'I think Texas A&M makes the playoff': SEC football analyst predicts Aggie CFP bid
Rusty Mansell, co-owner and publisher of DawgsHQ, joined Michael Bratton (SEC Mike) on "That SEC Podcast" to talk SEC football following a packed week in Atlanta, Georgia. With the league's annual preseason meetings concluding and fall camp set to kick off shortly, SEC Mike asked Mansell to provide the boldest take heading into the 2025 campaign.
Mansell's response? He believes that the Aggies are primed for a CFP bid this season, which would mark the program's first playoff appearance if those hopes come to fruition.
Here is the full clip from "That SEC Podcast" where Mansell and SEC Mike discussed Texas A&M's potential heading into the second year under head coach Mike Elko:
Whether the Aggies will reach the CFP will be determined by how the program handles one of the toughest schedules in the country. Ranked as the No. 9 slate by ESPN metrics, Texas A&M will have road tests against Notre Dame, LSU and Texas, all of which will have massive postseason implications.
Having a talented gunslinger at the helm will help the Aggies stay on course, however. Marcel Reed enters his sophomore year in College Station after throwing for 1,864 yards and 15 touchdowns in 11 games played last season. The two-time SEC Freshman of the Week honoree (Sep. 16 and Oct. 28) also recorded 547 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
With experience under his belt and targets like former ACC Freshman Offensive Player of the Year KC Concepcion surrounding him, Reed has all the pieces to complete the puzzle and lead the Aggies to the CFP in 2025.
While the Texas A&M secondary has been a weak spot of the defensive unit for a long time, that could soon change as well with the return of Will Lee III and the addition of transfer standouts Julian Humphrey (Georgia) and Jordan Shaw (Washington), rounding out the Aggie secondary this season.
Can the Aggies defy the odds and reach the 2025-2026 CFP? The Maroon and White faithful will have to wait just 41 more days before those answers begin to unfold on the gridiron at Kyle Field.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
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