Tag: 2024 SEC Football

Where the Aggies rank among their peers in ESPN’s SP+ metrics

Where does Texas A&M land in ESPN’s newest SP+ returning production rankings among the rest of the SEC ahead of the 2024 CFB season?

The 2024 college football season will be filled with storyline after storyline, led by conference realignment and the first year for the expanded 12-team playoff structure.

For Texas A&M, new head coach Mike Elko has already proven his recruiting prowess after signing the Aggies’ three remaining targets, including 2024 5-star athlete Terry Bussey, 4-star wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman, and 3-star offensive tackle Robert Bourdon.

Concerning the 2024 season, coupled with the returning veterans, Elko has already acquired 22 players from the transfer portal, led by sophomore Edge Nic Scourton, who Purdue and the Big 10 in sacks (10) during the 2023 season.

With starting quarterback Conner Weigman set to return after missing most of last season due to injury, the Aggies have already received plenty of preseason hype, and according to Fan Duel, Texas A&M is predicted to win an average of 8.5 games in 2024, while Weigman is a +1800 bet to win the Heisman trophy.

However, what sets A&M apart from the rest of the SEC is their returning production on both sides of the ball outside of Weigman and the transfer portal additions, including the entire starting offensive line and a bulk of the defensive line, led by senior DL Shemar Turner.

Providing the metrics to back it up, ESPN’s Bill Connelly released his newest SP+ rankings, but the question remains: where do the Agges land in the SEC for returning production next season?

Win projections for every SEC team in 2024

Here are the projected win totals for every SEC team entering the 2024 college football season, according to Fan Duel.

College football realignment has reached the forefront for nearly every major conference heading into the 2024 season, especially in the SEC. Texas and Oklahoma will officially leave the Big 12 to join what is still considered the toughest conference in college football.

While the Texas Longhorns were just a play away from facing the Michigan Wolverines in the National Championship game, it just wasn’t meant to be, and entering their first season in the SEC, the road only gets tougher compared to some of the softer defenses the Longhorns have faced during their time in the Big 12.

Recruiting-wise, NIL plus the evergrowing transfer portal are just a few headaches every SEC head coach will continue to deal with until regulations are eventually imposed. Still, hey, I can’t say it isn’t entertaining.

For Texas A&M, new head coach Mike Elko has already proven his recruiting chops after signing the Aggies’ three remaining targets, including 2024 5-star athlete Terry Bussey. Combined with 22 incoming transfers, Texas A&M’s chances of earning their first nine, or possibly ten-win season in 2024 is more realistic than some may think.

This week, Fan Duel released its win total projections for every SEC team, which will likely lead to a plethora of “hot takes” for certain programs that will likely perform much better or worse than said projections come Fall.

With that, here is every projected win total for all 16 SEC teams, according to Fan Duel.

Way-too-early 2024 record predictions for every SEC football team

Looking way, way ahead to the 2024 season, here is every record prediction ahead a new era for SEC football starting next September.

Realignment has reached the forefront for nearly every major conference heading into the 2024 season, especially in the SEC. Texas and Oklahoma will officially leave the Big 12 to join what is still considered the toughest conference in college football.

From a competition standpoint, this expansion will only make the viewing experience that much more enjoyable, coupled with the inaugural post-season 12-team playoff format that will provide deserving teams a chance to compete for a national title, some for the first time in program history.

Recruiting-wise, NIL plus the evergrowing transfer portal are just a few headaches every SEC head coach will continue to deal with until regulations are eventually imposed. Still, hey, I can’t say it isn’t entertaining.

The best example? The retirement of legendary Alabama HC Nick Saban has created a seismic change in the conference hierarchy. New head coach Kalen DeBoer will likely deal with several bumps in the road before eventually reestablishing the Crimson Tide’s usual dominance.

As we look far ahead to next season’s festivities, here are our way-too-early SEC season predictions for all 16 conference programs.

Sensational sophomore LB Taurean York representing Texas A&M at SEC Football Leadership Council

York will represent the Aggies at the SEC Football Leadership Council on Friday and Saturday at the SEC headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama.

Despite entering only his true sophomore season, Texas A&M linebacker Taurean York‘s leadership abilities are very prominent.

Members of the Aggies Athletics Department must agree because on Thursday it was announced that York would be Texas A&M’s representative at the SEC Football Leadership Council that’s being held on Friday and Saturday at the conference’s headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama.

According to an Aggies news release, the council will meet to discuss agenda items that include a meeting with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, a review of NCAA and SEC legislative items, a conversation with SEC Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Katie O’Neal and engagement with football officials on rules of the game, student-athlete/referee interaction and careers in officiating. The group will also review SEC student-athlete engagement opportunities, per the release.

The SEC as presently constructed will be in attendance at the annual meeting with one representative from all 14 universities. Noticeably absent will be Texas and Oklahoma, who will be joining the conference at the beginning of the new school year in August.

Aside from York, one representative stands out among the rest: Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith, the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner, will be present for Alabama. Other representatives include Cameron Ball (Arkansas), Eugene Asante (Auburn), Derek Wingo (Florida), Jalon Walker (Georgia), Eli Cox (Kentucky), Josh Williams (LSU), JJ Pegues (Ole Miss), Hayes Hammond (Mississippi State), Kristian Williams (Missouri), Kai Kroeger (South Carolina), Omari Thomas (Tennessee) and Bryan Longwell (Vanderbilt).

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Ranking every SEC football head coach after Nick Saban’s retirement heading into the 2024 CFB season

After Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s surprising retirement, we at Aggies Wire ranked every SEC coach ahead of the 2024 season.

After the shocking news that Alabama head coach Nick Saban will officially retire his post, the SEC is still widely regarded as the most competitive conference in college football, regardless of Saban’s future absence.

This year, Texas and Oklahoma will enter the conference, growing the SEC to a 15-team league in the new age of realignment and “Super Conferences” have formed, making every aspect of recruiting much more competitive in the coming seasons.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, just a week removed from the Longhorns’s close loss to Washington in the CFP Playoffs, has the program in tip-top shape heading into 2024, especially with the return of starting quarterback Quinn Ewers.

Due to roster attrition through the transfer portal this offseason, things may be more difficult for Oklahoma and head coach Brent Venables. However, transitioning to one of the toughest conferences in a country bar none. For Texas A&M, new HC Mike Elko already has things rolling, acquiring 21 players through the transfer portal, and is set to host a long list of 2025 recruits this coming weekend.

The team at Aggies Wire has compiled our own cohesive SEC head coach rankings for all of you to analyze and criticize during the winter months. Enjoy!