Texas A&M is just 21 days away from hosting Missouri State to kick off the 2026 campaign, and the team's prospects are generating excitement. Coming in at No. 8 in the first US LBM Coaches Poll earlier this month, the Aggies are looking to build on their success from last season.
Entering his third season at the helm, coach Mike Elko led the Aggies to the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history in Year 2, while seeing a record 10 players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. This success surprised only those who haven't paid attention to Elko's rise in the coaching ranks after four seasons as A&M's defensive coordinator, plus two seasons leading the Duke Blue Devils.
ESPN's latest tier rankings have placed Elko's squad in Tier 3: Maybe this is the year? This designation joins BYU, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and USC, all of whom are considered contenders for the top spot. Writer David Hale reviewed the Aggies' 2025 numbers, focusing on their success rate on offense and defense.
"Last season, Texas A&M had a 47.1% successful play rate on offense vs. FBS opponents, and a 65.1% success rate on defense," Hale noted. The differential of plus-12.32 percentage points was 50% better than that of any other SEC team. This impressive performance has raised expectations for the 2026 season.
Texas A&M's 2026 schedule is indeed brutal once they hit October, but if the four new offensive line starters mesh and Marcel Reed improves in the pocket, specifically eliminating mental mistakes and cutting down his turnovers, the team's chances of success will be greatly enhanced. The Aggies' loaded secondary and revamped defensive line will give new OC Holmon Wiggins plenty of opportunities to score 30 or more points per game.
The team's success will also depend on the performance of their returning players, who make up 65% of the 2025 roster. With 17 transfer portal additions and the 2026 signing class, Texas A&M's roster is stacked with veteran talent. The Aggies will be looking to build on their momentum from last season, and it will be interesting to see how they fare in the first AP Top 25 poll, which will be released next Monday.
As the season approaches, fans are eagerly awaiting the team's first game against Missouri State. The Aggies will be looking to make a strong statement and show the country that they are a force to be reckoned with. The stage is set for an exciting season, and only time will tell if this will be the year that the Aggies make a deep run in the playoffs.
Source: Yahoo Sports