Still not enough, apparently.
Despite being the only team in the country with three road victories over then-ranked opponents, Texas A&M remains behind both Ohio State and Indiana in the Nov. 11 update of the College Football Playoff rankings.
Most recently, the Aggies defeated then-No. 22 Missouri in Columbia on Saturday, 38-17. Of course, that score could have been more lopsided had the Aggies chosen to kick a red-zone field goal inside the fourth quarter’s two-minute timeout.
Never mind the fact that A&M is averaging 43.25 points per game away from Kyle Field.
Conversely, second-ranked Indiana struggled at second-rate Penn State and needed a miraculous toe-tapping touchdown in the dying second to escape Happy Valley unscathed.
Pundits are praising Fernando Mendoza’s “Heisman moment” — a 7-yard pass to Omar Cooper Jr. with 36 seconds remaining — despite the furious two-minute drive simply sinking the Nittany Lions to a sixth loss. Never mind that Marcel Reed delivered heroics at No. 9 Notre Dame on Sept. 13, and the Aggies have simply choked out each of their SEC opponents since.
Last week, committee chairman Mack Rhoades — a popular individual in Waco this week — stated that A&M’s defense was the reason the Aggies slotted in behind the Buckeyes and Hoosiers.
On Saturday, Mike Elko & Co. held Mizzou to its lowest yardage output and lowest home point total of the year. The Aggies also lead the nation in sacks (34) while ranking fourth in tackles for loss (73) and 23rd in total defense (317.4).
When it comes to resume metrics, A&M’s Strength of Record is still No. 1 nationally, and the Ags have a Strength of Schedule edge over both Ohio State and Indiana (15th vs. 41st and 33rd, respectively). With games against South Carolina and No. 10 Texas upcoming, A&M’s remaining SOS also edges out both the Buckeyes and Hoosiers (21st vs. 31st and 26th).
If the season ended today, the Aggies would be the No. 3 seed in the 12-team field and face the victor of No. 6 seed Texas Tech and No. 11 seed Miami (ranked No. 15, gets bid as ACC champion) in the quarterfinals, presumably at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl in Arlington on New Year’s Eve.
Additionally, A&M is ranked No. 3 in both the Associated Press Poll and the US LBM Coaches Poll for Week 12.
Maybe a win this week will be enough for A&M to finally earn more respect from the committee.
| Rank | Nov. 4, 2025 | Nov. 11, 2025 |
| 1 | 1. Ohio State (8-0) | 1. Ohio State (9-0) |
| 2 | 2. Indiana (9-0) | 2. Indiana (10-0) |
| 3 | 3. Texas A&M (8-0) | 3. Texas A&M (9-0) |
| 4 | 4. Alabama (7-1) | 4. Alabama (8-1) |
| 5 | 5. Georgia (7-1) | 5. Georgia (8-1) |
| 6 | 6. Ole Miss (8-1) | 6. Texas Tech (9-1) |
| 7 | 7. Brigham Young (8-0) | 7. Ole Miss (8-1) |
| 8 | 8. Texas Tech (8-1) | 8. Oregon (7-1) |
| 9 | 9. Oregon (7-1) | 9. Notre Dame (7-2) |
| 10 | 10. Notre Dame (6-2) | 10. Texas (7-2) |
| 11 | 11. Texas (7-2) | 11. Oklahoma (7-2) |
| 12 | 12. Oklahoma (7-2) | 12. Brigham Young (8-1) |
| 13 | 13. Utah (7-2) | 13. Utah (7-2) |
| 14 | 14. Virginia (8-1) | 14. Vanderbilt (8-2) |
| 15 | 15. Louisville (7-1) | 15. Miami (7-2) |
| 16 | 16. Vanderbilt (7-2) | 16. Georgia Tech (8-1) |
| 17 | 17. Georgia Tech (8-1) | 17. Southern Cal (7-2) |
| 18 | 18. Miami (6-2) | 18. Michigan (7-2) |
| 19 | 19. Southern Cal (6-2) | 19. Virginia (8-2) |
| 20 | 20. Iowa (6-2) | 20. Louisville (7-2) |
| 21 | 21. Michigan (7-2) | 21. Iowa (6-3) |
| 22 | 22. Missouri (6-2) | 22. Pittsburgh (7-2) |
| 23 | 23. Washington (6-2) | 23. Tennessee (6-3) |
| 24 | 24. Pittsburgh (7-2) | 24. South Florida (7-2) |
| 25 | 25. Tennessee (6-3) | 25. Cincinnati (7-2) |
Italics denotes Southeastern Conference member
Tara.farver said:
Rhoades Baylor Ath Dir and an Indiana graduate….say no more.
