As a lifelong Texas A&M football fan and someone who's been following college football for over two decades, I've been thinking a lot about what's coming this season. Honestly, I'm more excited than I've been in years, and that's saying something considering our rollercoaster history. When I look at our upcoming schedule and the talent we've got brewing in College Station, there are five key factors that I believe will absolutely define whether we're looking at a championship-caliber season or another "what could have been" scenario.
First and foremost, let's talk about our quarterback situation. We've got Conner Weigman entering his second year as starter, and I've got to say, I'm genuinely impressed with his development. Last season he completed 68.9% of his passes for 2,385 yards with 16 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions in the games he started. Those numbers aren't just good—they're potentially program-changing if he maintains that efficiency. What really excites me is his decision-making under pressure, something we've struggled with in previous seasons. I remember watching the Alabama game last year where he made three consecutive perfect throws on third downs, and that's the kind of composure we need every single game. The offensive line needs to protect him better though—we gave up 28 sacks last season, which is simply unacceptable if we want to compete in the SEC West.
Our receiving corps might be the most improved unit on the team, and that's not just hometown optimism talking. Evan Stewart is looking like he could be the best receiver we've had since Christian Kirk, and Moose Muhammad III has shown flashes of absolute brilliance. What really makes me confident is the depth—we've got at least six receivers who could start for most Power Five programs. I was at the spring game and saw them running routes that I haven't seen in our offense in years. The timing between Weigman and these receivers looks special already, and if they stay healthy, I genuinely believe we could have two 1,000-yard receivers this season, something that hasn't happened here since 2013.
Defensively, it all comes down to our ability to stop the run. Last season we ranked 45th nationally in rushing defense, allowing 132.8 yards per game. That's not terrible, but it's not championship-level either. What worries me is that we lost some key pieces in the front seven to the NFL, particularly at linebacker. The new guys have talent—don't get me wrong—but experience matters in the SEC. I've been watching Fadil Diggs develop over the past two seasons though, and I think he's ready to become the dominant pass rusher we desperately need. If our defensive line can generate consistent pressure without blitzing, it will cover up some of those linebacker concerns.
Special teams often gets overlooked, but I'm telling you, it could be the difference between winning and losing two or three games this season. Our kicking game was inconsistent last year—we missed four field goals under 40 yards, which directly cost us the Mississippi State game in my opinion. The punting situation needs improvement too—our net punting average of 38.2 yards ranked 78th nationally. In a conference where games are often decided by field position, that's concerning. The return game shows promise though, especially with the new speed we've added in the freshman class.
The final factor, and maybe the most important, is coaching stability. Jimbo Fisher has had time to build his program, and frankly, the excuses are running out. His play-calling has been criticized—sometimes fairly in my view—but what I've noticed recently is better adaptation to in-game situations. The offensive scheme seems more modern than it did two years ago, with more motion and creative formations. Still, I worry about our tendency to become conservative with leads. Remember the Florida game last year where we stopped throwing with a 10-point lead in the third quarter? We can't afford those kinds of decisions against teams like Alabama and LSU.
Thinking about our upcoming season reminds me of how global sports are becoming, much like the recent ONE 171 event in Qatar that featured Filipino fighters. Sports narratives have a way of transcending borders, and successful programs—whether in college football or martial arts—often share similar traits: strong leadership, player development, and the ability to perform when it matters most. Our Aggies need to embrace that global spotlight mentality because when you play in the SEC, every game is a headline event.
Ultimately, I'm optimistic about this season, more than I've been in a while. If these five factors break our way—quarterback development, receiver production, run defense, special teams improvement, and coaching decisions—I genuinely believe we could challenge for the SEC West. The pieces are there, the schedule sets up reasonably well after that brutal opening stretch, and the team seems to have developed a chemistry that was missing last season. We might not be national championship favorites, but I'd be disappointed with anything less than 9 wins given the talent on this roster. The season can't get here soon enough—I've already marked my calendar for that first tailgate in September.