College Football Playoff Rankings 2018: Selection Sunday Top 25 projections

With their seven-overtime upset of LSU on Thanksgiving weekend, Texas A&M closed out an 8-4 regular season in their first year under the leadership of Jimbo Fisher. The result was a return to the College Football Playoff Top 25, three weeks after falling out of the list following back-to-back losses against Mississippi State and Auburn. And with the 74-72 victory over the Tigers, Texas A&M earned the tiebreaker to finish in second place in the SEC West behind Alabama.

The Aggies won 10 games despite an offensive line that ranked 113th in the country in sacks and tackles for loss allowed. Fisher’s crew also had issues on defense, especially against the pass. Texas A&M ended the year outside the top 100 in passing yards allowed and pass efficiency defense. They also generated just nine turnovers in 12 games, putting them in the bottom five in the FBS.

But they played ACC champion Clemson closer than any other team this season, losing by just two points as Kellen Mond threw for 430 yards and three touchdowns. The Aggies will stay in the high teens of the final College Football Playoff selection committee’s rankings as they await their bowl destination.