The Auburn Tigers were one of the TAMU Aggies' 10 unmeaningful wins during the regular season, with the one meaningful one being the difference-maker that got them into the 12-team College Football Playoff field against the notoriously snubbed Notre Dame Fighting Irish back in Week 3.
After the Aggies' pitiful offensive effort during a 10-3 loss to the Miami Hurricanes in the first round of the College Football Playoff, TAMU's schedule is now under fire. The Aggies defeated the Tigers 16-10 at Kyle Field back on September 27.
CBS Sports' Will Backus took aim at TAMU's slate for not properly preparing the Aggies for the Canes. Auburn was part of what Backus called a "weak schedule," and said the Hurricanes and Texas Longhorns were the only opponents they had with winning records in conference play, which, of course, doesn't include Notre Dame.
"Texas A&M went without a meaningful win past Sept. 13's triumph against Notre Dame. Its 11-0 start, including a 7-0 mark in conference play, looked impressive on paper, but the Aggies did nothing but take advantage of an incredibly weak schedule," Backus wrote.
"None of those seven SEC wins came against an opponent with a winning conference record. In fact, Texas A&M played two teams with a winning record in conference play: Texas and Miami. The Aggies lost both.
"Their 11 wins were against teams with a combined conference record of 20-52. It isn't Texas A&M's fault that it made the playoff. Any Power Four program that finishes with an 11-1 record belongs in the 12-team field regardless of how it came about those wins."
Truth be told, Auburn was a solid defensive test for Marcel Reed and Co. that the Aggies passed back in September. Well, passed enough that the same effort could've gotten the job done against Miami. Playing DJ Durkin's group was a test that could've prepared TAMU for anyone besides the Ohio State Buckeyes. You're on your own against Matt Patricia's group.
Auburn garners no respect in yet another offseason
It's a shame AU's defensive dominance in 2024 and 2025 will be forgotten in many circles. The Tigers are going through another offseason of their offensive futility having crafted the narrative around the entire team's performance.
Hopefully, things on that side of the ball will be righted with Alex Golesh and Joel Gordon running the show instead of Hugh Freeze and his convoluted multi-man play-calling system. It remains to be seen who'll be under center, but we know it won't be Jackson Arnold or Ashton Daniels after they both entered the Transfer Portal.