Texas A&M rose four spots to No. 5 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and three spots to No. 6 in the AP Top 25 after defeating Auburn16-10 behind an elite defensive performance, paired with too many penalties (13) that ultimately stalled nearly every offensive drive in a game that should have likely been a blowout win.
Still, this was quite the turnaround defensively after the bye week, limiting Auburn to a mere 115 yards, including 0-13 on third down, while sacking quarterback Jackson Arnold seven times, combined with 16 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
Yes, scoring just 16 points after racking up 414 yards on offense isn’t going to cut it moving forward, but to quote Coach Mike Elko, the defense “didn’t blink,” much like the offense did against Notre Dame in Week 3. For the first time since the 2016 season, Texas A&M is 4-0, and looking to stay undefeated with two more consecutive home games before hitting the road for three straight weeks.
With Auburn out of the way, 4-1 Mississippi State, which, outside of Vanderbilt, has been the surprise team in the SEC, will be another tough battle. Still, compared to the Tigers’ defense, starting quarterback Marcel Reed and his elite wide receiver corps, paired with running back Le’Veon Moss, shouldn’t have too many issues producing through the air and on the ground.
Looking at the rest of the season, how many of the nine remaining matchups are the Aggies favored in? Here is what ESPN’s FPI predictor says heading into Week 6.
- Oct. 4: Texas A&M (78.9 and %) vs. Mississippi State (21.1%)
- Oct. 11: Texas A&M (76.4%) vs. Florida (23.6%)
- Oct. 18: Texas A&M (68.7%) at Arkansas (31.3%)
- Oct. 25: Texas A&M (46.8%) at LSU (53.2%)
- Nov. 8: Texas A&M (43.4%) at Missouri (56.6%)
- Nov. 15: Texas A&M (70.9%) vs. South Carolina (29.1%)
- Nov. 22: Texas A&M (99.0%) vs. Samford (1.0%)
- Nov. 28: Texas A&M (28.3%) vs. Texas (71.7%)
Texas A&M is still predicted to finish with a 9-3 record, with road losses to Missouri, LSU, and Texas. This prediction has continued to be the assumption even before the season began. However, if the Aggies’ defense continues to dominate and the offense regains its footing, I can see one of these three predicted losses turning into a victory.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: ESPN’s FPI projects Texas A&M’s 2025 season ahead of Week 6
