Paul Finebaum weighs in on the pressure on Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M

A lot of the stories with Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher this season have been centered around off-the-field events. Between their 2022 recruiting class and his feud with Alabama head coach Nick Saban, Fisher’s name has steered clear of being placed on potential head coach hot seat boards.

Most in College Station are happy with the man in charge of their program but ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum is wondering why there’s not more pressure on Fisher.

Finebaum recognizes that Fisher is entering his fifth season with Texas A&M and he has seen other coaches get fired for a lot less. There has been no double-digit win season for the Aggies and just one New Year’s Six Bowl appearance (ended with a win over North Carolina). During a recent radio appearance, Finebaum said he doesn’t understand why Fisher is sitting comfortably.

“The answer is none and I would like to know why,” Finebaum said. “We’ve both covered coaches in their fifth season and some who didn’t get to their fifth season, who had a better record than Jimbo Fisher. I don’t understand it. Is it the fact that Nick Saban is expected to have arguably his best team or one or two of his best teams? But I don’t know why this guy doesn’t have more pressure but every time I talk to a Texas A&M reporter or a Texas A&M fan, they’re all in.”

Finebaum credits recruiting class, Alabama win

When later searching for answers, Finebaum was able to come up with two conclusions. The first was pulling off the No. 1 recruiting class last cycle, beating out Alabama and Saban. And then also beating the Crimson Tide on the football field this past season.

“I think they’re all in for a couple of reasons,” Finebaum said. “The recruiting class has a lot to do with it. When you have that type of class, especially defensively, it helps set you up for dominance in the future. And I think the other side of it is — he beat Saban last year. So, he can exhale and he can exhale a lot. I don’t think, this year, the pressure will be large.”

Situation changes if Jimbo Fisher cannot improve results on the field

Fisher will enter the 2022 season with no pressure but if results do not drastically improve, Finebaum thinks the narrative needs to change. Another 8-4 season in College Station and Fisher could be the story of the college football offseason once again. Except it’s football-related in 2023.

“If his record is not vastly improved a year from now, I cannot imagine why Jimbo Fisher would not be the story of next summer in terms of the pressure on him to finally succeed because this little interlude with Saban was great theater,” Finebaum said. “I think most Texas A&M people are behind him, at least publicly and that includes his athletic director but it has a short lifespan if he can’t win big.”

Miami is the big nonconference matchup for Fisher and Texas A&M before getting into the thick of the SEC schedule. Oct. 8 in Tuscaloosa will be circled on everyone’s calendar across the country as Fisher and Saban meet on the field once again.