Bill Connelly explains why Texas A&M is a 'dark horse' national contender

On Tuesday, ESPN released its way-too-early top 25 rankings, and the usual suspects are at the top. However, Paul Finebaum is looking for a dark horse in February, asking Bill Connolly who he believes can be better than expected. Connelly went with first-year head coach Mike Elko and the Texas A&M Aggies.

Returning production is a huge reason why Texas A&M could improve in 2024. Elko is thought to provide a coaching upgrade after Jimbo Fisher slowly tailed off in College Station. And a lot of production is returning to play for Elko or entering the program via the NCAA transfer portal, with 72% ranking No. 18 nationally for ESPN and No. 1 in the SEC.

ESPN’s rankings have Texas A&M sneaking in at No. 25 but Connelly thinks there is a chance to move into the top-15.

“I do think one team to watch with the first-year coaching effects and just the fact that their record was worse than what they were on paper, at least the last few years, is A&M,” Connelly said. “They really did stumble in ’22. They were solid last year. Even with the quarterback injuries last year, they were solid.

“Defense was really good. Offense wasn’t really good but it was better. Now, you get new coaching, and quarterbacks are healthy. I would assume that calling them a top-15 team is kind of dark horse territory right there. They have a lot of talent and new influence is what they might need.”

If Texas A&M does float around a top-15 team toward the end of the season, that would position them to make a move into the College Football Playoff. Depending on who wins conference championship games, somewhere around No. 10 or No. 11 in the rankings would get you into the 12-team field.

There will be an opportunity to impress early on, with Notre Dame coming to Kyle Field for the Aug. 31 season opener. Beginning the season as a fringe top-25 team would quickly turn into some national recognition if they could take down the Fighting Irish. You don’t have to go too far back to remember Elko defeating Marcus Freeman either, doing so at Duke this past year.

Heading into spring practice, Texas A&M has a win total of 8.5 per FanDuel. Going over by a game would put them in the arena of being a top-15 team after finishing 7-5 in 2023. In what appears to not be your typical first year of a coaching hire, there is potential for the Aggies in Connelly’s eyes.