Texas A&M's 2025 campaign came to a frustrating halt last weekend, as the Aggies were bounced from the College Football Playoff in the opening round, falling 10-3 to Miami in front of a packed Kyle Field. It was a tough pill to swallow for a team that had built real momentum under Mike Elko, only to see its season end with a whimper on home turf. Now, with the offseason officially underway, the focus has shifted to the transfer portal-and retooling a roster that still has the bones of a contender.
Let’s start at quarterback. Marcel Reed is set to return for his redshirt junior season, and while he was a steady presence for much of the year, his late-season slump-highlighted by seven turnovers-has raised some eyebrows.
Reed has shown flashes of high-level play, but consistency will be the key if he’s going to lead this team back to the playoff and beyond. Elko didn’t throw his quarterback under the bus after the loss, but his postgame remarks made it clear: the bigger concern lies up front.
The Aggies are set to lose three starters on the offensive line and several key contributors on the defensive front. That’s a lot of muscle to replace in the trenches, and Elko knows that if A&M wants to take the next step, it starts with winning the battle at the line of scrimmage. Expect the portal to be a busy place for the Aggies over the next few weeks as they look to reload in the trenches.
But even with Reed returning, the quarterback room is going through a bit of a shakeup. Third-stringer Jacob Zeno is on his way out, and sophomore Myles O’Neill hasn’t made a decision yet about his future. The Aggies already have two promising freshmen-Helaman Casuga and likely addition Brady Hart-slated for the 2026 roster, but the staff is expected to pursue at least one more quarterback to round out the depth chart and add some competition.
Enter Austin Novosad.
The Oregon sophomore announced Saturday that he’s entering the transfer portal after two seasons with the Ducks. Novosad, a native of Dripping Springs, Texas, was once a top recruiting target for A&M.
He made multiple visits to College Station during the 2022 cycle before ultimately committing to Oregon. Now, with two years of college seasoning under his belt, he’s back on the market-and the fit with the Aggies makes a lot of sense.
Novosad didn’t get much playing time in Eugene-he attempted just two passes this season, though he made the most of them, totaling 40 yards-but his high school résumé speaks volumes. As a senior, he threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 39 touchdowns, showcasing the kind of arm talent and poise that made him a coveted prospect in the first place. He’s got the size, the pedigree, and the tools to push for the No. 2 job right away-and maybe even more if things break his way.
And there’s another layer here: Novosad’s ties to Texas A&M run deep. Both of his parents are Aggie alums, and with his Texas roots and previous interest in the program, a return to College Station would be more than just a football decision-it would be a homecoming.
Whether or not Novosad ends up donning maroon and white remains to be seen, but the Aggies are clearly in the market for another quarterback. And with the offensive line needing reinforcements and the defense losing key pieces, this offseason is shaping up to be a pivotal one for Elko and his staff.
The foundation is there. Now it’s about finding the right pieces to build on it.