The Texas A&M Aggies enter the 2021 season after posting an impressive 8-1 conference record followed by a win against the UNC Tar Heels in the Orange Bowl. This year, they face new challenges with quarterback Haynes King likely at the helm and higher expectations from the 12th man. Here are some bold predictions for the Aggies as they near their quest for their first SEC Championship.
Bold Predictions for the Aggies in 2021
1. King Passes for 3000 Yards and Rushes for 800 Yards
For now, King is the likely choice at quarterback to begin the season. If he does maintain the starting job over Zach Calzada, King is in for a big season. King’s game resembles that of Johnny Manziel, but it’s unlikely that King will match Manziel’s hype. Isaiah Spiller is quite clearly the SEC’s best returning running back, so the dual-threat ability for King should be effective. With this in mind, the reason that the Aggies are unable to reach that next level is due to the passing game’s inefficiency. Last year, the defense was primarily at fault in its only loss against Alabama. However, it must be noted that balanced, prolific offenses are required to win big games. To achieve this, the passing game needs to be more productive, specifically the wide receivers. Ainias Smith was the leading pass-catcher last season, which is concerning since Smith is a running back. Although Smith has been more of a receiver, the fact that Chase Lane was the only true wide receiver with more than 400 yards is just puzzling. Demond Demas, a redshirt freshman and former five-star, offers a potential primary target for King next season. King’s passing production will be essential in games against Alabama, Ole Miss, and LSU to come out with a win.
2. Aggies Lose by One Score to the Crimson Tide
Unfortunately, this is a bold prediction for Texas A&M in the 2021 season. Alabama has won eight straight against the Aggies, and Jimbo Fisher’s squads have lost by a combined 69 points over the past three years. The common ground for both of these teams is that they each feature a new starting quarterback. It shouldn’t be unrealistic to think that these squads will be undefeated heading into this matchup at Kyle Field. Recent discussion for the Aggies’ likely path to the CFB playoff is a close loss to Alabama and winning all other games. Thus, this result would not be that disappointing. In order to come close to beating the Tide, however, A&M must put up points to match Alabama’s scoring efficiency. Hopefully, King can get some of Manziel’s magic from the exciting matchups against the Tide in 2012 and 2013. While this is a bold prediction for the Aggies, it needs to be taken seriously.
3. A&M Blows Out Ole Miss and LSU on the Road
These are by far the two toughest road games for the Aggies next year. The Rebels have an explosive quarterback in Matt Corral, who should be one of the Heisman frontrunners if Lane Kiffin can maintain his offensive prowess. Unfortunately, the Ole Miss matchup was canceled last year, but this game will be a good opportunity to view the capability of the A&M defense. A dominant win by the Aggies in this game would raise eyebrows across the FBS. The Aggies finish the regular season in Baton Rouge to take on LSU. A&M won by 13 points in an unimpressive victory last season, and LSU now has many returning starters and home-field advantage. It’s unclear whether Myles Brennan or Max Johnson will be the starter for LSU by this time, but the Aggies’ offense will be crucial to winning this game against the so-called DBU. A double-digit victory for the Aggies will strengthen their case for the playoff committee.
Concluding Thoughts
Texas A&M enters next season as a top-three team in the SEC. While these are bold predictions for the Aggies, they are definitely not out of reach. By accomplishing these goals, A&M should be in the conversation for a spot in the playoff or another New Year’s Six bowl: either the Sugar Bowl or Fiesta Bowl. Nonetheless, the primary objective for the Aggies is a national championship, which is nothing new for Jimbo Fisher. The 12th man should have high hopes for the upcoming season.
