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Sept. 30 ....................................South Carolina Oct. 7 ..................................................Alabama Oct. 14 ...............................................at Florida Oct. 28 ...................................Mississippi State Nov. 4 ................................................... Auburn Nov. 11 ..................................at South Carolina Nov. 18 ...........................................at Ole Miss Nov. 25 ..................................................at LSU #Arlington, Texas OUTLOOK The Aggies have been frustrat- ingly consistent for their fans, going 8-5 in each of the last three seasons. Adding to the disappointment is that Texas A&M was nation- ally ranked in all three seasons — including No. 4 in the first College Football Poll last sea- son — before late collapses. … The Aggies' 11-13 SEC record since 2015 has put Coach Kevin Sumlin on one of the hottest seats in college football. Despite Sumlin's struggles to live up to expectations after he received a six- year, $30 million contract after the 2013 sea- son, he has owned Arkansas. Sumlin is 5-0 against the Razorbacks since taking the Texas A&M job. … The Aggies lost nine starters from last season's team, including defensive end Myles Garrett (the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft by Cleveland), but they have a talented roster, led by junior receiver and kick returner Christian Kirk. Last season Kirk led the SEC in receiving with 83 catches for 928 yards and 9 touchdown. He is averaging 23.1 yards on 26 careerr punt returns. … Senior safety Armani Watts has 241 career tackles. GAME 4 NEW MEXICO STATE DATE Sept. 30 PLACE Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fay- etteville 2015 RECORD 3-9, 2-6 Sun Belt Confer- ence COACH Doug Martin (10-38 in three seasons at New Mexico State, 39-91 in 10 seasons overall) RETURNING STARTERS 7 offense, 9 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Tyler Rogers, RB Lar- ry Rose, OL Anthony McMeans, FS Jaden Wright, LB Terrill Hanks 2017 SCHEDULE Aug. 31 ................................... at Arizona State Sept. 9 ......................................at New Mexico Sept. 16 ......................................................Troy Sept. 23 .....................................Texas-El Paso Sept. 30 .........................................at Arkansas Oct. 7 .............................. at Appalachian State Oct. 28 ..................................... Arkansas State Nov. 4 ........................................ at Texas State Nov. 18 ......................... at Louisiana-Lafayette Nov. 25 .................................................... Idaho Dec. 2 ......................................South Alabama Nov. 24 ...................................................... LSU OUTLOOK New Mexico State has enjoyed just three winning seasons since 1968 — go- ing 6-5 in 1978, 6-5 in 1992 and 7-5 in 2002 — and it doesn't appear the Aggies will make it four winning seasons in 49 years in 2017. New Mexico State is picked to finish 10th in the Sun Belt Conference, which voted not to renew its membership beyond this season. … Coach Doug Martin, who hasn't won more than three games in his first three seasons with the Ag- gies, is in the last year of his contract and signed 13 junior college transfers in the hopes some experienced newcomers can help New Mexico State have a quick turnaround. … Senior quarterback Tyler Rogers passed for 2,603 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for 333 yards and 4 touchdowns last season. … Senior safety Jaden Wright had 86 tackles and 5 interceptions last season. GAME 5 SOUTH CAROLINA DATE Oct. 7 PLACE Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, S.C. 2016 RECORD 6-7, 3-5 SEC COACH Will Muschamp (6-7 in one season at South Carolina, 34-28 in five seasons over- all) RETURNING STARTERS 10 offense, 6 defense KEY PLAYERS QB Jake Bentley, TE Hayden Hurst, WR Deebo Samuel, LB Skai Moore, FS D.J. Smith 2017 SCHEDULE Sept. 2 ......vs North Carolina State (Charlotte, N.C.) Sept. 9 ............................................ at Missouri Sept. 16 ............................................. Kentucky Sept. 23 ....................................Louisiana Tech Sept. 30 ......................................at Texas A&M Oct. 7 .................................................Arkansas Oct. 14 ........................................ at Tennessee Oct. 28 .............................................. Vanderbilt Nov. 4 .............................................. at Georgia Nov. 11 ................................................... Florida Nov. 18 .................................................Wofford Nov. 25 ...............................................Clemson OUTLOOK Will Muschamp struggled to win at Florida, but he has South Carolina on the upswing after doubling the Gamecocks' victo- ries from three to six last season and going to a bowl game in his first year leading the program. … The Gamecocks appear to have found their starting quarterback for the long term in sophomore Jake Bentley, who project- ed to redshirt last season but instead started 28th & Moberly Lane Bentonville/Rogers 479.273.5555 HOME OF THE 3 YEAR OR 36,000 MILE FREE OIL CHANGE! www.JustTryMe.com With over 250 combined Year's Experience, Experience the Diff erence at Our Parts and Service Dept. Celebrating 31 Years in NWA! Family owned and operated since 1986 Parts/Service open from 7:00 to 5:30 M-F Open Saturday 8:00-12:00 for your convenience. Sunday, August 27, 2017 35 NWA Democrat-Gazette College Football Preview v Continued from preceding page See OPPONENTS, Page 36