CFB analyst ringing the bell for one team as best in SEC next to Alabama

Although it's not official in the standings, the No. 6-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide once again appear to be on top of the SEC world.

They're 5-1 and have clearly moved on from the season-opening loss to Florida State. The Tide have beaten No. 5 Georgia, No. 16 Vanderbilt and No. 14 Missouri in three big wins in a row, and they're the favorite to beat No. 11 Tennessee this upcoming weekend in Tuscaloosa.

Analyst highlighting different SEC team

The Tide are rolling, without a doubt, but college football analyst Josh Pate believes there's another team in the SEC that deserves as much adulation at this point in the season.

No. 5 Ole Miss and the No. 4 Texas A&M Aggies are ranked first and second, respectively, in the SEC at the moment at 6-0 (3-0 SEC), but, specifically, Pate is extremely high on what the Aggies have done this season.

If Alabama is the best team in the SEC, Texas A&M is right alongside the Tide, per Pate.

“If they are [best in the SEC], it’s by inches and not by miles,” Pate said of Alabama on ESPN's "Get Up" on Thursday (h/t On3). “Because I’ve looked at Texas A&M, and I don’t have a problem or 1A as long as you make Texas A&M your 1B, or vice versa. No particular order right there. Texas A&M has already shown you they have a multitude of ways they can beat you. They’ve won rock fights. They’ve won shootouts. They made it possible for Notre Dame to score 40 in South Bend and still lose the game. They scored 41. Then, they beat Auburn in a game that was played in the teens.”

Texas A&M Aggies' resume compared to Alabama Crimson Tide's resume

Texas A&M's resume isn't as impressive as Alabama's. The Tide have beaten three ranked teams in a row and have a chance to beat a fourth in Tennessee this weekend. 

Texas A&M's only ranked win was against then-No. 8 Notre Dame, but it was on the road in South Bend. Throw in Alabama's road loss to Florida State, and you can make a case that those two games even the Tide and Aggies out.

However, we won't see these two programs match up head-to-head this season. They could meet in the SEC championship game, though, and that would be a massive matchup.

Either way, Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko deserves some credit. In just his second season with the program, he has the Aggies competing at an extremely high level.

They still have games against No. 10 LSU, No. 16 Missouri and No. 21 Texas remaining on the schedule, so the Aggies will have chances to keep proving themselves. Pate doesn't think an undefeated season is in order, but he does believe in the total team ability of Texas A&M.

“They haven’t tasted their own blood yet. They haven’t lost yet,” Pate said. “And I don’t think anyone’s going wire to wire in the SEC, but I love what they’ve built from a balance perspective. They’re multi-faceted. Memaw would call them a toolbox team. Because they’ve got many different tools they can beat you [with].”