Despite Baylor and TCU having more success last season, and Baylor being more successful over the past two seasons, Texas A&M is the premiere program in the state.
It's more than just wins and losses. A&M first of all is set to lead the nation in attendance this year. That's big, and our fanbase is massive. We also just signed a multi million dollar deal with Adidas. A&M plays on national TV each week, sometimes on CBS, which translates into a lot of eyeballs and TV ratings making them a national brand.
Then there is recruiting. We continue to dominate recruiting rankings which validates what our program has become and shows that recruits want to be here. I feel like recruiting is HUGE when it comes to the influence and footprint of a program, because it either validates or rejects what your program is. The fact that we are doing so well in recruiting PROVES that our program is a big one that the best want to be associated with. If Baylor and TCU were truly marquee programs they would be pulling in the state's top recruits.
Baylor and TCU may have had 11 and 12 win seasons, conference titles, and played in a big bowl, but they aren't A&M. They don't have the fanbase, they don't have the attendance, they don't play on the big networks and have the TV ratings and aren't big TV draws which makes them a regional brand at best. They also lack the recruiting pull that A&M has.
I would compare it to the iPhone. Texas A&M is the iPhone - a big brand. We always hear about how new phones are "iPhone Killers" but never kill the iPhone. While these iPhone killers may be more impressive pieces of technology that are more powerful and functional, the iPhone still outsells them big time. Baylor and TCU are those iPhone killers. They may be better on the field, but in the big picture, adding in factors like attendance and recruiting and TV ratings, they don't stack up. Texas A&M is the brand name.
I'd rather win 8 games every year and yet be tops in the nation in attendance, recruiting, and national recognition, than win 11 games and have limited appeal. It's more about wins/losses, its about the program's footprint as a whole which is more than just wins and losses.
https://www.reddit.com/r/CFB/comments/3hc8h9/cmv_a_successful_program_is_more_than_just_about/