Kevin Sumlin and the Texas A&M Aggies burst onto the SEC scene in 2012, with an electric young playmaker named Johnny Manziel taking the snaps and an offense that gave traditional SEC defenses fits. The Aggies won 11 games, topped Alabama on the road and became the darling of college football.
Since then, though, things have regressed.
From 11 wins to nine and then to eight, the Aggies have become more of an SEC afterthought than a potential power.
Will that change in 2015?
Sumlin lured defensive coordinator John Chavis to College Station after a successful stint at LSU, dedicated himself to the running game with the hire of offensive line coach and running game coordinator Dave Christensen and has a schedule that—at least by SEC West standards—is forgiving.