Despite being idle in Week 11, Texas A&M has moved down a spot to No. 15 in the second College Football Playoff rankings of 2024.
In the initial top-25, the Aggies were ranked No. 14 and listed as the “second team left out” of the 12-team playoff field.
Additionally, A&M checks in at No. 15 in both the AP and Coaches polls.
At 7-2 overall and 5-1 in conference play, the Maroon & White are tied with No. 7 Tennessee for first place in the SEC.
That said, the Aggies still control their own destiny when it comes to reaching Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game and, ultimately, the College Football Playoff.
For A&M, the bracketology is simple and a summation that Al Davis made famous:
“Just win, baby.”
A similar sentiment was echoed by A&M head coach Mike Elko earlier this week.
“The beauty of the SEC: If we win, we’ll be in. If we don’t, we won’t,” he said on Monday. “It’s a real recipe for us in this league.”
However, this weekend features a non-conference game as A&M returns to action on Saturday night when New Mexico State comes to Kyle Field.
Following Week 12’s Aggies-Aggies matchup, A&M dips back into SEC play for a road trip to Auburn on Nov. 23 before hosting No. 3 Texas at Kyle Field for the regular-season finale on Nov. 30.
Elko & Co. are among the nine SEC programs listed in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings: No. 3 Texas, No. 7 Tennessee, No. 10 Alabama, No. 11 Ole Miss, No. 12 Georgia (who would be left out of the 12-team field in the scenario presented by this week’s ranking), No. 15 Texas A&M, No. 21 South Carolina, No. 22 Louisiana State and No. 23 Missouri.
After this week’s slate, the third CFP top-25 will be released next Tuesday, Nov. 19, on ESPN at 6 p.m. CT.
College Football Playoff Top 25
Rank |
Nov. 5 Rankings |
Nov. 12 Rankings |
1 |
1. Oregon (9-0)* |
1. Oregon (9-0)* |
2 |
2. Ohio State (7-1) |
2. Ohio State (7-1) |
3 |
3. Georgia (7-1)* |
3. Texas (8-1)* |
4 |
4. Miami (9-0)* |
4. Penn State (8-1) |
5 |
5. Texas (7-1) |
5. Indiana (10-0) |
6 |
6. Penn State (7-1) |
6. Brigham Young (9-0)* |
7 |
7. Tennessee (7-1) |
7. Tennessee (8-1) |
8 |
8. Indiana (9-0) |
8. Notre Dame (8-1) |
9 |
9. Brigham Young (8-0)* |
9. Miami (9-1)* |
10 |
10. Notre Dame (7-1) |
10. Alabama (7-2) |
11 |
11. Alabama (6-2) |
11. Ole Miss (8-2) |
12 |
12. Boise State (7-1)* |
12. Georgia (7-2) |
13 |
13. Southern Methodist (8-1) |
13. Boise State (8-1)* |
14 |
14. Texas A&M (7-2) |
14. Southern Methodist (8-1) |
15 |
15. Louisiana State (6-2) |
15. Texas A&M (7-2) |
16 |
16. Ole Miss (7-2) |
16. Kansas State (7-2) |
17 |
17. Iowa State (7-1) |
17. Colorado (7-2) |
18 |
18. Pittsburgh (7-1) |
18. Washington State (8-1) |
19 |
19. Kansas State (7-2) |
19. Louisville (6-3) |
20 |
20. Colorado (6-2) |
20. Clemson (7-2) |
21 |
21. Washington State (7-1) |
21. South Carolina (6-3) |
22 |
22. Louisville (6-3) |
22. Louisiana State (6-3) |
23 |
23. Clemson (6-2) |
23. Missouri (7-2) |
24 |
24. Missouri (6-2) |
24. Army (9-0) |
25 |
25. Army (8-0) |
25. Tulane (8-2) |
OUT: Iowa State, Pittsburgh
Italics denotes Southeastern Conference member
* - denotes team is among the five highest-ranked conference “leaders” and would receive an automatic bid to the 12-team field as the conference’s projected champion. The four highest-ranked conference champions receive a first-round bye.