College Football Preseason Rankings 2011: Why Texas A&M Is the State's Best Team

The tension between the University of Texas and Texas A&M is so thick over the Longhorn Network that it needs a Texas-sized knife to cut it.

Allow me to do so now.

Texas A&M will be better in football than Texas this season, and it won’t be close.

OK, so that probably didn’t help, but it is the undeniable preseason truth. As any college football fan will tell you, the games have to be settled on the field, but if the Aggies and Longhorns were to open the season, A&M would be a serious favorite.

Why? It all starts at quarterback, and it’s nearly impossible to argue That Texas has the upper hand with Garrett Gilbert.

The former 5-star recruit had an awful season and ended his team’s streak of 10-win seasons in embarrassing fashion. The Aggies are in much better shape with Ryan Tannehill, a guy not originally recruited by A&M who was forced to walk on and play wide receiver up until midway through last season.

The rest of the offensive skill position groups also lean in Texas A&M’s favor. Jeff Fuller is one of the most under-hyped players in recent memory and the tandem of Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael could be lethal against Big 12 defenses that won’t see a more experienced and talented backfield all season.

The offensive line returners four of its starters, but it was a unit that failed to impress most of the season, especially in pass protection, where it allowed nearly three sacks per game.

But big brother Texas loses the bulk of their starters on the line, and bringing in 5-star recruits every year does not make up for experience.

It’s nice to know that the rest of the world seems to finally understand that.

Defensively, the clear edge has to once again go to the Aggies, given the progress defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter made in his first season in College Station. His counterpart at Texas, Will Muschamp, abandoned ship for Florida and is replaced by the former DC at Mississippi State, Manny Diaz.

While this is a great hire, it’s hard to imagine him turning the Longhorn defense, which allowed 34 points against UCLA, into a unit that will outdo the “Wrecking Crew.”

All-everything linebacker Von Miller is no longer in College Station, and the obvious edge at linebacker goes to Texas, who returns Emmanuel Acho and Keenan Robinson. But there’s a slight edge at the other position groups based on experience.

The best cornerback always seems to be in Austin, but the best guy in Texas is currently Aggies speedster Coryell Judie.

The defensive line is more of a push, but the slightest preseason edge goes to A&M for returning every starter, even if Longhorns end Jackson Jeffcoat is as good as advertised.

If you haven’t heard of Jeffcoat, you will soon. This is why the defensive coordinator is so important in this battle—both units figure to be dominant in 2011, but DeRuyter has had more time to install his system.

The game between Texas and Texas A&M this season could have the most interesting back story of any game in the country if the Longhorn Network controversy is not resolved. The hatred is nearly boiling over in Texas, and this great rivalry may finally get the national respect it deserves.

Unfortunately for Texas Longhorn fans, the odds are squarely on the side of the A&M Aggies.