altogether, the SEC has four teams ranked inside the top 11 of the AP Poll. All of those four teams are viable options for a Playoff berth, even if Texas A&M football is not.

Texas A&M football sits with two losses this year to two teams that are among the three best in the nation. The No. 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes are the only team in the top three that the Aggies have not lost to. The No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide and the No. 3 Clemson Tigers both knocked off the Aggies already.

Given the strength of the two losses for head Texas A&M football coach Jimbo Fisher and his squad, this group is still very much alive for a New Year’s Six Bowl appearance. A few of the key victories for the Aggies came over the No. 14 Kentucky Wildcats, South Carolina Gamecocks, and Arkansas Razorbacks.

The win over Arkansas came by a slimmer margin than Fisher would’ve liked, but the Hogs are a stingy opponent of late. However, the five wins that the Aggies do have makes the team good for a No. 17 ranking in the nation.

If Texas A&M can claim a victory coming out of the bye week on Oct. 27 on the road against the No. 22 Mississippi State Bulldogs, the remaining slate is pretty manageable. After Mississippi State, the Aggies have a slipping Auburn Tigers, Ole Miss Rebels, and the last non-conference mathcup of the season coming against the UAB Blazers.

The most difficult test left comes against the No. 5 LSU Tigers, who just knocked off the Georgia Bulldogs at Tiger Stadium last week. At least Texas A&M does get LSU at home this year which could be this program’s first win over the Tigers since joining the SEC back in 2012.

Next. New Year's Six Bowl projections for in Week 8. dark

Clearly, winning out would be good enough for Texas A&M to have a quality resume for a spot in a New Year’s Six Bowl. A 10-2 record coming out of the regular season would also likely place Texas A&M in the top eight in the College Football Playoff rankings. The immediate impact of Jimbo would also be felt. It’s going to be tough for them, but watch out for the Aggies down the stretch.