I dont think Elko will be on any hot or warm seat. He seems to be stocking quality talent and building depth across the board. I'm assuming he has a pretty long leash. At least a few years.
And 8-4

Detmersdislocatedshoulder said:

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while we play a very competitive schedule i think where and when we catch some of the teams we are playing is beneficial to us. we catch florida at the tail end of a tough four game stretch. we catch arky the third game of a tough 4 game stretch. i like playing notre dame when we play them, it will be our third game and only their second and they will have to show their cards in game one against miami. so what i am saying is good chance of 8-4

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8-4 is our ceiling

We crap the bed in all 3 major road games like we always do and then lose at home to some inferior team we have no business losing to because we always do.

If we can run the ball and do more play-action passing, we keep our defense off of the field and wear their defense down. I.e. 2020. Marcel has to be efficient and run the ball, and Moss has to stay healthy. We have to be in the top 20 rushing offenses to have a better record this year. In 2012, we ranked 8th in rushing offenses (cause Johnny).

Marcel needs to have 700+ rushing yards and be more efficient in the passing game.

6-6 or 7-5

12-0

With all the changes (NIL, etc.) just don't care anymore...and I don't think the players do either. The game isn't what it used to be, will never be again. Ole here...fooled tooooooooo often to even pay attention anymore.

It all started when they stopped wearing knee pads! After that I could have cared less.

greg.w.h said:

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Not sure why people repeat the 8-4 meme:

2024 8-5
2023 7-6
2022 5-7
2021 8-4
2020 9-1
2019 8-5
2018 9-4
2017 7-6
2016 8-5

I understand the meme refers to the "regular season" but for more punch just talk about the conference record instead or perhaps just the overall November record.

By comparison, Elko's Duke record fit those trends from Jimbo and Sumlin perfectly, btw…as did his first season here…

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So 7.66 wins on average and 4.77 losses on average and you don't understand the 8-4 mean? By your numbers it is a bit generous, but you should easily see why it is often repeated.

7-5 low end, 10-2 ceiling

Texas 8&4 here we come

Irony, we are toss-ups on Pigs, Mizzou, UF, and SC chat boards... their Kool-Aid says we are beatable and a win on their scheds. Perspective is a funny thing.

9-3. Losses to tu, LSU & ND.

The AP is crap. No polls should be released until a month after the season starts IMO. You look at the poll now and what everyone will be ranked at the end of the season and it will be miles apart.

We are beating ND. I just feel that one. At sips and LSU should be assumed losses to everyone except the ultimate sunshine pumpers (and please keep up the optimism - this board needs you). I think we can get South Carolina and Florida at home. For me the tricky game seems to be at Missouri. The third SEC game in a row on the road. That just seems like a spot where all teams historically falter. I'm choosing to believe in Elko and say we are going 10-2. If we lose at Missouri then we will surprise either LSU or the sips.

jp95 said:

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The AP is crap. No polls should be released until a month after the season starts IMO. You look at the poll now and what everyone will be ranked at the end of the season and it will be miles apart.

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But then how would sip get the August trophy?

Well considering we get actually screwed by the officiating, the worst treatment of any team last year. 8-5 is our ceiling.

Anyone predicting arkansas as a likely loss, do you realize their total win o/u is set at 5.5? They are expected to be quite bad this year.

And just for kicks, Mississippi state is set at 3.5 with money leaning on the under. Ouch!

Luigi Vampa said:

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Anyone predicting arkansas as a likely loss, do you realize their total win o/u is set at 5.5? They are expected to be quite bad this year.

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I have Arkansas as a toss up because of A&M's recent SEC road record.

Luigi Vampa said:

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Anyone predicting arkansas as a likely loss, do you realize their total win o/u is set at 5.5? They are expected to be quite bad this year.

And just for kicks, Mississippi state is set at 3.5 with money leaning on the under. Ouch!

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Arkansas has been bad since A&M joined the SEC minus, maybe one season? It didnt prevent them from taking us to all 4 quarters minus one blowout win. I dont understand how anyone can basically chalk up going to Arkansas this season as some sort of auto-win. They've taken us to OT, and double OT along the way and they have had terrible coaching staffs every since we joined

Its a rival game. I dont feel comfortable about it all

mjhhawk said:

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We are beating ND. I just feel that one. At sips and LSU should be assumed losses to everyone except the ultimate sunshine pumpers (and please keep up the optimism - this board needs you). I think we can get South Carolina and Florida at home. For me the tricky game seems to be at Missouri. The third SEC game in a row on the road. That just seems like a spot where all teams historically falter. I'm choosing to believe in Elko and say we are going 10-2. If we lose at Missouri then we will surprise either LSU or the sips.

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I like your realistic optimism. I think the road game at Notre Dame is winnable, but the road games at LSU and Texas are probable losses. I am predicting 9-3 with losses to Notre Dame, LSU, and Texas, but I agree that the road game at Missouri will be tricky. I am more worried about a road game at Missouri than home games against Florida and South Carolina for several reasons.

1. Both teams will be coming off a bye week, but we will be playing our 3rd road game in 4 weeks.

2. Missouri has won 10 consecutive home games, including 8 against Power 4 opponents and 7 against SEC opponents, since a 49-39 home loss to LSU on 10/7/2023.

3. We have lost 12 of our last 14 true road games, including 7 consecutive November or later road games since a 34-13 win at Tennessee on 12/19/2020. 3 of those 7 losses were by 10+ points each. If we have another inexplicable late season loss as a favorite, Missouri is where it happens.

