TLDR: A&M Football has a long, painful history of doing less with more.

"BAS" isn't just an internet term; it's the lived experience of generations of Aggies. And the frustration comes from one glaring disconnect:

Texas A&M as an elite educational and cultural institution versus what we routinely put on the football field.

As an institution, we're exceptional:

• Fans and traditions
• Loyalty and pride
• Academic success
• Economic, industry, regional, and global impact
  

As a football program, we're mostly average, occasionally good, and rarely great. A few strong seasons over decades, usually undone by late collapses or outright embarrassment (yes, today counts, even if the season was "pretty good").

For large programs, football is the front window into the school. Ours consistently fails to reflect who we are. For us, that mismatch is frustrating as hell. For outsiders it causes confusion and doubt. And for our rivals, it provides endless ammunition.

With our resources, you'd think we should win it all someday... Old Ags are still waiting. I'm 40 and already wondering if it happens in my lifetime.

Until then Ags, keep making Texas A&M great, even if our football team rarely is.

Very well stated.

I don't want to imagine a scenario where Tceh wins it all this year.

TCU went to the national championship game a few years ago. Even though they got destroyed.

Sips won it within the last 20 years or so.

If the sand fleas win it this year then we have legitimately moved into the basement of moms house.

VatoLocoAggie said:

---

Very well stated.

I don't want to imagine a scenario where Tceh wins it all this year.

TCU went to the national championship game a few years ago. Even though they got destroyed.

Sips won it within the last 20 years or so.

If the sand fleas win it this year then we have legitimately moved into the basement of moms house.

---

Could not agree more. Don't want to see Tech win. Oregon, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio State. Fine. But Tech would be too much to stomach. A big reason is that it just makes my original point sting even worse. Watching the sand fleas find a way to make it all work with their billionaire backing after all our failures? No thanks.

Unfortunately, I don't see them going anywhere considering college football is now fully pay to play and Tech's conference schedule should set them up nicely every year.

Lonestar1 said:

---

VatoLocoAggie said:

---

Very well stated.

I don't want to imagine a scenario where Tceh wins it all this year.

TCU went to the national championship game a few years ago. Even though they got destroyed.

Sips won it within the last 20 years or so.

If the sand fleas win it this year then we have legitimately moved into the basement of moms house.

---

Could not agree more. Don't want to see Tech win. Oregon, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio State. Fine. But Tech would be too much to stomach. A big reason is that it just makes my original point sting even worse. Watching the sand fleas find a way to make it all work with their billionaire backing after all our failures? No thanks.

Unfortunately, I don't see them going anywhere considering college football is now fully pay to play and Tech's conference schedule should set them up nicely every year.

---

Someone is going to make the playoffs every year (if not 2 teams on occasion) out of the Big 12. Now that OU isn't there Tech seems as likely to fit the bill as any excepting maybe BYU.

There are four teams in the conference with a seating capacity of 60-62k and Tech (No. 3) benefits from fertile recruiting grounds vs. its immediate peers.

https://coloradobuffaloeswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/buffaloes/football/2025/06/23/big-12-football-stadium-capacity-ranking-2025/84313790007/#

Complaining that Tech has an institutional advantage due to a wealthy backer is somewhat disingenuous. At best it possibly gets Tech within hailing distance of Texas and A&M as far as resources and desirability for a football recruit.

As far as the schedule pretty much every conference is going to have teams with conference cakewalks at times. Tech has 3 ranked wins in conference (and UH at 26) while A&M has one with Mizzou at 25.

At a certain point it's just disclaiming the ACC and Big 12 deserve any bids, and if you don't count ND they've only had one W to date (1-3) so maybe that's not wrong.

