Texas A&M ranked No. 14 in first College Football Playoff rankings

In the first-ever year of the 12-team College Football Playoff, Texas A&M (7-2) comes in at No. 14 in the season’s initial rankings released by ESPN on Tuesday evening.

The Aggies are among eight SEC teams in the top 25, including No. 3 Georgia (7-1), No. 5 Texas (7-1), No. 7 Tennessee (7-1), No. 11 Alabama (6-2), No. 15 LSU (6-2), No. 16 Ole Miss (7-2) and No. 24 Missouri (6-2).

The placement follows Saturday’s frustrating performance in Columbia, where poor tackling and a failure to respond offensively plagued the Aggies in a 44-20 loss at South Carolina.

The Gamecocks did not appear on the initial CFP ranking.

Prior to its first conference blemish, Texas A&M was riding high.

Winners of seven straight, Mike Elko & Co. rolled through the midseason slate, beating its SEC opponents by an average of 14.6 points. 

Yet, A&M’s season-opening loss to Notre Dame, listed as No. 10 in the rankings, serves as another reason the Ags were placed outside the top 12 as the second team out. 

With New Mexico State, Auburn and No. 5 Texas remaining on the schedule, A&M needs to go unbeaten to make its first-ever appearance in the SEC Championship Game.

A win in Atlanta would secure a College Football Playoff appearance, whereas a loss would be the reason the Maroon & White are excluded. 

However, for the Aggies to reach that point, it must be a November to remember.

CFP Rankings - Nov. 5

1. Oregon (9-0)
2. Ohio State (7-1) 
3. Georgia (7-1)
4. Miami (9-0)
5. Texas (7-1)
6. Penn State (7-1)
7. Tennessee (7-1)
8. Indiana (9-0)
9. BYU (8-0)
10. Notre Dame (7-1)
11. Alabama (6-2)
12. Boise State (7-1)
13. SMU (8-1)
14. Texas A&M (7-2)
15. LSU (6-2)
16. Ole Miss (7-2)
17. Iowa State (7-1)
18. Pitt (7-1)
19. Kansas State (7-2)
20. Colorado (6-2)
21. Washington State (7-1)
22. Louisville (6-3)
23. Clemson (6-2)
24. Missouri (6-2)
25. Army (8-0)