Phil Steele calls Texas A&M a 'dark horse' national title contender

Count Phil Steele among those who believe Texas A&M won’t just rebound in 2023, but will compete for the College Football Playoff.

While previewing the upcoming college football season as he always does, Steele explained why he believes the Aggies could shock some people in 2023, elaborating on why he believes a national title could come to College Station sooner rather than later.

“In 2019 A&M was ranked in the preseason (#12) for the first time s/’14 despite just one senior starter. The Aggies went 8-5 with a close bowl win and were unranked. In ’20 A&M catapulted to #10 on my Exp Chart. The Aggies were my #1 Surprise team (non Top 10 team I think can make the Playoff). A&M came within inches of making the playoffs as they went 9-1, and while #5 in the Playoff Committee final rankings, they finished #4 AP after their 14 point win over NCar in the Orange Bowl,” started Steele. “That was their highest finish in the AP poll since the 1939 team that won a National Title.

“In ’21 they lost their QB and 4 OL. They upset Bama and got to 7-2 but were 8-4 and not able to play the bowl. Last year the Aggies were just #124 on my Exp Chart and after a 3-1 start they finished just 5-7 (6 str losses most s/1972) with the highlight a win over SEC West champ LSU. They were at Bama’s two yard line with a chance to win at the end. This year they have 14 returning starters and vault to #30 on my Exp Chart and are my #1 Most Improved Team in the country and are back in that #2 Surprise team role! A&M had four Net Close Losses, rate a Stock Market Indicator of +4.8.

“Last year when I went thru the team with coach Fisher when he wrapped up each position he would talk about NEXT year we are going to be really good. Well, it is next year and I believe they are way under the radar after last year’s results and have the talent to not only rebound but they are a legitimate contender in the SEC West and a dark horse National Title contender.”

Of course, it’s going to be tough to convince the masses Texas A&M is a title contender, but what a turnaround it would be if Fisher could pull it off.

Phil Steele is a big time believer, and Aggies fans are going to love his prediction, but whether it comes true or not is a completely different story.