A Hornfan understands why Texas A&M has better recond than Texas:
They're in an easier conference when it comes to offenses. Nothing to fear in being scored on.
The most points scored on them all season was 57 by La. Tech of WAC. Prior to tonight's game with Missouri, all 7 of their SEC opponents TOGETHER have only scored 139 total.
In the SEC they've had these whopping points scored on them:
20, Florida
10, Arkansas
27, Ole Miss
24, LSU
21, Auburn
13, Miss. State
24, Alabama
Avg. 19.89 pts per game... call it 20.
So, they're in a conference that averages 3 touchdowns a game scoring against them. Big 12 teams would score that on them in 20 minutes of play.
Maybe they've come up with a stellar defense in one year. But I doubt it. The SEC just can't throw up points, not on a scale and with regularity as in the Big 12. I can't name two quarterbacks in the SEC outside of A&M and Alabama's. Mettz..whatever for LSU. Oh, Watson from Ole Miss. But other than Manziel there's not a quarterback threat in the entire SEC to strike the fear of God in your defensive coordinator.
Hats off to A&M for figuring it out. Go to the SEC and figure out a high-octane offense and you can win 80% of your games because nobody over there can move the ball.
It's never been that their defenses are that good -- it's that their freaking offenses are not that good. As proved by A&M in one year. The Aggies are playing like Ok-State and Texas Tech, and doing an even better job of it. Lot of thanks to Kliff Kingsbury who learned offense at Tech and perfected it in the Big 12 then UH, and now taking it to a new level.
Against defenses that can't stop that kind of play. As shown this season. Meanwhile, A&M's defense is shutting down the SEC to the tune of 20 points per game, none over 27. Try doing that in the Big 12. In even half the conference games.
A&M has averaged 36 pts against their first 7 SEC opponents, and are up 42-10 against Missouri in the 3rd qtr tonight.
17, Florida
58, Ark
30, Ole Miss
19, LSU
63, Auburn
38, Miss State
29, Alabama
I suppose Missouri deflates this argument, but who knows, LOL.