The Texas A&M Aggies slipped in the College Football Playoff rankings, down to No. 7 in the country. That’s just behind another SEC school, Ole Miss, with the two sides having missed each other on the schedule this season to avoid any head-to-head comparisons.

That slide behind Ole Miss surprised analyst Joel Klatt. He shared some thoughts on the ranking during the latest Joel Klatt Show. There, he questioned why the selection committee dropped the Aggies behind the Rebels.

“Texas A&M drops all the way to No. 7,” Klatt said. “I think that is a massive deal. A huge deal, behind Ole Miss. I don’t know if this was a sympathy thing for Ole Miss. I’m not sure. Interesting week to give Ole Miss the benefit of the doubt over A&M. They lose their head coach.”

By now, the challenges that Ole Miss has faced are well known. Head coach Lane Kiffin is no longer with the program, and he took part of the staff with him. That change is something that the selection committee is allowed to drop a team in the rankings. However, they still slid Texas A&M behind Ole Miss.

“Now, I do believe Charlie Weis Jr. is going to be back with Ole Miss and call plays for them on the offensive side of the ball, because they’re going to be able to retain some of that staff. Now, I don’t know if he’ll be then going to LSU or staying at Ole Miss. I think that remains to be seen,” Klatt said.

“But I do think they’re going to have some tie to that offense from what we saw with Lane Kiffin. So, he said he’s ‘grateful to LSU for allowing him the opportunity to finish the season with Ole Miss. Coach Kiffin and the LSU administration have been nothing but supportive. I’m excited about the Playoff run.’ That’s Charlie Weis Jr. So he’ll be calling the plays for Ole Miss. That’s massive. Because, again, if they lose that entire offensive staff, that’s an offensive-driven team. So, that’s a problem for them and we all kind of know that.”

There are even a few metrics that Klatt used to have Texas A&M a bit higher. That includes a strength of schedule that is 15th compared to 40th. However, Ole Miss does have one extra Top 25 win.

“The resume between A&M and Ole Miss is similar. A&M does have an edge in strength of schedule. But this is why it’s such a big deal. That difference in the six-seven line. I mean, look at that. A&M’s strength of schedule is vastly better,” Klatt said. “But I believe the two wins over Top 25 are carrying the day here. In particular, the Oklahoma victory and Oklahoma is obviously in the Playoff.”

The six seed matters a lot this year, as Klatt pointed out. The six-seed will either play Virginia or a Group of Five opponent. As of right now, the No. 7 team will host Notre Dame. So, that first matchup is, on paper, going to be significantly different.