Reason to believe: Don't count the Aggies out against Clemson

You want to believe. You want to believe experts are erroneous. You want to believe your hopes for victory are valid. You want to believe Texas A&M really can defeat second-ranked Clemson. Too often, you’ve been left bruised, blind-sided and — of course — battered.

But all of that can change on Saturday at Kyle Field. Upset Clemson and unranked A&M suddenly soars into the college football Top 20. Win and the Aggies immediately become contenders in the powerful Southeastern Conference West Division. Prevail and coach Jimbo Fisher’s plan to raise A&M to elite status is greatly expedited.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, who turned the Tigers from perennial underachiever to national power, thinks A&M is already making big strides in that direction.

“Texas A&M is a lot further than we were in fall of ’09,” Swinney said on Wednesday. “Texas A&M has great facilities. They have more 4- and 5-stars on the roster than we had. I think they’ve got everything they need.”

You want to believe that’s true. You want to believe that A&M is good enough to beat Clemson. Well, you can believe it. That’s not a suggestion that Aggies should jump on the next plane to Vegas and bet the kids’ college funds on the Aggies.

However, it is a suggestion that Aggies can enter Kyle Field knowing that their team can win — and not just because Clemson tends to sleepwalk through a game or two every year. The Aggies could glean confidence from the fact that essentially the same team was competitive in a 27-19 loss to national champion Alabama a year ago.

“I feel like we always knew no matter who we play against we have the type of players to (win),” said quarterback Kellen Mond, who last year was a true freshman. “We had a lot of freshmen last year. That experience we have now kind of gives us an extra confidence boost.”

There are few other reasons A&M can win. That should be FEW — as in Fisher, Elko and Williams.

Fisher is a proven coach who has instilled a toughness previously missing at A&M. He’s also a smart coach, who will adjust his scheme based on his opponent's strengths and weaknesses.

Clemson’s primary strength is its powerful defensive line and relentless pass rush. Look for Fisher to call screens, draws, quick passes and maybe a shovel pass. Look for a moving pocket or Mond on rollouts and bootlegs.

Fisher knows how to attack Clemson — or better yet how to stave off Clemson’s attack. Last season Fisher’s Florida State offense was riddled with injuries and starting a true freshman quarterback. Yet, the Seminoles trailed Clemson just 17-14 and had the football at the Tigers’ 40-yard line with less than seven minutes remaining before eventually falling 31-14. 

Melina Vastola/USA Today Sports

Jimbo Fisher and Dabo Swinney have a storied history and have each won four of their eight meetings. 

Kyle Field will be in an absolute frenzy if the Aggies are in contention in the fourth quarter. That will depend heavily on Defensive Coordinator Mike Elko. The Aggies would seem to benefit from a low-scoring game.

Elko faced Clemson three times from (2014-16) as defensive coordinator at Wake Forest. He was always overmatched athletically, but in 2014 Wake Forest was tied 20-20 in the fourth quarter before falling 34-20. He’s never faced Clemson with as much talent at Wake Forest as he has at A&M, especially on the defensive line. 

Defensive ends Kingsley Keke and Landis Durham and defensive tackles Justin Madubuike and Daylon Mack will pose serious problems for Clemson’s offensive line. Still, skeptics will doubt A&M’s ability to contain quarterbacks Kelly Bryant and/or Trevor Lawrence or explosive running back Travis Etienne. Kingsley Keke is confident, though.

“I don’t know what they’re (skeptics) saying,” Keke said. “I just know my team is going to be ready to play.”

A&M’s defense is solid, but it’s vital that unit isn’t on the field too long. That’s where Williams comes in. He must run tough and be sure-handed with the football.

The junior running back won’t erupt for 240 rushing yards like he did in the season-opening win over Northwestern State, but he’s a breakaway threat against anybody. If the defense can keep the Aggies in contention in the fourth quarter, Williams definitely has the ability to make a game-changing play as a runner or receiver. He could break off a long run that could provide a late lead and allow Texas A&M to post an upset.

Would that be shocking? Absolutely.

Is that even possible? You better believe it.