Kirk Herbstreit is at it again. He’s stirring up a good old-fashioned college football debate. The Ohio State alum knows exactly how to light up message boards, especially when it involves his beloved Buckeyes. And this week, he did just that, naming the team that Ryan Day should be concerned about. And it’s not Michigan, Georgia, or Alabama. His bold pick has folks in Columbus scratching their heads. 

Because if the national championship were played today, Kirk Herbstreit’s got Ohio State vs. Texas A&M penciled in. Ryan Day’s Buckeyes and Mike Elko’s surging Aggies in a made-for-TV clash of styles. When asked to sketch out the current playoff landscape in a new episode on ESPN College Football on November 10, the analyst didn’t hesitate. “You’d have probably Ohio State, Indiana… Don’t sleep on Alabama and Georgia right now. Ole Miss even… Texas Tech is a team that could be in the discussion,” he said. But when the conversation shifted to who would win it all, the former Buckeye QB went for the maroon. 

“I would give A&M right now the advantage with Marcel Reed and the way he’s playing and the way they’re playing defense,” Kirk Herbstreit said, and also added, “I would probably give Ohio State and A&M as we sit here November 10th. We’ll obviously look back at this, but I think those would be the two teams. And I’d probably give Ohio State because of the firepower.” That’s quite the endorsement and a subtle warning shot for Ryan Day. The loyal alum still tagged the Buckeyes as his pick to win it all. But the fact that he placed Texas A&M on equal footing says plenty about how far Mike Elko’s team has come. Because both are unbeaten, both are statistically elite, and both have landmines waiting before Selection Sunday.

Ohio State has looked like a machine through nine games. Their 34-10 win over Purdue last week wasn’t flashy, but it was still dominant. QB Julian Sayin keeps proving he’s more than a system guy, completing 27 of 33 passes for 303 yards and a touchdown. With Jeremiah Smith filling in for the sidelined Carnell Tate, the Buckeyes’ offense still moved like clockwork. Defensively, they allowed just 211.6 yards per game, first nationally, first in the Big Ten. But Kirk Herbstreit’s pick was a caution sign. Because over in the SEC, Texas A&M is quietly building something nasty. And they just might be the team that ruins everyone’s playoff script.

Texas A&M is a force to consider

Texas A&M hasn’t sniffed an SEC Championship since joining the league in 2012, but this year’s defense looks playoff-ready. The Aggies bullied Missouri 38-17 last weekend, forcing three fumbles and holding QB Matt Zollers to just 77 passing yards. QB Marcel Reed threw for 221 yards and two scores, while Rueben Owens II added 103 yards on the ground. Their stats scream balance. 37.8 points per game on offense, 313.3 yards allowed on defense. 

Even ESPN’s College GameDay panel couldn’t resist the hype. Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, Pat McAfee, and even Patrick Mahomes all picked the Aggies to win their third straight road game. They did it convincingly. Kirk Herbstreit’s partner Joey Galloway even went a step further. “If [Ohio State] were to play Texas A&M, right now, on a neutral site, I don’t know that I’m picking them to beat Texas A&M right now,” he said. “I would have to really dig deep and really sit down and think that one through. If you say: Where am I leaning? I’m going to lean A&M.”

The playoff picture’s still chaos waiting to happen with Alabama, Georgia, and Ole Miss all lurking. But for now, Kirk Herbstreit’s message is clear. Ryan Day’s Buckeyes better keep one eye on College Station. Because if Texas A&M keeps rolling, November’s whispers might just become January’s headline.