Texas A&M stayed unbeaten, but the Aggies slid in ESPN’s Week 12 college football power rankings after needing a historic rally to escape with a 31-30 win over South Carolina on Saturday.
The Aggies trailed 30-3 late in the first half and dropped to No. 3 as Ohio State and Indiana secured the top two spots. The Buckeyes remained No. 1 following a dominant 48-10 victory over UCLA, while Indiana climbed to No. 2 after a strong second half in its win over Wisconsin.
Despite Texas A&M’s perfect 10-0 record, ESPN analysts noted the team’s inconsistency. The Aggies rank near the bottom nationally in red-zone defense while boasting the country’s best third-down unit. A statistical split that continued to show up week after week. South Carolina scored on all five trips inside the 20.
Quarterback Marcel Reed’s remarkable turnaround from a 6-of-19 start with two interceptions to 16-of-20 with three touchdowns fueled the largest comeback by an SEC history. Mike Elko' team needs steadier performances as the Aggies chase their first College Football Playoff berth.
Ohio State strengthened its grip on the top spot behind a defense that allowed just two first-half first downs and an offense that rolled with ease. Indiana remained perfect at 11-0 behind Heisman contender Fernando Mendoza, though injuries continue to test the Hoosiers’ depth.
Texas A&M hosts 1-10 Samford next before its rivalry trip to Texas on Nov. 28.
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