Don’t look now, but Texas A&M has won three straight games in conference play. This is a program first under Mike Sherman, who with those three consecutive victories now lies only two games away from .500 in College Station. There are heady times for a program still searching for its identity under its third-year coach, even if the A&M fan base remains largely unsatisfied with the recent results. To keep with this theme, Saturday’s win over Oklahoma told me three things about these Aggies — three things A&M can use as a springboard towards a solid bowl placement in 2010 and an increased national profile heading into next season.

It’s no coincidence that A&M’s winning streak largely coincides with Ryan Tannehill’s insertion into the starting lineup. I feel confident enough to take it a step further: Tannehill’s a keeper. As I’ve mentioned in the past, that Sherman had not played Tannehill until A&M’s 35-point over Kansas was a major error on his part; not only was Jerrod Johnson struggling, but Sherman needed to prepare Tannehill for the starting job in 2011.

The job is now his for the remainder of 2010, though I wouldn’t be surprised if Sherman began to work Johnson, now a senior, back into certain packages at some point over the next three games. Johnson will certainly take at least one snap in A&M’s regular season finale against Texas, and might be effective if used in the right circumstances against Baylor or Nebraska.

Yet this is now Tannehill’s team, and A&M is far better for it. The Aggies have been far more efficient: this is mainly due to a decline in turnovers, which was a major issue for Johnson. The offense also has confidence — Tannehill and A&M responded to Oklahoma’s third quarter run with 14 unanswered points to open the final quarter, pushing a 19-17 advantage to an insurmountable 33-17 lead. If we recall, the Johnson-led Aggies spit up a 21-7 halftime lead in a September loss to Oklahoma State.

What about the defense? Tim DeRuyter has had an immediate impact. The Aggies entered Saturday facing significant questions in the secondary, but DeRuyter’s group responded with its finest showing of the season: though Landry Jones did throw for 290 yards, it came in 59 attempts. That’s 4.9 yards per attempt, roughly half of what he averaged in Oklahoma’s win over Colorado the week before.

DeRuyter brought the reputation as a premier secondary coach with him to College Station, but the A&M run defense has been the story. Though the secondary’s often weak play has led opponents to test A&M through the air, you do have to respect how well the Aggies stop the run: sixth nationally in allowing 92.3 yards per game, A&M gives up an average of only 2.8 yards per carry.

In other words, there’s reason to be excited about the potential of this defense once the pass defense catches up with the front seven. It would help if the Aggies could get to the quarterback with a bit more regularity; I didn’t think this would be an issue in 2010, particularly with all-American candidate Von Miller returning for his senior season, but A&M ranks 47th nationally with only 19 sacks.

Nevertheless, there’s something to be said of a performance that has the Kyle Field crowd chanting “Wrecking Crew” in honor of a sublime defensive showing. A&M’s not there yet — but the future of this defense is very bright.

Finally, after seven years — and losses both big and small — it must feel good to finally beat Oklahoma. Forget Texas: Oklahoma has been the largest thorn in A&M’s side, dating back to the Dennis Franchione era and through Sherman’s first two tries. There’s 77-0, of course, but also 131-38 — that’s the combined final score between the pair over the last two seasons.

Oklahoma’s always going to be around, as is Texas, and A&M will not reach its ultimate goal without defeating the Sooners with regularity. It’s a meaningful win for the program — and enormous for Sherman — that the Aggies have finally broken the seven-game losing streak. If the Aggies turn it on, perhaps running the table to finish the regular season 9-3, this win over Oklahoma could be viewed as a turning point for the program.

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