Paul Finebaum buries Texas A&M, points to source of Aggies demise

Paul Finebaum is kicking himself for a bold prediction he made leading into the 2021 college football season. Week 6’s slate of games was supposed to be headlined by Texas A&M hosting the Alabama Crimson Tide, but the Aggies’ pedestrian 3-2 record after five games has ruined the hype.

“When the season began, I made a bold prediction,” Finebaum said on the ESPN CFB podcast. “I’m hitting myself. I said Oct. 9 was going to be the biggest day of the year in the SEC. I said the one chance that Nick Saban had to go down was going to be at Kyle Field. I’m focusing in on Jimbo Fisher because I can’t think of a program that was a playoff contender that has played more woefully than Texas A&M.

“CBS made it their primetime game. They pick one a year. Last year, it was Alabama-Georgia. This year, it’s Alabama at A&M. I need help. I know they lost their starting quarterback, but so did Georgia. It has derailed this program.”

Finebaum’s co-host Matt Barrie admitted he’s never been as bullish on the Aggies as their preseason No. 6 ranking warranted.

“I always thought A&M was talented, I never thought they were anywhere near a playoff team,” Barrie said. “Anyone who watches football, you can’t convince me that Haynes King, top to bottom, was going to be the guy that led A&M and Jimbo Fisher to the promised land. Zach Calzada and that thing, they’re going to fall out of the Top 25 and everyone’s going to get to watch what Alabama does to them on Saturday.”

Finebaum, AP Voters out on Aggies

Paul Finebaum isn’t the only one who’s lost faith in the Aggies.

Starting the season ranked No. 8, Texas A&M is no longer ranked in the coaches’ poll or AP poll through five games. After wins versus Kent State, Colorado and New Mexico, the Aggies lost to Arkansas 20-10 and lost to Mississippi State 26-22.

Though Jimbo Fisher’s scoring defense is second in the SEC, averaging 12.6 points allowed per game, the offense is putting up just 23.4 points per game. Only South Carolina and Vanderbilt are scoring less than the Aggies right now.

Sophomore quarterback Zach Calzada has a 53.9 completion percentage and a 5:4 touchdown-interception ratio.

There’s no indication that the Aggies will be able to keep up with Alabama’s offense, averaging 45.6 points per game, on Saturday.

As Texas A&M flounders with no buoy within reach, critics point out head coach Jimbo Fisher’s massive price tag.

First 41 games as Head Coach at Texas A&M

Wins
29 Jimbo Fisher
30 Kevin Sumlin

Ranked Wins
5 Jimbo Fisher
8 Kevin Sumlin

Wins over Alabama
0 Jimbo Fisher
1 Kevin Sumlin

Salary
$25.3M Jimbo Fisher
$10.5 M Kevin Sumlin#MSUvsTAMU

— Kyle Umlang (@kyleumlang) October 3, 2021