This is the ninth team in the SEC football preview series:
We all know is it hot in Texas in the summer.
There is no place warmer than Texas A&M head football coach Kevin Sumlin’s office chair.
The pressure to improve is obvious after the Aggies lost four of their final five games, including the Texas Bowl to Kansas State.
Sumlin has seen his team go 8-5 for three straight seasons and even eight wins could be a challege in 2017.
Texas A&M are not favored against UCLA (34.4 percent change of winning) but the Aggies should grab victories over Nichols (99.5), Louisiana (95.7), Arkansas (61.2) and South Carolina (67.6).
The winning streak ends against Alabama (18.3) and Florida (29.2).
The Aggies should rebound against Mississippi State (70.6) to improve to 5-2.
A loss to Auburn (25.1) will be followed by wins over New Mexico (94.6) and Ole Miss (52.5).
A regular season finale loss to LSU (23.8) shouldn’t keep the Aggies from going bowling at 7-5.
A disastrous season could happen if A&M loses to UCLA, Arkansas, Alabama and Florida and then falls to Mississippi State and Auburn.
If they drop games against Ole Miss and LSU, then the Aggies will be looking for a new coach.
The Aggies replace their leading receiver (Josh Reynolds), starting quarterback (Trevor Knight) and two offensive lineman (Jermaine Eluemunor and Avery Gennesy).
The quarterback battle is between Jake Hubenak, Nick Starkel and freshman Kellen Mond.
Which ever quarterback earns the starting spot, he will have plenty of star power joing them with All-American receiver Christian Kirk and sophomore running back Trayveon Williams.
Kirk has accumulated nearly 2,000 receiving yards on 163 receptions in two seasons, while Williams rushed for 1,057 yards as a freshman.
Kirk is among the elite in the country at returning punts. He just needs more chances. In 26 career games, he’s returned only 27 punts, yet he’s averaged 23.0 yards per return and has scored five touchdowns.
The Aggie offensive line should be strong again this season led by Connor Lanfear, Colton Prater and Erik McCoy along with junior Koda Martin.
Last season, A&M averaged 211.8 rushing yards per game and allowed just 21 sacks in 2016.
Obviously the Aggies will miss All-America defensive end Myles Garrett and the key to a winning season may rest on the defense.
Kingsley Keke, Zaycoven Henderson, Qualen Cunningham, Jarrett Johnson, along with junior college transfer Micheal Clemons will anchor the defensive front.
Linebackers junior Otaro Alaka, sophomore Tyrel Dodson and heralded true freshman Anthony Hines need to play well and make an impact in the big games.
The most talented player in the secondary is safety Armani Watts, but time will tell which others step up and limit the other teams’ offenses.
Texas A&M schedule
Sept. 2 at UCLA
Sept. 9 Nicholls State
Sept. 16 Louisiana
Sept. 23 at Arkansas
Sept. 30 South Carolina
Oct. 7 Alabama
Oct. 14 at Florida
Oct. 28 Mississippi State
Nov. 4 Auburn
Nov. 11 New Mexico
Nov. 18 at Ole Miss
Nov. 25 at LSU