Texas Aggie Football - 2015 Preview - The Schedule

Now that we have gone through the people who will be doing the work, so let's talk schedule.

September 5 v. Arizona State - NRG Stadium (Houston)

We start off with a big challenge, as the Sun Devils have a quality defense and an explosive offense, although they have a lot of changes they have to make on that side of the ball. But make no mistake, this team is going to cause problems in the Pac-12 and that is not an easy thing to do. Yes it is in Texas and the crowd should be pro-A&M, but for all the new things this defense will have to do, it is not going to be easy.

What will be interesting to see is how much of last year's opener carries over. Against South Carolina last year, Sumlin had his team sharp and ready to go from the first minute. Physically, mentally, schematically - didn't matter. The Aggies were more prepared. Some of that clearly was on Spurrier but what if Sumlin and his staff just does a better job of getting ready for a big opener?

Editor's note - after writing this article, I read about an interview the Arizona State coach, Todd Graham, gave Paul Finebaum wherein he talked about how excited his team was to play the game, and how they studied the A&M-South Carolina match from last year and noted how much more prepared the Aggies were.... So I don't think we will see a repeat of last year's disparity between our team and our opponent in terms of preparedness...

Here is a place where Christensen and Chavis could give us an early look at how much of an effect they can make. Both coaches have really important areas of impact, and frankly, both are necessary for the team to improve on last season. What a fantastic test to start the year, then see what we have and get to work preparing for the SEC.

September 12 v. Ball State - New Kyle Field Opener

There ought to be enough quality here that it won't be a blood bath, but it should be a comfortable win and a good run out to make sure that the staff are working on any problem areas that developed from the Arizona State match.

September 19 v. Nevada - Kyle Field

Similar to Ball State, with the added bonus of a high octane offense. The thing of it is this - the following week is against Arkansas, so anything of concern had better be addressed in these two games because after that, its only Big Boy Football.

So hopefully we don't have what we had last year - where the games after the Carolina drubbing were not taken seriously enough, and while the scores looked pretty, the actual play was not. I remember having concerns about things not being sharp in those games - that can't happen again, not with the SEC West being what it looks like it will be in 2015, which is arguably the toughest division college football has ever seen.

September 26 v. Arkansas - AT&T Stadium (Arlington)

Here we go, ladies and gentlemen. The gauntlet begins in Arlington and an early barometer on where the Aggies stand. The form the Razorbacks had at the end of last year was scary good. We may joke with Longhorns that they played a team worse than us in their bowl game, but deep down, I don't think many teams had any interest in playing Bielema's group.

Their defense may (or may not) take a step back, but their running game will continue to be a monster. Here is where Chavis needs to find a way to do something. More to the point, here is where we find out how successful he has been at finding better ways for our athletes to succeed.

Their passing offense may take a step forward, but their wide receivers will have to step up for that to happen. Arkansas' quarterback play has not been the issue - Allen's targets have been, and a new offensive coordinator can only do so much.

They come into the match after having hosted Texas Tech, so we can't really expect much of a challenge there.

Frankly, I think this is the barometer of the season. Win this and I think you see the Aggies with a shot at getting to 9-10 wins. Lose and it might be a fight to have a winning record.

October 3 v. Mississippi State - Kyle Field

Barring a confidence crushing result against Arkansas (like, a big loss where the boys simply aren't competitive), this should be a win. State has simply lost way too much and Dak can only do so much on his own. Their losses on the lines and at running back, from a senior-laden team, added to the confidence the Aggies should have from the season and from playing at home, along with the memories of last season, and I think Sumlin's group will be very hungry to make a statement.

Surely, anything can happen, but there are too many tangibles and intangibles in this one. That being said, a loss here is a really bad sign. The only advantage to a loss in this game is the next week is a bye so things that need a little time to be fixed can be addressed - or at least worked on.

October 17 v. Alabama - Kyle Field

There are the puzzle pieces of a fantastic rivalry here, what with the history between the schools and the first two SEC installments of this game, but last year was the 59-0 drubbing and Texas A&M has to prove they can consistently show up in this tilt.

Unlike last year, where these teams met after the Crimson Tide had a bye whereas A&M had played Arkansas and Mississippi State before the game, this year it is our Aggies who come in off a bye. That means the team can really focus on Arkansas and State without having to focus immediately on Alabama right away.

In fact, it is the Crimson Tide who will have played at Georgia and then against Arkansas before traveling to Texas to play. Now this isn't the same as playing them after they played LSU as it happened in 2012, but that is a tougher stretch than the Aggies have, without a bye to boot.

And while Alabama is still Alabama, they have a LOT of changes to work through. It is not entirely clear if they will be "THAT" Alabama, at least not this season. Although it could very well be. We just don't know. Suffice to say, there is some variability and vulnerability to be taken advantage of. The question is whether the Aggies can put themselves in position to take advantage of it.

But the bottom line is they were better last year, and the team fell apart in that game, resulting in a historic loss. How does the team respond? Surely, the team will play better - at home, hungry to show last year was a fluke for various reasons, with (theoretically) better coaches. But will it be enough?

