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Alabama Still King, But Texas A&M Poised To Take Throne Away
Alabama still rules the SEC so far this season, but Texas A&M could be the one to take the throne away from the Crimson Tide.
October 9, 2016
Alabama once again rules the SEC, but this year’s Texas A&M team could be the one to take the throne away from the Crimson Tide.
It’s another year of SEC football, and once again it looks like Alabama is the cream of the crop rolling toward yet another spot in the College Football Playoff. Behind them, though, are a couple of contenders looking to supplant the Crimson Tide from the throne.
For CBS Sports Network game and studio analyst Randy Cross, Texas A&M could be the real challenger to the kings.
“That’s a team that is maybe the second best. You look at the UCLA win. You look at the Arkansas [win]. They’re going to start thinking they’re really good.”
The undefeated Aggies have a chance to prove that they are for real again this weekend when they host 5-0 Tennessee in College Station. After back-to-back wins over Florida and Georgia, the Volunteers are sitting pretty in the SEC East standings, even if it did take a Hail Mary miracle to defeat the Bulldogs last weekend.
The SEC picture will become more clear in the next few weeks, as Alabama travels to Tennessee next Saturday and then returns to Tuscaloosa to host Texas A&M the following week. Cross believes the Aggies can put up a fight against the reigning national champions.
“If they can run the ball, play that kind of defense and people aren’t just jamming the ball down their throat like last year. Those guys are hell. You don’t want to give them 3rd and 7 or more.”
The Aggies are vastly improved on defense, with All-American Myles Garrett proving to be one of the best players in the nation, while quarterback Trevor Knight has the offense humming.
College Football Playoff Committee Chairman Kirby Hocutt told Campus Insiders that the committee would have no problem including two teams from the same conference in the playoff if both the teams were worthy. Cross can see it happening for two SEC teams, but only if the circumstances are right.
“The way that happens, in my mind, is that both sides have a champion that is undefeated, and then one team wins the championship game and one team loses. It tends for it to be easier for it to happen a little bit earlier like it did with LSU [in 2007] and Alabama [2011]. But there’s a chance.”
