After two dominant non-conference victories against UTSA and Utah State, the Texas A&M football program has yet to crack CBS Sports analyst Brandon Marcello’s top 25 rankings.
While the Aggies scored 86 combined points in two contests, Marcello still believes Texas A&M has something to prove. Head coach Mike Elko has the opportunity to cast away those doubts at No. 8 Notre Dame (AP Poll) this Saturday night, should the Maroon and White reign over the Fighting Irish.
This week marks two in a row without the Texas A&M logo placed in Marcello’s power rankings. Seemingly, the Aggies haven’t even been in the conversation to be considered for a spot in the top 25. When breaking down what he has considered as top college football programs in the country heading into Week 3, it seems egregious that teams like Alabama and Michigan are over the Aggies, while both have strikes in the loss column for road non-conference losses. After trailing Troy at halftime in Week 2, Clemson remains in the top 15 as well.
While it may seem confusing why Texas A&M is not in his rankings, the Aggies still have a lot ahead of them. The importance of this weekend’s matchup against the Fighting Irish can’t be overstated — it’s a massive one.
Last season, Notre Dame arrived in College Station and left the victors with a 23-13 win over Elko and company. This game provides an opportunity for players like Scooby Williams, who tore his meniscus and still played the remainder of the season, to redeem themselves. It could also dramatically increase Texas A&M’s odds of reaching this year’s College Football Playoff.
Can the Aggies rewrite the national narrative surrounding the team’s inability to win the “big game”? That question will be answered when the program steps into Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, this Saturday night. With the nation watching, Elko could lead the program to a rapid ascent in everyone’s rankings.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M football remains unranked in CBS Sports analyst’s Week 3 power rankings
Reporting by Dylan Flippo, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
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