October 24 at Ole Miss

This has been a fantastic game between the teams, although like the Alabama match, not as much last year. But if the Arkansas game was our early barometer, this is the game that decides our season. A team that can win over Arkansas and Ole Miss probably also beats State, South Carolina, Vanderbilt. That alone turns around the conference record from 3-5 to 5-3, even if they don't steal one from Bama, Auburn or LSU.

But it will not be easy. Clearly, the Ole Miss defense is no joke, and it will probably not take a step back next year. The question for Mississippi is whether they can groom a new quarterback in time. They could be a bit beat up by the time these teams meet as they will have gone too Alabama and Florida, although they play at Memphis the week before this game. Not exactly playing at an Alabama level, so odds are they will not be as roughed up.

I do not expect a win here - on the road, against a defense that showed it could handle our offense last year, its a big ask. But it is another "let's see how much improvement Christensen and Chavis have made" game.

October 31 v. South Carolina - Kyle Field

Maybe I am wrong to think this, but I have not seen or heard anything that makes me think that the Gamecocks will have improved enough to win a game at Kyle Field that they so handily lost last year. Granted, they are very unpredictable, and the Aggies are still very young, so an upset is possible.

The one thing that makes me nervous about this game is South Carolina will be coming into the game off a bye, and certainly want to do something about the embarrassment of last year's opener. But if the coaching staff can keep the guys on an even keel and take this game seriously, then this is a game our boys should win.

November 7 v. Auburn - Kyle Field

The War Eagle Tigers will be coming into this match with a rather large chip on their shoulder. Very large. And from all indications, they have a more talented team (if nothing else, less holes to fill) and also upgraded at the DC spot. It is going to take something really special to get the win in this game. To me, this is the game that shows how close we are to getting back to being a top tier SEC team. Again, State should be a win. Same for Carolina and Vanderbilt. Arkansas and Ole Miss above them. How close Ole Miss is to the top tier is unclear at this point. But the class of the SEC West has been and remains Alabama and Auburn. (I have no clear idea what to make of LSU, other than the game is in Louisiana and they still have most of the pieces of a team that won in College Station last year.)

If A&M can improve enough to win this match - and not lay an egg in other matches at levels below this one, this could very well be the year that the Aggies win something. And you have to admit, the raw pieces and the coaching staff are there to get it done. What is less clear is if it actually does happen, and if it does, when? Does it happen this year, or next? Frankly, I have my sights set on 2017 as that will be another year where the Aggies have a lot of home games, and a lot of these uber talented kids will be Juniors and Seniors. But that same ability is on staff and in the locker room right now.

Auburn comes into this game off a home game against Ole Miss. Depending on how good they are, that might be a distraction. If nothing else, it will probably not be an easy game. Odds are the Aggies come into the game off an easier matchup.

If it is possible, Auburn comes in with a better quarterback than last year, although the running back position will probably take another (very) small step back. Overall, they will be more pass oriented, in all likelihood, which may or may not be a good thing. The good thing from an A&M perspective is we are on the back half of the season, so players will be well versed in their jobs and younger players should be playing less young.

I am just not sure it will be enough.

November 14 v. Western Carolina - Kyle Field

The "breather" game before finishing the schedule. Ideally, this is where fringe players start so we can rest anyone injured or worn down. Hopefully this is not another "reset" game like Louisiana Monroe was last season...

November 21 at Vanderbilt

The one SEC game that should be a no-brainer, at least for Texas A&M. Sumlin's squad should be able to handle up on their business with this game, especially with the Western Carolina match the week before.

The Commodores will come into the game after having hosted Kentucky the week before. There is no way to tell at this point how much of a challenge that game might present, but certainly it ought to be more of a challenge for Vandy than Western Carolina is for A&M.

Unless the youth takes Vanderbilt for granted, this should be a win.

November 28 at LSU

No idea what to put here. Does the Bayou Tigers get their offensive act together? Or are they mostly defense once again?

I can say this - do NOT assume that since Chavis left their defense is going to take a step back. Not with Kevin Steele, who is familiar with both the SEC West and the LSU defense, and Ed Orgeron on staff. Just like their recruiting, this defense is going to pick up right where they left off, most likely.

But can Chavis help Sumlin figure out how to beat his old defense? Very possibly. But I wouldn't count on it. No, this is a game where Chavis needs to have improved the A&M defense to the point where, if LSU remains anemic on offense, our defense can make them pay for it.

But at this point in the season, so many things will have changed and you will see two squads at the end of this 2015 regular season journey, and who knows which side will have grown the most.

I can also say this - it is in Death Valley, so if the Aggies can pull off a victory, it will be quite an achievement.

The good news on the scheduling front is LSU plays at Ole Miss the week before this game, so no rest for them. In fact, this is another game where the Aggies come in off a better/easier challenge than their opponent. As we saw last year, when that pattern was on the other foot, it makes a difference.

There are just so many variables in this game it is hard to say how it will play out.

Bowl Game - ?

There should be no doubt this team has at least a 6-6 record and gets into a bowl game. And once there, I expect Sumlin and his staff to have the team ready to go to win that game, but it would be a fool's errand to guess who it would be and how they would fare.

But the bottom line is the Aggies should go bowling, and the staff will make sure that the team grows as much as possible from the experience.

So there you have it - game by game, a breakdown of the schedule. Look for our wrap up tomorrow where we give our predictions for the season.