If in fact there is a clearing in the woods, a point at which the Texas A&M football program finally turns the corner, it is getting harder and harder to identify as the weeks go by.
The Aggies cause the most head-scratching of any team in the Big 12. In three seasons under coach Dennis Franchione, the Aggies have gone from terrible to better to the brink of being back among the Big 12’s elite teams – to limbo.
Everyone associated with A&M left Boulder on Saturday night believing they are a better team than they showed. A talented roster says they should be.
But the facts are these: The Aggies’ three wins this season have come against Texas State, SMU and Baylor. A&M escaped in overtime against Baylor after tying the game late in regulation, and sloshed through most of the first half against SMU.
It can be argued the Aggies have played as few as six good quarters all season (out of 20), and no more than 10, depending on your view of their loss at Clemson.
That is a problem.
And it could get worse.
Bowl eligibility? Not a foregone conclusion anymore for a team tabbed by most to be a dark-horse candidate for the conference title. The Aggies have to get to work. Their next three games are against youthful Oklahoma State, sporadic Kansas State and disappointing Iowa State. After that, the road gets tougher. November’s schedule brings games at Texas Tech, at Oklahoma and home against Texas.
And if Texas A&M doesn’t start to win now, when will it? Reggie McNeal, the quarterback who has kept Franchione’s offense somewhat stable for the past three seasons, is a senior. The Aggies will return a number of starters in 2006, but as Oklahoma is finding out this season, average quarterback play will make you an average team.
And Texas A&M, apparently, is already average.
Asked why the Aggies haven’t been able to get two solid feet under them this season, McNeal gave a troubling answer that echoed the way most of the players have responded to that query this season.
“I have no idea,” he said. “I don’t know.”
Time is running short for them to figure it out.
Meaningful again?
Don’t look now, but guess which game is gaining more meaning each week.
If you said Colorado vs. Nebraska, you would be right.
The Buffaloes and Huskers, both 4-1, appear to be the best teams in the North. The way things are shaping up, the Nov. 25 CU-Nebraska game could be for a trip to the Big 12 championship game. While CU has been a regular in that contest this decade, Nebraska has not been there since 1999.
The most recent time Colorado and Nebraska played a meaningful November contest was in 2001, when Nebraska entered the game ranked No. 2 and undefeated at 11-0 (7-0 Big 12) and left Boulder with a 62-36 loss. That sent the Buffs to the Big 12 title game, in which they beat Texas to qualify for the BCS’ Fiesta Bowl. To the chagrin of many, Nebraska still went on to play in the national title game.
Going up, going down
This season’s Big 12 elevator moment took place in Ames, Iowa. While most of the attention was turned toward Oklahoma-Texas, Baylor was busy making a statement.
Baylor defeated Iowa State in a showing of teams going in different directions. Iowa State, with injuries and inconsistent play, is fading fast. Baylor, usually left for dead, appears on the rise with young talent. The Bears (4-1) stand two wins away from bowl eligibility.
“I think our kids are feeling pretty good about themselves right now,” Baylor coach Guy Morriss said. “I don’t think our kids are surprised at all. It’s something we talked about.”
Staff writer Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-820-5455 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
