re: How long until A&M and Miss. State move ahead of LSU in the west?

Mississippi State is declining. They peaked back in 2010 going 9-4 and proved this year that even in what was set to be their best year ever (7-0 start), they weren't ready to play on the big stage.

Texas A&M has multiple 1st-rounders on the O-line, good WRs and Manziel and they still finished behind LSU. Those players can all improve next year, but the O-linemen are gone, and without them that offense isn't going to keep rolling.

MSU has no chance to pull ahead in the West; TAMU might finish higher next year, but on the whole is still a step below LSU.