I am 63 years old and there are Ags on here who graduated in the 50's, 60's and 70's who are 80-90 years old and are still waiting.
I think Elko might finally be the guy to get us there...but we need to recruit at the highest level each year and get some top portal talent to fill in the talent gaps.
We are not as talented as the other teams left in the playoffs. Period.
This is only Elko's 2nd year and if you guys recall we lost about 60 guys to the portal when Jimbo Fisher got fired.
We were literally playing walk-ons and a true freshman QB that had not played all year named Marcel Reed against Okie Lite in the Texas Bowl that year.
When Elko arrived in January 2024...we literally had a decimated roster.
He was able to piecemeal a roster together last year via the portal...and got a few more via portal this year.
But this is going to take another 2-3 years of out-recruiting other major programs and paying top dollar for portal guys like Texas Tech did.
And we have to do that every year.
It's going to be a process that going to take a few more years...even for a good coach like Elko.
The Cignetti's of the world don't grow on trees.
If they did...every school would have one.
But we play in a brutal SEC...and we have to have the top players and top talent and hope that eventually Elko will do it one day soon..as many more of us get closer to the end of our lives after decades of waiting.

Ended up with a lot of false hope this year. Best team in a while but we drew the lucky straw several times that made us think we were alot better then we were

Lsu quit the second half not sure if revolt against Kelley or what but they quit have to fire him after that go back and watch the game you will see it.
Missouri had a 3rd string qb make first start against us nil and Portal that 3rd string isn't going to be very effective.
South Carolina good team talented exposed us some but we battled

We lucked out and missed Bama Georgia Ole Miss Okie Tenn going to be alot tougher next year will have to get better at QB position.

We lost to the 2 good teams we played not sure how good we were but good year for recruiting building getting better in a good spot moving forward

Faustus said:

---

Lonestar1 said:

---

VatoLocoAggie said:

---

Very well stated.

I don't want to imagine a scenario where Tceh wins it all this year.

TCU went to the national championship game a few years ago. Even though they got destroyed.

Sips won it within the last 20 years or so.

If the sand fleas win it this year then we have legitimately moved into the basement of moms house.

---

Could not agree more. Don't want to see Tech win. Oregon, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio State. Fine. But Tech would be too much to stomach. A big reason is that it just makes my original point sting even worse. Watching the sand fleas find a way to make it all work with their billionaire backing after all our failures? No thanks.

Unfortunately, I don't see them going anywhere considering college football is now fully pay to play and Tech's conference schedule should set them up nicely every year.

---

Someone is going to make the playoffs every year (if not 2 teams on occasion) out of the Big 12. Now that OU isn't there Tech seems as likely to fit the bill as any excepting maybe BYU.

There are four teams in the conference with a seating capacity of 60-62k and Tech (No. 3) benefits from fertile recruiting grounds vs. its immediate peers.

https://coloradobuffaloeswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/buffaloes/football/2025/06/23/big-12-football-stadium-capacity-ranking-2025/84313790007/#

Complaining that Tech has an institutional advantage due to a wealthy backer is somewhat disingenuous. At best it possibly gets Tech within hailing distance of Texas and A&M as far as resources and desirability for a football recruit.

As far as the schedule pretty much every conference is going to have teams with conference cakewalks at times. Tech has 3 ranked wins in conference (and UH at 26) while A&M has one with Mizzou at 25.

At a certain point it's just disclaiming the ACC and Big 12 deserve any bids, and if you don't count ND they've only had one W to date (1-3) so maybe that's not wrong.

---

I'm not complaining that they got a leg up with their big backer. When did I "complain" about that? Yeah, I didn't, so the "disingenuous" label and claim should be retracted.

Let's get specific: I expect A&M and any other school in this era to put their money to use in the same fashion.

I just said I don't feel like watching Tech rise up and have a shot to win it all because I'd rather that be A&M. That's a pretty standard fan sentiment, especially since we share a state and compete for recruits.

This thread was about what BAS is and why we feel it. Not Tech apologists to make accusations or try to defend the laughably weak BIG 12.

I think we should embrace the curse and have fun with it. It's like when people try too hard to find a mate or have a baby and it just doesn't happen. Once they give up, then suddenly it happens.

We should do the same.

Thanks for sharing your perspective bv86ag. I think everything you said is spot on. I think what makes being "patient" harder is the long gaps of underperformance coupled with the embarrassing finish to the season for us. But, all that aside, you are right. We will have to spend, recruit and develop.

Yep. It's really not that important.

Fans have been patient for over 50 years. Reality is nothojg will change due to incompetent leadership.