Of the 41 states in the union that have a Football Bowl Subdivision team within their borders, none have more than Texas.

For 12 days, as teams nationwide dig into preseason drills, USA TODAY Sports’ college football reporters are traversing the state of Texas and visiting each of its one dozen FBS programs. AT&T presents Two Weeks in Texas … 

Day 9: Texas A&M

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — They’re working deep into the August nights. They’ll tell you the massive building project will be completed very soon.

And we’re not talking about the “House that Johnny Built.”

Yes, dozens of workers are scurrying nearly nonstop to finish the $450 million expansion and makeover of Kyle Field, which is scheduled to be ready for Texas A&M’s home opener on Sept. 12. But this fall, the Aggies expect to field a team that’s worthy of the impressive new digs.

They believe the program is rapidly maturing into a true SEC power — which would mean no more snarky allusions to Johnny Manziel, no more questions about whether the Aggies can regularly contend in their new league.

“We’ve got a chance to be good,” Kevin Sumlin says.

TWO WEEKS IN TEXAS: The series so far

It’s not exactly a bold prediction, but it feels like there’s more the coach isn’t saying. His confidence is evident — and so is the slight edge in his voice, never mind his grin, when anyone suggests this might be a critical season for the program.

In three years under Sumlin — and in the SEC — Texas A&M is 28-11. But after winning 11 games in 2012, led by a whirling dervish nicknamed Johnny Football, the Aggies’ SEC record is 7-9. In their last 16 games, they’re only 9-7.

There’s no denying Sumlin’s offseason overhaul. He lured big-name defensive coordinator John Chavis away from SEC West rival LSU with the charge of fixing a defense that ranked at the bottom of the SEC’s the last two seasons. He also hired former head coach Dave Christensen as run game coordinator and offensive line coach with intent to create a more physical offense.

But there’s a sense, within the program and certainly without, that the building project is almost completed, that the new hires coupled with the maturation of several talented recruiting classes could soon produce something special.

The west side of Kyle Field was imploded Dec. 21 to make way for a state-of-the-art expansion costing hundreds of millions of dollars. (Associated Press)

“We’ve eliminated the holes in the roster, I’ll put it that way,” Sumlin says. “Athletically and size-wise, physically, we’re comparable to the teams we’re gonna play.”

With 16 returning starters, including a terrific array of offensive skill players, the question of whether Kyle Allen holds onto the starting quarterback job or is supplanted by freshman Kyler Murray seems more entertaining than essential. Chavis likes what he sees from his defense, saying he has talent in the right spots — notably, at cornerback and defensive end (where Myles Garrett might be the nation’s best) — to fit his aggressive scheme.

And the schedule seems to set up favorably. The Aggies open the season with a marquee non-conference opponent, Arizona State in Houston, and have only three real road games. SEC West favorites Alabama and Auburn visit Kyle Field.

“It’s gonna be an interesting year,” Sumlin says. “It’s fun. We’ve got guys that have talent. To see them mature and grow up is the fun part of coaching. … So we’ve got a real chance.”

So what’s not to like? Why doesn’t anybody else seem to see it that way?

Five of the SEC West’s seven teams are ranked in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll. Extending it out, Texas A&M would rank No. 27 — but that’s behind No. 26 Mississippi State.

“I don’t know if there’s another league, and particularly another division,” Sumlin says, “where every coach and every team thinks they have a legitimate chance to win the league — and the expectation is that.”

He laughs, and then adds: “That’s what makes the SEC the SEC.”

Texas A&M was picked last month by media members to finish sixth in the SEC West, same as its finish in 2014. Those preseason rankings aren’t worth the paper they’re no longer printed on, but don’t think the Aggies haven’t noticed. They note seeming parallels with the team currently ranked No. 7 in the preseason.

Like Texas A&M, Auburn went 8-5 last season. Like Texas A&M, Auburn struggled late in the season, losing four of its last five. The Tigers’ big-time defensive hire was former Florida head coach Will Muschamp.

Unlike Texas A&M, Auburn is a chic pick to win the SEC and reach the playoff.

Young Aggies quarterbacks Kyler Murray (1) and Kyle Allen (in background) make A&M feel great about the future. (Erich Schlegel / USA TODAY Sports)

It’s probably because the Aggies haven’t been as good since that magical first season in the SEC. But did they really take a step back? Or were they momentarily ahead of schedule, pushed there by a once-in-forever phenom?

Back in May 2014, when the construction of Kyle Field was about halfway finished, A&M regent Jim Schwertner suggested — and he said he was serious — Kyle Field should be renamed “Kyle Field: The House that Johnny Built,” adding that Manziel was the catalyst for a fund-raising burst in the spring of 2013, just months after his Heisman-winning season.

The Aggies’ move to the SEC probably created much of the enthusiasm. The arrival of Sumlin and his staff produced most of the winning. But Manziel’s impact was undeniable, on and off the field. Especially since his departure, the questions about who was responsible for that initial success, and what comes next, have grown tiresome.

The Aggies believe the real building process has been overshadowed. Chavis says both times he’d left Kyle Field after coaching against Texas A&M as LSU’s defensive coordinator, he mused that it “would be a great place to coach,” given the school’s commitment to football. Since his arrival in College Station, that’s only been confirmed as he’s been able to evaluate the program from the inside.

“We’ve got a lot going for us here, no question,” Chavis says. “We’ve got to get it done on the field, but I’ll say this: I came here because I think you can win championships.”

Wide receiver Ricky Seals-Jones feels his team is being overlooked. (Erich Schlegel / USA TODAY Sports)

Expectations have never been higher, especially with the renovated and expanded stadium. When it’s finished, the 102,512-seat facility — with every imaginable bell and whistle — will be the largest in the SEC. At least as important, it’ll be bigger than Texas’ (in a rivalry that’s no longer played on the field, the size of the stadiums will have to do).

And although the capacity will actually be smaller than last season, when there was more room as a portion was under construction, its completion adds pressure to the entire enterprise. With all of the investment, Texas A&M must become the power it envisions.

“We’ve got this new demeanor about this team right now,” senior center Mike Matthews says. “We’ve got all these sweet things going with the stadium, but when it comes down to it, it’s just football. These things are great and everything — but it just comes down to wins and losses.”

But if there’s still skepticism over the program’s immediate and long-term potential, well, the Aggies will let it sit, and simmer, confident they’re well on their way to building something exceptional.

“They don’t think we belong,” sophomore receiver Ricky Seals-Jones says. “But we’re just quietly letting ‘em talk. It’s just fuel to the fire. … We’ll just go out and compete and show the world what Texas A&M football is about.”