Paul Finebaum: Texas A&M loss vs. Florida would be ‘punch to the gut’

Texas A&M travels to Florida this weekend for a showdown of 1-1 SEC squads. And at least one conference analyst thinks it could be a major, major blow for the Aggies in Year 1 for Mike Elko.

That is, at least, what ESPN and SEC analyst Paul Finebaum shared with Greg McElroy on the “Always College Football” podcast. Finebaum doesn’t think a loss would have Aggies fans ready to jettison the new head coach after three games, but it would certainly leave a bad taste in the mouth of the Aggies to start 1-2.

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“Well, I think it’s really a punch to the gut for a university that just dropped nearly $80 million so they could get rid of the other coach,” Finebaum said, referencing the hefty price tag to oust Jimbo Fisher. “And I think it’s way too early to judge Elko. I think everyone seems to like him, I think he’s done a lot of good things. It just felt like the Notre Dame game got away. Suddenly we looked at Notre Dame a little bit differently. It would say a lot, Greg.”

And there’s one other wrinkle Finebaum noted: Florida isn’t even particularly good, especially contrasted against the rest of Texas A&M’s schedule in the SEC.

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A loss to the Gators on Saturday could portend of bad things for Elko and Co. as Year 1 progresses. Texas A&M still also has to face Arkansas, Missouri, LSU, South Carolina and Texas, among others, as the season goes on. While it is still Year 1 and Elko gets a bit of grace navigating this season, the Aggies weren’t expected to be conference bottom dwellers by any stretch. Losing to Florida could make it hard to get out of the basement as things proceed.

“Florida, by no means, comes close among the five most difficult SEC games that A&M has this year,” Finebaum said.

And just as the winner of this game will get a leg up, starting 1-0 in the SEC, the loser will certainly feel the heat.