ESPN has released their annual Underachiever Tiers of College Football - Guess who is #1?

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I recognize it's never fun for fans to see their team headlining college football's underachiever tiers. Texas A&M has one of the largest and most prideful fan bases in the sport, so much so that it is synonymous with a number, 12. And although the home of the 12th Man was an easy pick to lead off the tiers, the truth about a team's lack of performance can sting.

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Since 1994, when R.C. Slocum led Texas A&M to a 10-0-1 record and a No. 8 final ranking, the Aggies have lost four or more games 23 times. The team has two 11-win seasons and eight nine-win seasons during the span, including a 9-1 mark during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. Conference play has been especially tough, as Texas A&M has at least three league losses in 20 of the past 23 seasons. The biggest mark against the Texas A&M program is a lack of championships -- none in the SEC (league or division) and only one in the Big 12, coming nearly a quarter century ago in 1998, when Slocum still coached the Aggies. The most damaging demerit for Texas A&M is zero national championships since 1939. Since then, plenty of programs with fewer resources and natural luxuries -- Maryland, Syracuse, Michigan State, Pitt, BYU and Colorado, to name some -- have achieved what continues to elude the Aggies.

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Texas A&M seems to have it all: a massive and dedicated fan base, deep-pocketed donors, sparkling facilities and a location in southeast Texas with prime access to Houston and other fertile recruiting grounds. Texas A&M spent nearly $485 million to renovate Kyle Field, gave Fisher a $75 million guaranteed contract and last fall announced a $205 million facilities plan for football and track. Few programs have as many celebrated traditions as the Aggies, from the 12th Man to the Midnight Yell. But those ingredients haven't led to nearly enough notable on-field accomplishments. Texas A&M has produced great players, including 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, but hasn't parlayed mini breakthroughs (2012, 2020) into sustained periods of success.

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