A trip to the Holiday Bowl and a 9-3 season would be considered a great football year at most schools. Texas A&M is not one of those schools.

Aggies fans are becoming increasingly eager to return their program to the national prominence it felt in the early 1990s. Coach Dennis Franchione is feeling the pressure more than ever. Franchione compiles a 25-23 record since taking over at Texas A&M and is only 3-14 against Top 25 opponents.

2007 will be an important year not only for the coach but for the program.

OFFENSE

The Aggies’ offense should be practically unstoppable this season. In their backfield resides the Big 12 Conferences’s best running backs.

Sophomore Mike Goodson can race to the edges or openings with his superb quickness. Junior Jorvorskie Lane carried the ball 166 times last season and barreled over potential tacklers with relative ease because of his 6-feet-tall, 274 pound frame.

Four of the five starting offensive linemen are seniors, including preseason All-American center Cody Wallace. Junior quarterback Stephen McGee is one of the nation’s most accurate passers. McGee threw only two interceptions last season while passing for more than 2,000 yards.

McGee’s top two wide receivers from last season departed, which might make it tougher to match his statistics from last season. But junior tight end Martellus Bennett returns. He was the Aggies’ second leading receiver in 2006.

DEFENSE

Texas A&M ranked third in the Big 12 against the rush last year. The Aggies could be even better stuffing opponent’s running backs this year.

Senior defensive tackle Red Bryant routinely disrupts the rush and is the leader of a defense that returns six starters. Senior defensive end Chris Harrington is a skilled pass rusher and has an outside chance to earn Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors.

While not spectacular, the Aggies’ linebackers are certainly formidable. Seniors Mark Dodge and Misi Tupe combined for more than 100 tackles last season. They will start in 2007. The Aggies recruited high school All-American linebacker Derrick Stephens but he was not listed on the depth chart and may be a redshirt.

Junior Danny Gorrer and sophomore Jordan Peterson are returning starters at cornerback, but the secondary should have quite a few players in constant rotation.

SEASON OUTLOOK

On paper, 2007 finally seems to be the year that the Aggies are ready to compete for a Big 12 South title. Texas A&M’s roster contains all the right personnel, but the Aggies’ schedule could be the toughest in the Big 12, with road games against Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri and Texas Tech.

To win the Big 12 South, they’d likely have to win three of those games, which is simply too difficult to expect. Without even mentioning the away game at Miami and home contests with Texas and Oklahoma State, it’s clear that the Aggies have a tough road ahead.

A shot at the Big 12 title game in San Antonio is still a possibility, but disappointment in College Station, Texas, may be more likely.

PREDICTION

7-5, Insight Bowl

— Edited by Meghan Murphy