Aggies will face UNC in the Orange Bowl

Texas A&M’s hopes to sneak into the College Football Playoff were dashed on Sunday, as the committee stood pat with their top four of Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Notre Dame, but the Aggies were still handsomely rewarded for their 8-1 season, finishing at No. 5 in the rankings and heading to the Capital One Orange Bowl to take on Mack Brown’s North Carolina Tar Heels.

Many Aggies had Playoff hopes following A&M’s 34-13 win over Tennessee and Notre Dame’s 34-10 loss to Clemson, but it was not meant to be. As it stands, A&M is the only Power 5 team to play at least eight games (we played nine) with only one loss and not make the Playoff. While it’s a tough pill to swallow to come so close, the Aggies are still in a New Year’s Six bowl for the first time since they began in 2014, and has the chance to close out an already special season on a high note against a ranked opponent.

Plus it will be fun to see Longhorn fans squirm as they sit at home watching Texas A&M play a team coached by Mack Brown in a premiere bowl.

Thanks to this team for a special season, and here’s to one more victory to cap it off. BTHO north carolina!