An early outlook on the Ags based on statistical comparisons

Four score and seven years ago, our Aggies brought fourth onto Texas A&M a national championship in football.

The Aggies have been waiting for another championship ever since that 1939 season.

During that span, there have been a few close calls and a lot of disappointment.

But under the direction of coach Mike Elko, an A&M championship seems more reachable than at any time in the last 87 years.

The appearance in the College Football Playoff and a painfully close loss to Miami, which reached the championship game, indicate the Aggies are close to reaching their elusive goal.

Obviously, steps remain. The Aggies performed at a championship level in some aspects. Improvement is needed in others.

With that in mind, we take a look at how the last five national champions performed in 10 vital statistical categories.

We compare that to how the Aggies performed in those categories last year.

At least theoretically, that shows which areas the Aggies have excelled in, where they are lacking and what it may take to reach the championship standard.

Will Huffman, TexAgs

In 2025, Mike Elko presided over Texas A&M’s first 11-win season since the Aggies went 11-2 in 2012.

1. Total offense

2021 Georgia: 442.9 yards
2022 Georgia: 501.1 yards
2023 Michigan: 382.7 yards
2024 Ohio State: 429.4 yards
2025 Indiana: 452 yards

2025 Texas A&M: 444.5 yards

Outlook: In 2025, the Aggies averaged 444.5 yards per game. That’s more than national champions Ohio State in 2024, Michigan in 2023 and Georgia in 2021.

A&M has the potential to be just as productive behind quarterback Marcel Reed. Last season, he accumulated 3,662 yards of total offense. Receivers Mario Craver, Isaiah Horton and Ashton Bethel-Roman are big-play threats. Running back Rueben Owens II can be explosive.

If the rebuilt offensive line is effective, A&M’s offense projects to be of national champion caliber.

2. Explosive plays (20 yards or more)

2021 Georgia: 80
2022 Georgia: 98
2023 Michigan: 73
2024 Ohio State: 75
2025 Indiana: 90

2025 Texas A&M: 69

Outlook: Though A&M had fewer (69) explosive plays than all the national champions, the Aggies played at least two fewer games. Based on their average, the Aggies could have posted 79 or 80 explosive plays with two more games.

Craver accounted for 15 plays of at least 20 yards last season. Horton had seven at Alabama. Reed completed 45 passes that covered at least 20 yards. Also, Owens had four runs of over 30 yards despite serving in a backup role much of the year.

Again, if the offensive line is effective, the Aggies project to be at least as explosive next season.

Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Mario Craver scored five total touchdowns in 2025. He accounted for 998 yards of total offense on 59 receptions and 11 carries.

3. Total defense

2021 Georgia: 267.9 yards
2022 Georgia: 296.7 yards
2023 Michigan: 247 yards
2024 Ohio State: 254.6 yards
2025 Indiana: 266 yards

2025 Texas A&M: 307.4 yards

Outlook: All the national champions were ranked among the nation’s top-10 in total defense. A&M wasn’t far off. The Aggies allowed an average of 307.4 yards to rank 18th in total defense.

Alas, six starters from that defensive unit are pursuing NFL careers. Also, the status of injured linebacker Daymion Sanford is uncertain.

The Aggies figure to be sound in the secondary, but it will be difficult to match last year’s total of 43 sacks, which was fourth in the nation.

Further, losses on the defensive line and at linebacker raise questions about run defense. That’s crucial because every one of the last five national champs allowed an average of 90 rushing yards or less and were ranked no worse than sixth nationally.

A&M averaged 130.7. That’s not bad, but improvement is clearly needed. Perhaps newcomers like linebacker Ray Coney and defensive lineman CJ Mims will help bolster A&M vs. the run.

Will Huffman, TexAgs

Elevated to the position in December, Lyle Hemphill has taken over as Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator.

4. Opponent explosive plays (20 yards or more)

2021 Georgia: 41
2022 Georgia: 51
2023 Michigan: 32
2024 Ohio State: 50
2025 Indiana: 53

2025 Texas A&M: 57

Outlook: This is a problem. Some might point out that Indiana gave up just fewer explosive plays than A&M, but the Hoosiers played in three more games.

