Texas A&M Football: ESPN Football Power Index ratings since 2005
Within the last month, ESPN published their updated Football Power Index (FPI) that measures team strength, based on 20,000 simulations as explained on their website. The metric was created in 2005, and is a solid illustration of the progress of a football program’s results on the field over the span of time.
Since 2005, the Texas A&M football program has been through a number of adjustments. Multiple coaching changes, financial investments in the program, recruiting rankings, and an overall image revamp in how the rest of the college football community views the Aggies as a genuine contender year after year.
2005 was early in the Dennis Franchione regime, and despite recruiting well and receiving pre-season rankings multiple times during his 4-year stint, the Aggies failed to live up to any expectations, and only achieved a 9 win season one year in 2006.
Starting in 2008, Mike Sherman took over to bring an NFL-based pro-style offense, and a defense that moved former standout Von Miller to outside linebacker, a position move that has now made him a two-time super bowl winner and a bonafide future Hall of Famer. Sherman also had the privilege of coaching Quarterbacks Jerrod Johnson, now an assistant quarterback coach with the Minnesota Vikings, and Ryan Tannehill, starting quarterback for the Tennessee Titans. Sherman lasted 3 years with the Aggies.
As we all know, the Kevin Sumlin experience from 2012 to 2017 was led by two fabulous seasons of Heisman winning quarterback Johnny Manziel connecting with future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, but soon after the two departed for the NFL after the 2013 season, the Aggies’ record year after year became stagnant, leading to the firing of Sumlin and the hiring of Jimbo Fisher.
Fisher brought with him elevated expectations, and a level of national recruiting success never before seen in College Station, including the “best recruiting class ever” in 2022.
For the 2022 season, The Aggies have the following pre-season FPI ratings:
FPI: 12.8
Overall Ranking: 14
SEC Ranking: 5th
Aggies Wire will now break down every FPI rating dating back all the way to the 2005 season.
2005: 5-6
Nov 11, 2005; Norman, OK USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back (25) Courtney Lewis scores a touchdown during the 2nd quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit:Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports Copyright (c) 2005 Tim Heitman
FPI: 9.8
Overall Ranking: 31st
Big 12 Ranking: 4th
Bowl Game: Did not qualify
2006: 9-4
FPI: 10.4
Overall Ranking: 30th
Big 12 Ranking: 6th
Bowl Game Result: lost 10-45 against California
2007: 7-6
Dec 29 2007; San Antonio, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Stephen McGee (7) passes the ball against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the fourth quarter of the Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome. Penn State beat Texas A&M 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 8.9
Overall Record: 37th
Big 12 Ranking: 7th
Bowl Game Result: 17-24 loss to Penn State in the Alamo Bowl
2008: 4-8
November 27, 2008; Austin, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Stephen McGee (7) pass under pressure by Texas Longhorns linebacker Rashad Bobino (44) and defensive tackle Aaron Lewis (95) in the fourth quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas beat Texas A&M 49-9. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: -4.0
Overall Ranking: 81st
Big 12 Ranking: 11th
Bowl Game Result: Did not qualify
2009: 6-7
Dec 28, 2009; Shreveport, LA, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Jerrod Johnson (1) talks to the media after a game against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2009 Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium. Georgia defeated Texas A&M 44-20. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 4.8
Overall Ranking: 52nd
Big 12 Ranking: 8th
Bowl Game Results: 20-44 loss to Georgia in the Independence Bowl
2010: 9-4
Sept 24, 2010; Houston, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Jeff Fuller (8) catches a pass against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the fourth quarter at Kyle Field. Oklahoma State defeated Texas A&M 30-29. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 13.8
Overall Ranking: 19th
Big 12 Ranking: 5th
Bowl Game Result: 24-41 loss to LSU in the Cotton Bowl
2011: 7-6
December 31, 2011; Houston, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) receives the most valuable player award as the Texas A&M Aggies win the Meineke Car Care Bowl at Reliant Stadium. The Aggies defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 33-22. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 17.5
Overall Ranking: 11th
Big 12 Ranking: 3rd
Bowl Game Result: 33-22 win against Northwestern in the Meineke Car Care Bowl
2012: 11-2
Dec 8, 2012; New York, NY, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel poses for a photo after being awarded the 2012 Heisman Trophy at the Marriott Marquis in downtown New York City. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 24.2
Overall Ranking: 3rd
SEC Ranking: 2nd
Bowl Game Result: 41-13 win against Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl
2013: 9-4
Dec 31, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) smiles after a comeback win over the Duke Blue Devils 52-48 in the 2013 Chick-fil-a Bowl at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 18.8
Overall Ranking: 16th
SEC Ranking: 6th
Bowl Game Result: 52-48 win against Duke in the Chick-fil-a Bowl
2014: 8-5
Dec 29, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Texas A&M Aggies players celebrate after the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers in the 2014 Liberty Bowl at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Texas A&M Aggies beat West Virginia Mountaineers 45 – 37. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 15.0
Overall Ranking: 23rd
SEC Ranking: 9th
Bowl Game Result: 45-37 win against West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl
2015: 8-5
Dec 30, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin shakes hands with Louisville Cardinals head coach Bobby Petrino after the 2015 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium. Louisville won 27-21. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 14.6
Overall Ranking: 21st
SEC Ranking: 8th
Bowl Game Result: 21-27 loss to Louisville in the Music City Bowl
2016: 8-5
Dec 28, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Trevor Knight (8) celebrates with offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor (72) after an Aggies touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Kansas State Wildcats at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 15.5
Overall Ranking: 16th
SEC Ranking: 4th
Bowl Game Result: 28-33 loss to Kanas State in the Texas Bowl
2017: 7-6
Dec 29, 2017; Charlotte, NC, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Kwame Etwi (22) runs for yards against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second half in the 2017 Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 5.9
Overall Ranking: 40th
SEC Ranking: 8th
Bowl Game Result: 52-55 loss to Wake Forest in the Belk Bowl
2018: 9-4
Dec 31, 2018; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher on the field after defeating the North Carolina State Wolfpack at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 15.9
Overall Ranking: 13th
SEC Ranking: 6th
Bowl Game Result: 52-13 win against North Carolina State in the Gator Bowl
2019: 8-5
Dec 27, 2019; Houston, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Kellen Mond (11) is handed the Texas Bowl MVP trophy after defeating the Oklahoma State Cowboys at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 13.8
Overall Record: 19th
SEC Record: 6th
Bowl Game Result: 24-21 win against Oklahoma State in the Texas Bowl
2020: 9-1
Dec 5, 2020; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Texas A&M Aggies running back Devon Achane (6) gets past Auburn Tigers defenders during the second quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 18.2
Overall Ranking: 8th
SEC Ranking: 3rd
Bowl Game Result: 41-27 win against North Carolina in the Orange Bowl
2021: 8-4
Oct 9, 2021; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Zach Calzada (10) rushes against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the fourth quarter at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
FPI: 12.5
Overall Ranking:14th
SEC Ranking: 3rd
Bowl Game Result: Did not participate due to COVID issues
