As it turns out, perhaps this season is like the last. One notable exception: this time, the problems lie entirely on the offense. It's time for a hard look in the mirror in Aggieland, with Texas A&M needing large-scale overhaul to salvage the year.

No, dreams of an SEC title are not dashed — far from it. In many regards, Texas A&M even proved ready for a stage like Saturday's. But the frustrating story of the loss to Alabama isn't about what the Aggies couldn't do, but rather what they could have been.

All through the week, most proclaimed this season identical to the last. Saturday's powerful defeat of Mississippi State proved it to be the opposite. One of the SEC's three remaining unbeatens, Texas A&M's bye week comes at a perfect time — and after it, Alabama follows.

The parallels to last season are there, and they're incessant. Why should anyone believe different? Well, the answers jump not off the page but off the film. At 4-0, Texas A&M's chance to chart a new course in 2015 begins this week — and the Aggies look prepared.

Those who would draw parallels between this Texas A&M team and last season's persist, even as the SEC West opens up. Kevin Sumlin's Aggies face an opportunity in Arlington to whisk away all comparisons and announce their potential.

It has arrived. No, not the spectacular new Kyle Field — rather, the vision Kevin Sumlin has been building for his program. Even in a laugher against Ball State, the Aggies showed that this is a team many should expect to challenge for Atlanta.

Led by a ferocious pass rush and timely plays from a pair of Arizona products, Texas A&M opened with a statement win. Why should your enthusiasm not be tempered this time around? The answer is a simple one.

Who are these Aggies? In the span of time since the South Carolina victory, A&M has unraveled and taken with it the program identity Kevin Sumlin cultivated. Even after Saturday's win, fears and doubts linger.

'Exposed' just doesn't cover how far the Aggies have fallen in a mere 10 days. After putting up less than a fight at home in a supposed redemption game, the program has questions to face and little time to do it.

Did everyone rush too quickly to proclaim Texas A&M a team reloaded? It looked that way against MSU, but the answer is more complex. Four top-six teams still lie in wait and the Aggies must show what they've got.

The Aggies were frustrated, shooting themselves in the foot and looked dead to rights into the fourth, but they found a way. Sound familiar? We may have seen in the comeback vs. Arkansas what A&M is made of.

Three cupcakes, three blowout wins. Now the hard part begins. Carrying national title hopes into a division more powerful than any other, A&M has very clear goals to meet in order to survive the battle unscathed.

If there were any questions about Kevin Sumlin's team or his program — and there were — they're gone. Using USC as its unfortunate victim, Texas A&M sent a message to the rest of the SEC on Thursday night.

A loss in Columbia wouldn't be a season- or program-killer, but the magnitude of a victory would resonate nationwide. If a quietly confident A&M team walks out with a win, a very bright future may arrive now.

Lofty goals slipped through Texas A&M's fingers in 2013, seemingly followed in the season's late stages by the program's momentum. There is much to question, but also much to reflect on — and look forward to.

In Kevin Sumlin's first road loss at Texas A&M, his team looked truly overmatched for the first time. While a top-five Missouri team stares them down, the Aggies have to answer a series of big questions to recover.

The emotions of Saturday night at Kyle Field will resonate for some time to come, but the Aggies' season isn't over. With two monumental tests left, a key piece of Johnny Manziel's legacy is yet to be written.

Against a weak opponent, A&M's goals ran deeper than merely winning big. With another strong defensive showing and significant action for their freshmen, the Aggies can face a defining stretch with confidence.