Within the last month, ESPN published their updated Football Power Index (FPI) that measures team strength, based on 20,000 simulations as explained on their website. The metric was created in 2005, and is a solid illustration of the progress of a football program’s results on the field over the span of time.
Since 2005, the Texas A&M football program has been through a number of adjustments. Multiple coaching changes, financial investments in the program, recruiting rankings, and an overall image revamp in how the rest of the college football community views the Aggies as a genuine contender year after year.
2005 was early in the Dennis Franchione regime, and despite recruiting well and receiving pre-season rankings multiple times during his 4-year stint, the Aggies failed to live up to any expectations, and only achieved a 9 win season one year in 2006.
Starting in 2008, Mike Sherman took over to bring an NFL-based pro-style offense, and a defense that moved former standout Von Miller to outside linebacker, a position move that has now made him a two-time super bowl winner and a bonafide future Hall of Famer. Sherman also had the privilege of coaching Quarterbacks Jerrod Johnson, now an assistant quarterback coach with the Minnesota Vikings, and Ryan Tannehill, starting quarterback for the Tennessee Titans. Sherman lasted 3 years with the Aggies.
As we all know, the Kevin Sumlin experience from 2012 to 2017 was led by two fabulous seasons of Heisman winning quarterback Johnny Manziel connecting with future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, but soon after the two departed for the NFL after the 2013 season, the Aggies’ record year after year became stagnant, leading to the firing of Sumlin and the hiring of Jimbo Fisher.
Fisher brought with him elevated expectations, and a level of national recruiting success never before seen in College Station, including the “best recruiting class ever” in 2022.
For the 2022 season, The Aggies have the following pre-season FPI ratings:
FPI: 12.8
Overall Ranking: 14
SEC Ranking: 5th
Aggies Wire will now break down every FPI rating dating back all the way to the 2005 season.