Jimbo Fisher is in his fifth year as head coach at Texas A&M. Texas A&M fans have been very patient with Fisher, but it’s now time for results.
Many believe Fisher has done all he can in College Station. The Aggies have been going downhill ever since the 2020 season when they finished 9-1, as Orange Bowl champions and No. 4 in the final polls.
Regression
In 2021, Fisher finally got over the hump and upset his former boss Nick Saban, and Alabama in a 41-38 thriller. Even after beating Alabama, Texas A&M fans were displeased with the program’s direction.
Texas A&M finished the 2021 season with an 8-4 record. Fisher’s team didn’t have the best season, but the former national championship head coach brought in one of the best recruiting classes of all-time. Big things were expected of Fisher and the Aggies in 2022.
Texas A&M started off the 2022 season in the top 10, but that didn’t last long. The first domino fell in Week 2 when Appalachian State went to College Station and upset No. 6 Texas A&M, 17-14.
Against a team that allowed 63 points in Week 1 against North Carolina, Texas A&M managed just 180 yards. It was an embarrassing defeat, to say the least.
A Glimmer of Hope Followed by a Downward Spiral
Following the loss, Fisher’s Aggies bounced back with back-to-back top-25 wins over Miami and Arkansas. Every goal was still reachable and the Aggies still controlled their own destiny in the SEC. Texas A&M fans hadn’t forgot about the loss just weeks prior, but they were pleased about how the team responded.
Following the 23-21 win over then No. 10 Arkansas, the season was derailed. Since then, Texas A&M has lost three games in a row, including to South Carolina for the first time in school history this past weekend.
Fisher’s seat has never been hotter. Once a top-10 team, the Aggies now have a losing record at the end of October. Fisher’s team is 3-4 overall, and 1-3 in SEC play. In a year where the Aggies were supposed to be competing for the SEC West, they are now fighting for bowl eligibility.
The schedule doesn’t get much easier for the Aggies, either; four of the last five opponents are SEC foes. We will see if the Aggies can bounce back this week against No. 15 Ole Miss at home in prime time.
As of now, simply making a bowl game seems like a long shot. Texas A&M will have to win three of its last five games. If it doesn’t, Fisher’s job will be in jeopardy.
Not Getting What Was Paid For
For those wondering how Fisher compares through 55 games as head coach of Texas A&M to his predecessor, here you go:
• Kevin Sumlin: 39-16 record, $10 million buyout
• Fisher: 37-18 record, $95 million buyout
Fisher is supposed to be a quarterbacks whisper, but this season, Texas A&M’s quarterback play has been abysmal. The Texas A&M offense is quite frankly difficult to watch. It just doesn’t look like everyone is on the same page.
Many have suggested that Fisher’s offense is very outdated. It’s time to try something new, something different, something more exciting. For fans in College Station, a year that began with high hopes is rapidly turning into one to forget.
Time will tell whether the Aggies can circle the wagons this season. Many believe that 2023 will be the year for Texas A&M to make some noise, but if this year goes south, the potential for another great recruiting class could go with it.
The Aggies might just have to win out if they want Fisher and all of their young stars to return next season. Is this the beginning of the end of an era in College Station? We’ll find out soon enough.
Featured image courtesy of Texas A&M athletics