Texas A&M’s Week 11 bye week was (hopefully) successful in terms of fixing the issues that plagued the Aggies, especially the defensive issues that led to 25 missed tackles in the 44-20 loss to South Carolina, which dropped the Aggies to No. 14 in the first College Football Playoff rankings reveal.
On Monday, head coach Mike Elko discussed the plan to replace star running back Le’Veon Moss’s snaps. Junior back Amari Daniels will take over as the starter, while senior EJ Smith will become the primary backup, significantly increasing his snap count.
“What we’ve got to do is figure out how to replace Le’Veon (Moss) and all of his carries and all of his yards.”
“Here’s what we have now. How are we effectively going to move the football? … It’s about utilization of personnel.”
Yes, utilizing and effectively managing the two remaining scholarship running backs is key, but this all puts added pressure on OC Collin Klein and quarterback Marcel Reed to get the passing game going to prevent the offense from becoming dimensional and, worse, predictable.
Staying at No. 15 in the latest AP Top 25, Tuesday’s College Football Playoff reveal would likely match the Aggie’s newest ranking, as their playoff hopes are still in decent shape despite the loss.
If Texas A&M can defeat New Mexico State and Auburn before hosting Texas on Nov. 30, the playoff spot for both programs could be on the line.
Here is everything you need to know after the first CFP Playoff reveal:
College Football Playoff bracket: Who’s in, who’s out:
- 12-seed Boise State vs. 2-seed Ohio State: Winner plays 9-seed Miami
- 8-seed Notre Dame vs. 7-seed Tennessee: Winner plays 1-seed Oregon
- 11-seed Ole Miss vs. 4-seed Penn State: Winner plays 6-seed BYU
- 10-seed Alabama vs. 5-seed Indiana: Winner plays 2-seed Texas
Latest CFP rankings:
- Oregon (10-0)
- Ohio State (8-1)
- Texas (8-1)
- Penn State (8-1)
- Indiana (10-0)
- BYU (9-0)
- Tennessee (8-1)
- Notre Dame (8-1)
- Miami (9-1)
- Alabama (7-2)
- Ole Miss (8-2)
- Georgia (7-2)
- Boise State (8-1)
- SMU (9-1)
- Texas A&M (7-2)
- Kansas State (7-2)
- Colorado (7-2)
- Washington State (8-1)
- Louisville (6-3)
- Clemson (7-2)
- South Carolina (6-3)
- LSU (6-3)
- Missouri (7-2)
- Army (9-0)
- Tulane (8-2)
Texas A&M’s projected CFP opponent
Texas A&M is out of the mix at No. 15 in the newest rankings compared to being the second team out below SMU at No. 14 last week. However, the Aggies win their final three games, head coach Mike Elko and his team are shoo-ins for the SEC Championship Game and a chance for an automatic bid to the CFP.
How many teams are in College Football Playoff 2024?
For the first time, 12 teams will participate in the College Football Playoffs. Five automatic bids will go to each of the Power Four conference champions and one to the highest-ranked Group of Five champion. The remaining seven slots will go to the seven at-large teams.
When next College Football Playoff rankings come out
- Tuesday, Nov. 12: 8:30 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, Nov. 19: 7 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, Nov. 26: 8 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, Dec. 3: 7 p.m. ET
- Sunday, Dec. 8: Noon ET
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