The SEC schedule release this evening has brought a lot of excitement and concern among fans. It finally revealed the dates of each team's games, and while some non-conference matchups were known earlier, now fans get a clear picture of how the season will unfold. After taking a closer look at Texas A&M football's schedule, some serious issues have come to light.

Aggies Face a Tough SEC Schedule in 2025

Home Game Drought in the Middle of the Season

The first thing that catches the eye is the Aggies' long stretch without a home game. Right in the middle of the conference slate, after playing Florida on October 11, they won't be back home until November 15 when they face South Carolina. This is a significant gap that could have a major impact on fan attendance and the team's momentum. From a fan's perspective, it's a tough situation to be in. Imagine waiting over a month to see your team play at home. It can be frustrating and may even affect the team's performance.There are also implications for the team's overall strategy. Without the home field advantage for an extended period, the Aggies have to work harder to maintain their form and win on the road. This can be a challenging task, especially when facing tough opponents in consecutive games.

Impact on Prospects and Back-to-Back Road Wins

As previously covered, winning back-to-back games on the road in the SEC is a rare feat. Over the last decade, it has only happened 8 times in 78 such occurrences, and in the last five years, it's been even more difficult, with only 3 times in 38 occurrences. The three teams that managed this feat were 2019 LSU, 2022 Georgia, and 2023 Alabama - two national champions and a top-4 team. Each of these teams had a "down" performance in one half of the back-to-back, but were able to overcome it in the end.This year, there were 5 such occurrences, but teams won both games in none of them. The Aggies were unfortunately saddled with a scheduling albatross this year. Just when they needed a break, they had to travel to Fayetteville the week before heading to Death Valley. And even with a bye week after facing LSU, they had to quickly turn around and go on the road to Missouri. This schedule is designed to give the Aggies the worst possible late-season draw.It's important to note that this could be a far-improved Aggie team next year with a similar record. However, with these home-road splits working against them, it will be a tough challenge. Prepare yourself for potential thinkpieces about whether Elko is building teams that can finish the season strong. After this year and what we're looking at for next season, reporters are likely to be closely analyzing the team's performance.

Consequences of the Southwest Classic

This year marks the first time since 2014 that the Southwest Classic will not be played at Jerryworld. This means the Aggies have to travel to Fayetteville during a crucial period. Had the contract still been in place, A&M wouldn't have had to face this stretch. But even without that, the schedule is still taxing. The Aggies have to deal with back-to-back road trips and a quick turnaround, which can take a toll on the team both physically and mentally.In conclusion, the SEC schedule release has presented the Aggies with some significant challenges. From the long home game drought to the tough late-season draw, there are many factors working against them. But with a talented team and a dedicated coaching staff, the Aggies will have to find a way to overcome these obstacles and perform at their best.