11/13/2021: 29-19 loss at Ole Miss
11/27/2021: 27-24 loss at LSU
11/12/2022: 13-10 loss at Auburn
11/4/2023: 38-35 loss at Ole Miss
11/25/2023: 42-30 loss at LSU
11/2/2024: 44-20 loss at South Carolina
11/23/2024: 43-41 4-OT loss at Auburn

If we go undefeated at home and win the road game at Arkansas, the road games at Notre Dame and Missouri will probably mean the difference between 8-4 and 10-2.

Luigi Vampa said:

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Anyone predicting arkansas as a likely loss, do you realize their total win o/u is set at 5.5? They are expected to be quite bad this year.

And just for kicks, Mississippi state is set at 3.5 with money leaning on the under. Ouch!

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Toss up is a fair enough prediction for the pot bangers and suckers, we always get their best performance of the season. If we're healthy we're definitely winning that game though.

We are so much their hated rival that they pretend to hate sip more, which I'll allow.

10-2
Texas Bite

Aggie Dad 26 said:

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Luigi Vampa said:

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Anyone predicting arkansas as a likely loss, do you realize their total win o/u is set at 5.5? They are expected to be quite bad this year.

And just for kicks, Mississippi state is set at 3.5 with money leaning on the under. Ouch!

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Arkansas has been bad since A&M joined the SEC minus, maybe one season? It didnt prevent them from taking us to all 4 quarters minus one blowout win. I dont understand how anyone can basically chalk up going to Arkansas this season as some sort of auto-win. They've taken us to OT, and double OT along the way and they have had terrible coaching staffs every since we joined

Its a rival game. I dont feel comfortable about it all

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Arkansas has been the king of close losses under both Pittman and Bielema. Good enough to stay competitive in most games but never able to win them enough.

I see this year rolling out the same as the last decade. Strong start, maybe even a win vs ND- lots of home games early get everyone hyped, break into the top 4- then get demolished in November and lose out (aside from the cupcake).

UTSA- W
Utah St-W
@ND- W
Auburn-W
Ms State-W
Florida-W
@Ark-L
@LSU-L
@Mizz-L
Scar-L
Samford-W
@sip-L

7-5

Wins:

Utah State
Miss State
Samford
Missouri
South Carolina
Auburn

Losses:

UTSA
Florida
Arkansas
Missouri
ND
LSU
Texas

10-2

W - UTSA
W - Utah St
W - @Notre Dame
W - Auburn
W - Miss State
W - Florida
W - @ Ark
L - @ LSU
W - @ Mizzou
W - South Carolina
W - Samford
L - @ tu

All these people in this thread saying 6-6 and 7-5….what are you smoking?!? We went 8-4 last year with a new coach, new staff, mosh posh of transfers with not even a full offseason to prepare. We were also 1 missed conversion away from being 9-3 in the regular season. We now have the team that is in year 2 of understanding the system, year 2 under Moffitt and returning a bunch of production. Top offensive line unit, top RB room and faster WR room. Y'all need to shut up, open up and chug some koolaid!

11-1
Lose at LSU
Beat ND and TU on the road

MAN UP! Let's go Aggies. Fk all this 7-5 and 8-4 pessimism….

This is the year. So much returning production. Elko year 2. Our o line and running game will be nasty. Elko is calling the defense.

I'm optimistic - the Aggies are long over due for a big year, and this is it.

I got a whole buncha this HOPIUM if anyone wants it - dis our year boyzzzzzz

Energydev2008 said:

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11-1
Lose at LSU
Beat ND and TU on the road

MAN UP! Let's go Aggies. Fk all this 7-5 and 8-4 pessimism….

This is the year. So much returning production. Elko year 2. Our o line and running game will be nasty. Elko is calling the defense.

I'm optimistic - the Aggies are long over due for a big year, and this is it.

I got a whole buncha this HOPIUM if anyone wants it - dis our year boyzzzzzz

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Anywaysssss after another 8-4 season I'll be back again next year boys with the same HOPIUM

I've got us at 8-4 but I can see us winning 1 of those very difficult 3 on the road and dropping one unexpectedly or in a trap game (Mizzou or Arkansas) and going 9-3 and us lamenting a "typical Aggies" scenario of screwing up a golden opportunity to get into the playoff again.

Hopium's a hell of a drug.

About the same % of the Ags winning big as anyone winning the lottery.

7-5

SouthCollegeStation said:

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My Wild Guess for the 2025 SEC regular season finish:

1. Georgia - 10 & 2
2. t.u - 10 & 2
3. Alabama - 9 & 3
4. Texas A&M - 9 & 3
5. LSU - 9 & 3
6. Ole Miss - 8 & 4
7. Tennessee - 8 & 4
8. Oklahoma - 7 & 5
9. South Carolina - 7 & 5
10. Auburn - 7 & 5
11. Florida - 6 & 6
12. Arkansas - 6 & 6
13. Arkansas - 6 & 6
14. Kentucky - 5 & 7
15 Mississippi State - 5 & 7
16. Vanderbilt - 5 & 7

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I like it. But I don't think Arky can go 12 & 12, though.

I think a lot of folks are underestimating our offense and Reed in particular.

10-2

Seamaster said:

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Wins:

Utah State
Miss State
Samford
Missouri
South Carolina
Auburn

Losses:

UTSA
Florida
Arkansas
Missouri
ND
LSU
Texas

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WTF kind of prediction is this?