Texas A&M drops to No. 20 in CFP rankings with historic feud on deck
This fall has seen more than its fair share of carnage across the college football landscape.
Unfortunately for Texas A&M, the Aggies were not immune.
Fortunately, everything the Aggies needed to keep them in the SEC title hunt also transpired last Saturday.
On Tuesday night, the fourth College Football Playoff rankings were revealed, and Mike Elko’s Aggies checked in at No. 20 after a quadruple overtime loss at Auburn. That is down five spots from last week’s No. 15 ranking.
Additionally, entering Week 14, A&M is ranked 20th in the Associated Press top-25 and 19th by the Coaches Poll.
While the Aggies returned from Auburn licking their wounds, losses suffered by Ole Miss and Alabama in Gainesville and Norman meant that this weekend’s Lone Star Showdown restoration is still as big as it gets.
A&M and arch-rival No. 3 Texas meet at Kyle Field with a ticket to Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game on the line.
And despite the unfortunate defeat, A&M’s only path to the College Football Playoff is now a clear two-step process...and for those who remember 2020, the clarity is at least somewhat fortunate:
- Beat Texas. Get to Atlanta.
- Beat Georgia for the SEC Championship. Get in the 12-team field.
That’s it.
Saturday is A&M’s last chance, and don’t be surprised if the Aggies keep the carnage rolling.
College Football Playoff Top 25
| Rank | Nov. 19 Rankings | Nov. 26 Rankings |
| 1 | 1. Oregon (10-0)* | 1. Oregon (11-0)* |
| 2 | 2. Ohio State (9-1) | 2. Ohio State (10-1) |
| 3 | 3. Texas (9-1)* | 3. Texas (10-1)* |
| 4 | 4. Penn State (9-1) | 4. Penn State (10-1) |
| 5 | 5. Indiana (10-0) | 5. Notre Dame (10-1) |
| 6 | 6. Notre Dame (9-1) | 6. Miami (10-1)* |
| 7 | 7. Alabama (8-2) | 7. Georgia (9-2) |
| 8 | 8. Miami (9-1)* | 8. Tennessee (9-2) |
| 9 | 9. Ole Miss (8-2) | 9. Southern Methodist (10-1) |
| 10 | 10. Georgia (8-2) | 10. Indiana (10-1) |
| 11 | 11. Tennessee (8-2) | 11. Boise State (10-1)* |
| 12 | 12. Boise State (9-1)* | 12. Clemson (9-2) |
| 13 | 13. Southern Methodist (9-1) | 13. Alabama (8-3) |
| 14 | 14. Brigham Young (9-1)* | 14. Ole Miss (8-3) |
| 15 | 15. Texas A&M (8-2) | 15. South Carolina (8-3) |
| 16 | 16. Colorado (8-2) | 16. Arizona State (9-2)* |
| 17 | 17. Clemson (8-2) | 17. Tulane (9-2) |
| 18 | 18. South Carolina (7-3) | 18. Iowa State (9-2) |
| 19 | 19. Army (9-0) | 19. Brigham Young (9-2) |
| 20 | 20. Tulane (9-2) | 20. Texas A&M (8-3) |
| 21 | 21. Arizona State (8-2) | 21. Missouri (8-3) |
| 22 | 22. Iowa State (8-2) | 22. UNLV (9-2) |
| 23 | 23. Missouri (7-3) | 23. Illinois (8-3) |
| 24 | 24. UNLV (8-2) | 24. Kansas State (8-3) |
| 25 | 25. Illinois (7-3) | 25. Colorado (8-3) |
OUT: Army
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.
