In 2013, Jimbo Fisher led Florida State to a perfect regular season, which was capped off by a thrilling win over Auburn in the Final BCS Championship Game. A lot has changed for Fisher over 10 years.
Fisher now coaches Texas A&M. And the championship that he won with Florida State a decade ago feels now like it might as well have been 100 years ago. Saturday’s game against Ole Miss was another in a long line of tough losses for the Aggies in Fisher’s tenure.
For a while, Saturday’s game looked like it would be great for Texas A&M. Trailing 31-21 going into the fourth quarter, the Aggies scored two touchdowns to take a 35-31 lead. But the Rebels responded with a touchdown of their own to go up 38-35. Texas A&M did drive into field goal range, giving Randy Bond a chance at a game-tying 47-yard field goal as time expired. But the Rebels got a piece of Bond’s kick. And while it was only a partial block, it was enough to leave Bond’s attempt well short.
Ole Miss hangs on to beat Texas A&M.
Rebels got just enough of Randy Bond's game-tying 47-yard field goal attempt. pic.twitter.com/K5O6ixLdPO
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 4, 2023
The loss to Ole Miss moved the Aggies to 44-25 overall and 26-21 in SEC play since Fisher took the job after the 2017 season. By comparison, in the six-year tenure of Fisher’s predecessor, Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M was 51-26 and 25-23 within the conference.
Moreover, the Aggies are trending in the wrong direction under Fisher.
6-12: Jimbo Fisher's record in last 18 games vs. Power 5 opponents
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) November 4, 2023
Texas A&M’s best season under Fisher was 2020. The Aggies went 8-1 in the regular season with the lone loss coming against eventual national champion, Alabama. That season was capped off with a win in the Orange Bowl and Texas A&M finished No. 4 in the final rankings.
The Aggies followed with an 8-4 season in 2021, going 4-4 in the conference. A COVID-19 outbreak caused Texas A&M to miss its Gator Bowl appearance and the Aggies finished the year No. 25 in the Coaches Poll. On the surface, that’s a sharp regression from one year to the next. But any Texas A&M fans complaining about 2021 quickly realized how much worse it could get. The Aggies went 5-7 overall in 2022 (the first losing season for the program since 2008) and were 2-6 in the conference.
And while things may be improving in 2023, it’s not by a significant amount. Saturday’s loss moved Texas A&M to 5-4 on the season and 3-3 in the SEC. Of course, the Aggies could fire Fisher and are reportedly considering doing so but it won’t be cheap. Since Fisher’s contract is guaranteed, Texas A&M will still owe him more than $76 million if he’s fired after the 2023 season.
And after Saturday’s loss, there was a lot of commentary about both Fisher’s job security and the money he has coming to him.
This program can and should be perennial SEC contenders and national championship contenders once every four years or so.
Jimbo Fisher will never put A&M in this position.
Thus….
You can figure out the rest.
— Sidelines – Texas A&M (@SSN_TAMU) November 4, 2023
Jimbo Fisher prior to agreeing to a contract extension at A&M: .722 win pct (.680 in SEC)
Jimbo Fisher since agreeing to a contract extension at A&M: .546 win pct (.409 in SEC)
— Robert Behrens (@rcb05) November 5, 2023
Records through 69 games at Texas A&M
Jimbo Fisher: 44-25
Kevin Sumlin: 47-22 pic.twitter.com/f1PCJ5CIbb
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) November 4, 2023
Through October 31, 2023, Texas A&M has paid Jimbo Fisher $47,025,000 in salary and incentive payments. Or over $21,791 per day, every day, since December 4, 2017.
Another $78,325,000 is owed on his fully guaranteed contract.
That's $125,350,000 in total.
What an epic failure.
— Matt (@MattMMXI) November 4, 2023
Jimbo Fisher was not won a road football game in 749 days
(October 16, 2021 @ Mizzou)
— Boston Aggie™️ (@BostonAggie) November 4, 2023
Jimbo Fisher already looking at ocean-front properties and googling ‘Mai tai bars near me’
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 4, 2023
