Texas A&M vs. the Big 12: How the Aggies Can Steal the Championship

With reports that the 2011 will be A&M’s final season in the Big 12, the Aggies are looking to go out with a bang.

Holding the best team they have had since 1998, the Kyle Field faithful have to be excited about where this team could go this year. After jointly winning the Big 12 South last year with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, Texas A&M has positioned itself through strong recruiting to come back this year and win it all.

The Oklahoma State game is the first real test for A&M, but since it’s at home, the Aggies have the edge against the Cowboys.

Every eye is on Kyle Field this Saturday, but with the potential to take home the Big 12 Championship in their final year, those eyes should continue to follow the maroon and white.

Here are four reasons the Aggies can steal the championship just a year before they head off for the SEC.

Texas A&M Finally Has a QB They Can Trust

Ryan Tannehill, a senior from Big Spring, Texas, has given the Aggie faithful something to believe in after being let down at the position for years.

Giving A&M victories over powerful Big 12 opponents Oklahoma and Nebraska last season, an unheralded six-game conference win streak and a trip to the Cotton Bowl, Tannehill has shown that he is the man for the job.

One of the smartest quarterbacks in the nation with a degree in biology and a final GPA of 3.6, Sherman along with 88,000 of his closest friends all have put their trust in Tannehill’s arm this season.

A&M Arguably has the Best Receiving Corp in the Nation

Jeff Fuller, Ryan Swope and Uzoma Nwachukwu are all experienced, talented receivers. They plague defensive backs with speed, size and great hands, giving A&M one of the most formidable passing attacks in the Big 12, let alone the nation.

Fuller is a deep threat on every play. At 6’4”, he plays with every advantage he has, whether it is his long stride, lanky arms or huge hands. Opponents beware: leave Fuller man-on-man and Tannehill will be looking for six.

Nwachukwu, one of the biggest names on A&M’s roster, or at least one of the hardest to say, has great hands. He can snatch footballs from the air, make huge blocks and tear secondary assignments apart with his athleticism.

If you watch Ryan Swope play receiver from the slot, he is almost indistinguishable from Patriots receiver Wes Welker. He moves around the field looking for openings in the defense and preys on mistakes made by safeties, always providing a quick out for Tannehill when he’s in a bind. He reads defenses with the best of them, making his speed and talent all the more dangerous.

Gray and Michael are the League’s Best Tailback Tandem

Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael provide a one two punch that no other team in the league has. They both run fierce and don’t care who scores, as long as the ball ends up in the end zone.

After last year’s horrible injury, Christine Michael is looking to make up for lost time. Watching the back, he runs with power and passion, running through defenses rather than around them. Michael has the potential to rush 1,000 yards this season and look for him to do just that.

Cyrus Gray’s amazing end-of-the-year performance after losing Christine Michael last year was stunning. He ran for over 100 yards in every game since and is now gunning for the school record at 10 games for most consecutive games with over 100 yards on the ground. He’s one of the hardest running backs to bring down in the Big 12, making him dangerous and a downright horror for opposing defenses. 

The Wrecking Crew Has Returned

The Wrecking Crew is a symbol of A&M’s defense, but has been absent the last couple of years (remember Oklahoma's 77 points back in 2003?). The Aggies' defense has been showing glimpses of what used to be, putting up strong numbers against SMU and Idaho.

The Vandals had not even put up 100 total offensive yards last week by the time the fourth quarter rolled around. Tony Jerrod-Eddie put up three solo sacks against SMU, but this was just a start. A&M already has 11 through just two games.

If the Aggie defense can show up on Saturday against OSU, we may all witness the official return of the Wrecking Crew. Without Von Miller (second overall NFL draft pick) and senior linebacker Michael Hodges, many people wondered if the A&M defense could hold up. So far, they’re looking dangerous, and with Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon taking the field in a matter of hours, this is their chance to prove it.