Texas A&M Right Where They Belong? Blake Toppmeyer Backs US LBM Coaches Poll Ranking in Bold Analysis
By [Fictional Author], August 15, 2025
According to USA Today college football analyst Blake Toppmeyer, the newly released US LBM Coaches Poll has finally gotten it right — at least when it comes to Texas A&M. Ranked at No. 12 in the preseason poll, the Aggies’ placement has sparked plenty of debate across the college football landscape, but Toppmeyer isn’t having any of it.
In a detailed breakdown released earlier this week, Toppmeyer argued that Texas A&M’s blend of returning talent, coaching stability under Mike Elko, and an imposing SEC schedule positions them perfectly for a top-tier season — but not yet elite playoff contention. “It’s a team on the brink,” he wrote. “Not a preseason darling, but not a sleeper either. They’re finally being evaluated based on what they are — and what they could become.”
A Justified Jump
Last season, the Aggies finished 9–4 under interim leadership, flashing glimpses of high-level potential but falling short in consistency. With Mike Elko now officially at the helm — bringing defensive discipline and a renewed locker room culture — Texas A&M is expected to turn a corner.
According to Toppmeyer, the No. 12 ranking reflects both optimism and realism. “This isn’t about overhyping potential,” he noted. “It’s about acknowledging real progress and real pieces.”
Among those pieces:
Conner Weigman, returning from injury and looking like a top-5 SEC quarterback.
Noah Thomas and Evan Stewart, one of the most dynamic receiver duos in the country.
A top-10 defensive front, anchored by junior DL Walter Nolen, who’s widely projected as a first-round NFL talent.
A revamped offensive line, finally healthy and loaded with experience.
Toppmeyer emphasized that the Aggies are one of the few teams in the country with top-15 potential on both sides of the ball — and he credits Elko for instilling a system that’s “tough, technical, and tired of being average.”
A Schedule That Will Define Everything
Texas A&M’s path to playoff relevancy is brutal — but that’s exactly why Toppmeyer finds their No. 12 spot so “fair and firm.” Games against LSU, Texas, Alabama, and Tennessee loom large. But Toppmeyer believes that with even a 10-2 finish, the Aggies could vault into CFP conversation, especially with an expanded 12-team playoff field set to debut this season.
“It’s not about beating every giant,” he wrote. “It’s about showing you belong on the same field — and stealing a win or two in the process.”
No More Offseason Hype
Toppmeyer also took aim at the narrative that Texas A&M is “all hype, no delivery,” pointing out that the team’s current status has been earned, not handed. “This is not 2021. This isn’t about NIL buzz or recruiting headlines. This is about a mature, physical, battle-hardened roster that knows what failure looks like and wants nothing to do with it.”
Final Word
Blake Toppmeyer’s take stands out for one key reason: it balances optimism with evidence. In a sport dominated by knee-jerk overreactions and preseason overhype, his argument that the US LBM Coaches Poll got Texas A&M exactly right at No. 12 is rooted in roster analysis, coaching dynamics, and the real-world grind of an SEC schedule.
Whether the Aggies live up to it is another question. But for now, as Toppmeyer puts it:
> “They’re not overhyped. They’re not under the radar. They’re just right — and that might be the most dangerous version of Texas A&M we’ve seen yet.”
🔥🏈 #TexasAM #Aggies #CollegeFootball #USLBMPoll #BlakeToppmeyer #SEC
