There is plenty to like about Mike Elko’s first two seasons in Aggieland.
The Texas A&M head coach has put the program in position to do some incredible things. They just haven’t really materialized.
Sure, he’s gotten Texas A&M into the national conversation. He’s gone on the road and beaten Notre Dame, LSU and Missouri. He made the College Football Playoff and hosted a game.
A&M has not been able to reach the SEC Championship Game, beat Texas or win a College Football Playoff game.
Things have certainly moved in the right direction, but the job is far from done.
MAROON GOONS RELOADED
Last season, that Texas A&M offensive line really beat people up. The Aggies were third in the SEC in rushing yards and tied for the fewest sacks allowed. Four of those offensive linemen were drafted. Only center Mark Nabou returns, so that group will need to be overhauled.
The Aggie offense will look a little bit different in 2026 as former offensive coordinator Collin Klein moves on to his alma mater, Kansas State, to become the head coach. Holman Wiggins, the former wide receivers coach, has assumed his duties. The entire system started with the offensive line a season ago. It will need to once again.
Four SEC transfers were brought in including Tyree Adams and Coen Echols from LSU.
CLOSING TIME
Elko’s teams have not finished the season. In 2025, the Aggies lost four of their last five games including a really poor loss at Auburn to a Hugh Freeze team that only won once otherwise in SEC play.
Last year, the team was 11-0 when it went to Texas. The Aggies lost by 10 and then managed three total points in a home playoff loss to Miami. Being in position is good. Falling flat is in November and December is a problem.
This season, Texas A&M’s final five games are at Alabama, at South Carolina, Tennessee, at Oklahoma and Texas. Unless they start 7-0, which is possible, the Aggies will need to go 4-1 over that stretch to return to the CFP.
That will take a far better level of November play and getting the Longhorn monkey off their back in 2026.
EDGE ASSEMBLY LINE
Nic Scourton and Cassius Howell have been mega-hits out of the portal for Texas A&M. Howell had 14.5 tackles for loss and a 11.5 sacks last season to become SEC Defensive Player of the Year. A year earlier, Scourton had 14 tackles for loss and five sacks.
Who’s next?
Well, the answer could come from a number of places, but the best bet might be Northwestern transfer Anto Saka. Over three years in Evanston, he amassed 14 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. Those aren’t elite numbers, but his measurables are. He made Bruce Feldman’s freaks list and is now in a very aggressive Elko defense that finished third in TFLs and fourth in sacks nationally last year.
Elko creates advantages for his rushers with exotic third down calls and pressures. The Aggies were five percent better on third down than second best in the country last year, an astounding feat. To get back into playoff discussion this year, they’ll need impact edge rushing.