Of the big plays A&M allowed, 21 of them were via the run. None of the previous five national champions allowed more than 12 runs of 20 yards or more.

5. Field goal percentage

2021 Georgia: 81.5
2022 Georgia: 84.4
2023 Michigan: 85.7
2024 Ohio State: 76.5
2025 Indiana: 90.5

2025 Texas A&M: 61.5

Outlook: The average field goal success rate for the five national champs was 83.3 percent. The Aggies, obviously, were far off.

The addition of transfer David Olano should help enormously. He converted 86 percent in two seasons at Illinois.

Also, freshman Asher Murray was 3-for-3 in the Maroon & White Game.

Will Huffman, TexAgs

A Lou Groza semifinalist in 2024, Randy Bond finished his college career with 368 total points, but his 63.2 percent field goal rate in 2025 was a career worst.

6. Penalty Yardage

2021 Georgia: 42.5
2022 Georgia: 47.3
2023 Michigan: 27.5
2024 Ohio State: 40.8
2025 Indiana: 27.6

2025 Texas A&M: 60.7

Outlook: The champions averaged 37 yards in penalties. A&M, which was 99th in the nation in penalty yardage, was about 60 percent higher.

However, in the second half of the season, the Aggies dropped their average penalty yardage to 52.8, so they were trending in the right direction.

Pre-snap penalties and holding seemed to be the primary factors. Hopefully, the rebuilt offensive line will be better in those areas.

7. Turnover margin

2021 Georgia: plus-4
2022 Georgia: plus-2
2023 Michigan: plus-19
2024 Ohio State: plus-3
2025 Indiana: plus-22

2025 Texas A&M, 2025: minus-9

Outlook: Probably from the day football was invented, coaches have preached the importance of avoiding and creating turnovers.

To their point, every national champion claimed more turnovers than they committed.

A&M did not. The Aggies were minus-9 in turnover margin. That was 120th in the nation. It’s also the worst margin of any College Football Playoff team over the last five seasons.

Reed had 12 interceptions. He must reduce that total. The Aggies also have to find a way to get more interceptions. They managed three last season. Each of the last five national champions had at least 10.

Will Huffman, TexAgs

Marcel Reed threw for only 25 touchdowns against his 12 interceptions last fall.

8. Third-down conversions

2021 Georgia: 45.03 percent
2022 Georgia: 51.1 percent
2023 Michigan: 42.77 percent
2024 Ohio State: 43.7 percent
2025 Indiana: 56.5 percent

2025 Texas A&M: 41.3 percent

Outlook: Third down is most crucial. It typically determines whether a drive continues or possession is relinquished.

Indiana led the nation in third-down percentage last year. The five national champs were all among the top 40.

A&M last year was 54th. The Aggies aren’t too far off. The 6-foot-4 Horton at receiver should help. Reed being in his second year as a full-time starter should help, too.

9. Third-down defense

2021 Georgia: 35.1 percent
2022 Georgia: 26.6 percent
2023 Michigan: 29.1 percent
2024 Ohio State: 35.1 percent
2025 Indiana: 30.1 percent

2025 Texas A&M: 22.9 percent

Outlook: No problem here. The Aggies led the nation in third-down defense. The task is remaining among the best. The national champions were ranked no lower than 30th the year they won it all.

10. Red zone conversions

2021 Georgia: 85.5 percent
2022 Georgia: 97.6 percent
2023 Michigan: 89.3 percent
2024 Ohio State: 88.7 percent
2025 Indiana: 92.2 percent

2025 Texas A&M: 81 percent

Outlook: The Aggies scored on 47 of 58 ventures into the red zone. That resulted in a mediocre 81.03 percent success rate. A&M was ranked 92nd in the nation. Missed field goals and turnovers were major factors.

The addition of Olano should be enough to significantly raise A&M’s red zone success rate. Reed’s experience and Horton’s height on fade routes may raise their percentage of touchdowns in the red zone from 62.1 percent.