In his first two seasons at the helm, Kevin Sumlin led the Aggies to a 20-6 record, and there was quite a buzz surrounding the program in College Station.
But after three consecutive eight-win seasons, Sumlin's record at Texas A&M now sits at 44-21.
While a winning percentage of 67.7 percent impresses on paper, here we are again, going into another season with Sumlin on the hot seat.
SEC football analyst Barrett Sallee joined The Paul Finebaum Show to discuss the outlook for the Aggies' 2017 season and what they'll need to do for Sumlin to keep his job.
As Sallee mentioned, the departure of Hugh Freeze from Ole Miss could make what could have been a tough game in Oxford more manageable.
However, to go 9-3 is still a tall task in the SEC.
A week before visiting what is believed to be an improved Florida team, the Aggies will have to host Alabama on Oct. 7. The good news is they'll have their bye week after making the trip to Gainesville, and that will set up home games against Mississippi State, Auburn and New Mexico, respectively.
Texas A&M's final test of the regular season will come in Baton Rouge, when it goes up against Ed Orgeron's LSU Tigers.
But even if the Aggies do succumb to yet another eight-win season, which Sallee referred to as the "grey area," it depends on how those wins are accumulated.
There have been occasions where coaches have saved their jobs due to a momentous win or two. And if Texas A&M can knock down the Crimson Tide or steal one in The Swamp, Sumlin would have a lot more breathing room.
