ESPN's Sam Khan Jr. on A&M-UCLA, 2016 college football season

Key quotes from Sam Khan Jr. interview

“Still working on a lot of SEC and also a lot of A&M since I live in Houston.  Also with all of the Houston to the Big XII talk, I may have some pinch hit duties there as well.  I just say I am a college football reporter.”

“OU-Houston is a prominent opening weekend game because it has playoff implications.  OU is a top-five team and Houston is the best group of five team out there.  Alabama-USC is a big one also, even though a lot of people think Alabama will win that one it is a first audition for whoever the starting QB will be and the same goes for (running back) Bo Scarborough.”

“A&M-UCLA is important because the winner could be a dark horse to win their conference.  Both teams are really talented with coaches who are entering year five.”

 “I still think game one is huge for Kevin Sumlin.  If they lose with all of the offseason stuff that has happened, all the hot seat talk will intensify and linger throughout the month.  They need to win off the bat.  If they win, it might not be as big of a deal because people will be used to that.”

“Sumlin said that he had a drama free offseason and some people didn’t like that.  It is accurate from a player standpoint.  Aside from the Josh Walker incident, this was a drama free offseason.  Having the guys around that are veterans and have experience matters in that.  After the transfers in December, it was a quiet offseason for Kevin Sumlin.”

“Kevin Sumlin teams seem to always start well.  Trevor Knight fits this offense like a glove and the defense is good enough to where the offense doesn’t have to score 40 points a game.  I think they are going to beat UCLA even though statistically there is no reason to believe that.  They have beaten one top-25 team here since 2012.”

“If I were Texas A&M, I would take going 2-2 at home against LSU, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and UCLA.  That said, it has been an issue beating good teams at Kyle Field.  This home schedule provides a chance to win home games against good teams.”

“What hasn’t been told from a national standpoint is how Sumlin does have control of his program.  This team is mature and you should see that play out this year.”

“The fact that UCLA has changed offenses is a legitimate concern because you don’t know what to expect from Kennedy Polamalu.  It sounds like a better fit for Josh Rosen, and Noel Mazzone agrees. However, Chavis has been coaching a long time and he has seen plenty of pro-style offenses.”

“(Today at the press conference) I want to ask Kevin how you beat a top-25 team at home and also how  do you stop Josh Rosen.  He is a really talented player and one of the best in the country.”