There are few things more infuriating than being stuck in traffic behind a slow or stopped vehicle and watching as others dart past.
It's one thing to sit there peering over your shoulder while waiting for everyone to cruise on by, but it's another thing to then have to wait as the other cars behind you pull out and pass before you're able to make a move.
For the past few years the Texas A&M football team has been that vehicle planted directly behind the driver that has conveniently forgotten the speed limit, is texting on the phone or worse, has stopped because they are just unsure where they are.
Oklahoma State and Texas Tech cruised on by a while back, perhaps seeing what was ahead on the right. Kansas and Missouri sped past, but all A&M could do was lay on the horn.
Baylor was the guy a few cars back that pulled out after the others had made their way on down the road.
Last week in Lubbock, the Aggies maneuvered their way into the left lane with what could be a program-changing victory over the then-ranked Red Raiders.
Now, we get to see if they have any gas left in the tank and can put the pedal down and travel unimpeded to catch the others.
Oklahoma and Texas left the rest of the Big 12 in their rear-view mirror a long time ago, so for now, the Aggies need to hope for an open road up to Baylor first -- see last year's game -- and then the North Division teams, whichever one happens to have momentum this week.
A&M could make a nice little run with two games in which they will be favored following the most impressive victory in Sherman's short tenure at A&M.
Over the next month, the Aggies could put a few of the North teams behind them and even with a loss to Oklahoma, would be set up to pass the Bears, who have sputtered, at best, since having a major engine overhaul. ... i.e. Robert Griffin III went down with a knee injury.
Iowa State is in a similar position to A&M in many ways, which makes this game crucial to the rest of the season and whether A&M can accelerate in, or just be glad it's made it over to, the "fast lane."
The Cyclones are coming off a victory that is, believe it or not, more significant to their program than the Aggies' win over Tech. A win at Nebraska for the first time since 1977 makes A&M's past troubles in Lubbock look like a speed bump.
The victory, which was aided by eight Cornhusker turnovers but accomplished without their starting quarterback and tailback, has ISU on the verge of qualifying for a bowl.
A&M would match the Cyclones' win total with a victory and would be one step away from avoiding a second straight season without a bowl berth, which has happened only one other time since the mid-1980s. It would also quiet many of the Aggie back-seat drivers.
The Cyclones, who won big the last time they visited Kyle Field, are more accustomed to being stuck in traffic than the Aggies, but for now are starting to make some noise under first-year coach Paul Rhoads.
So a win over the Cyclones, even a home win, would be substantial for A&M coach Mike Sherman and the Aggies if they want to overtake the Bears, Red Raiders and make headway on the Cowboys.
A loss to the Cyclones would be like hitting a red light for the Aggies just as they thought they were reaching the speed limit.
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