Ole Miss HC makes the case for Texas A&M being the No. 1-ranked team

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After blowing out Missouri 38-17 on Saturday afternoon, Texas A&M (9-0, 6-0 SEC) stayed undefeated but did not move in the US LBM Coaches Poll or the AP Top 25, remaining at No. 3. Ahead of Tuesday’s second CFP rankings reveal, the Aggies could make a jump from No. 3 to No. 2 after Indiana’s close call against Penn State, but right now, the expectation is that nothing will change.

At this point, head coach Mike Elko and his team are focused on finishing 12-0 and reaching the SEC Championship Game for the first time in program history, knowing they are essentially a lock for the College Football Playoff.

Before hosting South Carolina on Saturday for an early 11:00 a.m. kickoff, returning to Kyle Field for the first time in over a month, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, who has the Rebels sitting at 9-1 and 5-1 in the SEC, praised Texas A&M’s success this season despite not facing the Aggies for the first time since taking the job before the 2020 season, and believes the Aggies should be ranked No. 1 based on their resume alone.

Texas A&M being No. 3, what more do you want them to do to be 1?” Kiffin stated. “They went up to Notre Dame and won. What good did that do if that’s not rewarded? They have the highest metrics of everybody and not No. 1.”

Kiffin’s football knowledge can’t be denied, given his history as one of the top offensive play callers, while his success at Ole Miss speaks for itself. Outside of Texas A&M’s 41-40 road win over Notre Dame in Week 3, three consecutive SEC road wins, including beating LSU and Missouri by a combined 46 points, should be nationally regarded as elite.

Statistically, Texas A&M’s offense and defense rank 17th and 23rd nationally, while the Aggies’ pass rush has produced 34 sacks, tied for 1st with the Texas Longhorns. Starting quarterback Marcel Reed, who is coming off his 221-yard passing game with two touchdowns and zero interceptions, continues to make a Heisman-level performance, thanks to transfer wide receivers KC Concepcion and Mario Cravers’ impressive seasons.

After producing 246 yards and three touchdowns on the ground against Missouri, the Aggies’ 19th-ranked rushing attack is another reason why Kiffin’s opinion is valid and should be taken into account during Tuesday’s CFP rankings reveal.

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Ole Miss’s Lane Kiffin makes the case for Texas A&M being ranked No. 1

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